Published: December 26, 2025 at 8:57 am
Twenty wickets fell on a dramatic opening day of the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the MCG on Friday. Australia, who got a taste of Josh Tongue’s lashing earlier on the day, still managed to eke out a 42-run first innings lead. The hosts were bundled out for 152 in 45.2 overs before tea with England pacer Tongue doing the damage on an action-filled day. But the hosts had the last laugh as they shot out the visitors for 110 and by stumps were four for no loss, an overall lead of 46.
England batters never got into the groove as the Australian pacers proved more than handful. The visitors lost wickets at regular interval and were reduced to four for 16 with Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser doing the damage.
The aggressive Harry Brooks top scored with 41 off 34 balls with two fours and two sixes. Apart from him, Gus Atkison made 28 and Ben Stokes 16 as the rest failed to reach double figures.
Neser took four for 45 to cap a wonderful day. He had earlier made 35 to be the top scorer for the hosts. Scott Boland claimed three for30 as England were shot out for 110.
Earlier, Australia suffered on a pitch which was heavily grassed and offered help throughout, although some of the wickets had a helping hand from the batters. Tongue finished the innings with figures of five for 45. Tongue took out Neser (35) and last man Boland (0) off successive balls to end the Australian innings. Tongue will be on a hat-trick when Australia play their second innings.
Tongue became the first England bowler to take five-wicket haul at the MCG since Dean Headley in 1998. This was the third shortest innings by overs for Australia in a home Ashes Test. The shortest was 32.1 overs in 1902 and the next was in 2010 where Australia were bowled out in 42.5 overs.
Gus Atkinson too was quite handy as he took two for 28. Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse got a wicket each. The talking point of the innings, as has been the case in the series thus far, will be whether Mitchell Starc’s wicket was a no-ball. However, Australia’s lower order folded after Cameron Green ran himself out.
At a sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England skipper Ben Stokes invited Australia to bat first under overcast conditions. England, who had lost the first three Tests, came onto the field with a purpose and the bowlers used the conditions well.
Australian openers Travis Head (12) and Jake Weatherald (10) began well as the added 27 in six overs before Travis lost his head and chopped a cut shot onto his stumps off an Atkinson delivery. Weatherald became Tongue’s first victim when he was caught behind by Jamie Smith when trying a leg-glance. Australia were 31 for two.
Tongue who made the cherry talk a lot got a big wicket in the form of Marnus Labuschagne (6) when he had the tall right-handed batter edge to first slip where Joe Root made no mistake.
Australian captain Steve Smith, who is back for this game after missing the previous one, became Tongue’s third victim. Tongue castled Smith (9) as Australia were reduced to 51 for four.
Usman Khawaja and last match centurion Alex Carey steadied the innings and took them to lunch without further loss. Australia were 72 for four at that stage.
But England pacers were not to be denied for too long. In the fourth over after the break, Atkinson had Khawaja caught behind by Smith for 29.
Carey too didn’t last long as Stokes made an important breakthrough. Carey (20) was caught by Crawley.
At 91 for six, the hosts were in dire straits but Cameroon Green and Michael Neser steading the rocking boat. They added 50 for the seventh wicket off 64 balls before Green was run out by Carse.
That again opened the sluice gates as England struck with a vengeance. The last three wickets fell at 152.
Australia had recalled Jhye Richardson and Neser as part of an all-pace attack for the match.
Jacob Bethell, 22, who played four Tests for England, replaced Ollie Pope and Atkinson took the place of injured Jofra Archer.
Brief scores: Australia 152 in 45.2 overs (Michael Neser 35, Usman Khawaja 29, Alex Carey 20; Josh Tongue 5/45, Gus Atkinson 2/28) & 4/0 vs England 110 in 29.5 overs (Harry Brook 41, Gus Atkinson 28; Michael Neser 4/45, Scott Boland 3/30, Mitchell Starc 2/23).
