Published: December 27, 2025 at 9:08 am
It has been a really tough and dismal tour for England during this Australian summer but on Saturday they finally got something to cheer about. The visitors ended an 18-match winless streak in Australia as they defeated the home side by four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Test lasted only two days, 161.5 overs to be precise, and it does raise several questions about the nature of the wicket. The ‘shortened’ Test is also likely to cost Cricket Australia quite a financial loss.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said that “short tests are bad for business,” and said CA would consider a closer role in pitch preparation in the future.
England, on the other hand, are not really bothered about CA’s problems as the win, at least for now, is a soothing balm after all the bruising that they endured in the earlier three Tests.
“Good feeling, a tough tour up to now. Tough for us as a team, but to be part of a team to win in Australia after such a long time. We play for so many different things, the Barmy Army are very special, constant noise, the guys in the middle hear it, feel it, and know it. There’ll be some sore heads tomorrow,” England skipper Ben Stokes said after the game.
“After the build-up to the Test, a lot thrown our way, to put in a performance on the back of all that, and beat a very good Australian team, a lot of credit has to go to players, staff and management for keeping the focus on cricket. Very proud,” he added.
On the wicket and the game finishing within two days, he said: “The cricket was short and sharp, very tricky, heavily favoured to the bowlers, but today we went about it exactly the right way. Can’t allow bowlers to land it constantly. We showed bravery and were courageous.”
The England winless streak had dated to the 2013-14 Ashes series, which Australia won 5-0. Since England won the 2010-11 Ashes 3-1, England had lost 16 matches and drawn the other two of their 18 tests Down Under over a period of nearly 15 years.
England win sends Barmy Army into frenzied celebration
Needing 175 second innings runs to win and 98 after the tea break, England reached the target to clinch the match and send thousands of its long-suffering but faithful “Barmy Army” fans into frenzied celebration.
Unlike in the first innings, the England batters came out with a positive frame of mind and were willing to take on the Australian bowlers. They raced to 70-2 off the first 10 overs while losing Ben Duckett (34) and Brydon Carse (6).
But Zak Crawley (37) and Jacob Bethell (40) made valuable contributions before falling to Scott Boland. Joe Root (15) and Stokes (2) too fell but Harry Brook (18) and Jamie Smith (3) saw their side to a morale-boosting win ahead of the fifth and final Test, which begins on January 4 in Sydney.
“Ten runs never felt so far away when I got out,” Stokes said. “I’ve been on a couple of tours before when it has not gone too well, so to end up on the right side of the result after a long period of time is a pretty special feeling,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Australia were bundled out for 132 in their second innings after lunch on Day 2. The dismissal of opener Travis Head (46) was quickly followed by the departures of Usman Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) in the next two overs as Australia slumped from 82-3 to 88-6 in the morning session.
Stokes (3-24) claimed the important wicket of Cameron Green (19) after lunch, caught at second slip, and Brydon Carse sliced through the tail to finish with 4-34.
“A tricky one, quick game. 50 or 60 more and we might have been there. England bowled well this morning, then aggressive with the bat, softened our ball a bit. Pitch did a fair amount, but a few lusty blows meant the ball went a bit less. A bit too much in favour of the bowlers, 36 wickets in two days is too much, said Australian skipper Steve Smith.
Josh Tongue was named the Player of the Match. “Five-for on Boxing Day, it’s what dreams are made of. Barmy Army unbelievable. Amazing feeling to have done it for them. I was in a tough situation with my body (a few years ago) but back playing for England is what I always wanted to do. We were brave with our lengths, the bowlers did well. Yeah, I had my pads on … but to win, I can’t be happy enough,” he said.
Brief scores: Australia 152 (Michael Neser 35, Usman Khawaja 29; Josh Tongue 5/45, Gus Atkinson 2/28) & 132 (Travis Head 46, Steve Smith 24no; Brydon Carse 4/34, Ben Stokes 3/24, Josh Tongue 2/44) lost to England 110 (Harry Brook 41; Michael Neser 4/45, Scott Boland 3/30, Mitchell Starc 2/23) & 178/6 (Zac Crawley 37, Ben Duckett 34, Jacob Bethell 40; Jhye Richardson 2/22, Scott Boland 2/29, Mitchell Starc 2/55).
