Article By Suvankar Roy
In a breathtaking turn of events, the fourth Ashes Test has concluded in just two days, marking a historic milestone for English cricket. For the first time in 15 years, England has tasted victory against Australia on Australian soil. Since their last win Down Under in 2011, England had been trapped in a relentless cycle of defeats—a drought that has finally been broken under the inspired leadership of Ben Stokes.
The Boxing Day Collapse
The match began on December 26, the iconic Boxing Day, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). After winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes elected to bowl first—a decision that paid immediate dividends.
Australia’s first innings was nothing short of a catastrophe. Faced with a ferocious spell from Josh Tongue, the hosts were bundled out for a meager 152 runs. Tongue was the destructor-in-chief, dismantling the Australian lineup to claim a magnificent five-wicket haul.
However, England’s response was equally shaky. They were skittled for just 110 runs in their first innings, giving Australia a narrow 42-run lead. Michael Neser led the charge for the Aussies with four wickets, supported by Scott Boland (3 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (2 wickets).
The Decisive Turn
The drama intensified in the second innings as Australia suffered yet another batting collapse. Despite their initial lead, they were bowled out for just 132 runs. Brydon Carse was the star of the second act with four wickets, while Ben Stokes (3 wickets) and Josh Tongue (2 wickets) ensured the pressure never let up.
Set a target of 175 runs for victory, England chased it down with clinical composure. This win marks a monumental shift in momentum, ending over a decade of disappointment in Australia.
Post-Match Reactions
Steve Smith (Australian Captain):The match finished incredibly fast because the wicket was tricky and heavily favored the bowlers. If we could have added another 50–60 runs, a fightback would have been possible in the final stages. While the pitch behaved as expected initially, it became unpredictable once the ball softened. Losing 36 wickets in just two days proves the surface was doing much more than we had planned for.”
Ben Stokes (England Captain):This victory is incredibly special for the team; everyone worked tirelessly and maintained focus under immense pressure. We didn’t just play for ourselves, but for our fans across the globe—the roar of the crowd gave us that extra surge of energy.
Match Summary
- Man of the Match: Josh Tongue
- Significance: This marks the first Test win in Australia for England in the combined 31 matches led by Joe Root (18) and Ben Stokes (13).
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