England Wins a Test on Australian Soil for the First Time in 14 Years, Avoid Whitewash Courtesy of Bowling Brilliance in MCG

Neither England, nor Australia breached the 200-run mark in any innings, highlighting the treacherous batting conditions on the MCG surface.

England Wins a Test on Australian Soil for the First Time in 14 Years, Avoid Whitewash Courtesy of Bowling Brilliance in MCG

England won its first Test match on Australian soil in over a decade, following the MCG victory. (via BBC)

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In a rare display of brilliance, England shattered a 14-year jinx by securing an elusive Ashes victory on Australian soil. By clinching a hard-fought four-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Three Lions recorded their first triumph in Australia to end a winless streak.

On a surface that was labelled as a ‘shocker’ by ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, the Three Lions managed to overcome several obstacles by winning their first Test of the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series. Although Australia had already clinched the Urn by winning the first three matches, England’s win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground helped them avoid a humiliating whitewash away from home.

Opting to bowl first in the Boxing Day Test, England’s pacers took advantage of excessive seam on the MCG surface by dismissing the home side to a meager total of 152 runs. Michael Neser finished as top-scorer for the home side with a 35-run knock off 49 balls. Josh Tongue was the pick among the visiting bowlers, as he became the first Englishman since 1998 to take a fifer at the MCG. They, however, faced a similar fate, getting bowled out for just 110 runs.

After a record 20 wickets fell on the opening day, the Boxing Day Test concluded on Day 2 as Australia suffered a second consecutive batting failure. The hosts were dismissed for a mere 132 runs. Tasked with chasing down a target of 175 runs, England went over the line in just 32.2 overs. Despite losing eight wickets, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Jacob Bethell helped the Three Lions seal its first Ashes win.

The Ben Stokes-led side managed to end a gruelling 14-year drought of not having won a Test match on Australian soil. The last time England had won a Test match in Australia was during the 2010-11 Ashes, when captain Andrew Strauss guided his team to victory in Sydney.

Furthermore, the MCG triumph is a deeply personal milestone for veteran stars Joe Root and Ben Stokes, who have now managed to secure their first-ever Test victory in Australia.

The Boxing Day Ashes Test was the second match in the series to conclude in under two days; the first Test in Perth also ended quickly, in favor of Australia. Building on this victory, England will aim to secure another win in Sydney to finish the series 2-3.

Steve Smith lauds England’s brilliance, while Australia still maintains 3-1 Ashes edge

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith was full of praise for England, after the latter managed to defeat the home side by four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG. Smith replaced Pat Cummins as skipper for the Melbourne Test, with the regular captain opting out. 

Steve Smith on England
Steve Smith lauded the English side for impressive Ashes win in Melbourne. (via Guardian)

Steve Smith had missed out on playing in the third Test in Adelaide, as he felt unwell while practicing due to vertigo-like issues. He, however, made a return to the playing XI for the fourth Test, where Cummins sat out in order to remain fit. Australia stepped onto the pitch without the services of ace spinner Nathan Lyon, with the 38-year-old having suffered a hamstring injury while fielding in the Adelaide Test. 

The Australian side lost the fourth Test, thereafter failing to extend their hundred percent winning run over England in this season’s Ashes. Speaking after losing the low-scoring encounter, Steve Smith reflected on how the Three Lions snatched the game away from them. He praised England for its aggressive nature, and for having managed to score runs on a pitch heavily favoring fast bowlers. 

We’d love to win every game and keep every streak going. But, England played really well today. We probably controlled the first half of the game or yesterday, and then they came back in to play today and took the game away from us.

Smith also heaped praise on Harry Brook, who finished as England’s top run-getter in the first innings in Melbourne. The 26-year-old, who has been under fire for his careless batting style, hit a quick-fire 41 runs off just 34 balls, including two fours and two sixes.

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