Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) – England’s triumph in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG marked a historic moment, ending an 18‑match drought on Australian soil. They beat Australia by four wickets to secure their first Test series win there since January 2011 at the SCG. For skipper Ben Stokes, it was his inaugural Australian victory after 13 Tests, and for Joe Root it was his first win on the continent.
“Obviously to lose the series is very disappointing but it was really important we showed a lot of character for the rest of the series,” Root told Isa Guha after the match. “There’s been a lot thrown at this team … clearly it was a very fast‑forward Test match with the surface we were presented with but I think we adapted to it as much as we could and exploited it when we got the opportunities.”
England wrapped up the fourth Test in just two days, chasing 175 runs in 32.2 overs. The contest was dominated by fast bowlers, with the pitch favouring pace and spin never being used.
The hosts set the tone early by electing to bowl first on a grass‑covered wicket. Josh Tongue led the attack, claiming a five‑wicket haul and reducing Australia to 152 in their first innings. Australia rebounded, however, dismissing England for 110 and taking a 42‑run lead into the second innings, thanks to four wickets from Michael Neser and three from Scott Boland.
Heading into day two, Australia seemed poised for victory, maintaining a wicket‑free position in their second innings. That changed when Brydon Crase rattled the top‑scoring Travis Head (46), sparking a collapse that saw Australia lose four wickets for just 37 runs. The innings ended with Steve Smith on 24, not out.
Facing a relatively modest target, England played aggressively from the outset. Nathaniel Dunkett hit 34 off 26 balls, while Stuart Crawley paced a quick 37. After back‑to‑back dismissals of Joe Root and Ben Stokes, Australia seemed to regain the upper hand, but England stayed in command. Jacob Bethell contributed a solid 40 and Harry Brook remained unbeaten on 18, completing the chase.
“We showed a bit of bravery today with the way we approached things with the bat, and that’s why we won the Test match,” Root said. “I’ve been on the wrong side a lot here so you know what to expect, you know how good Australia are in their own conditions. But the fact we managed to get across the line today is excellent, and hopefully we can improve on this next week.”
With the series heading to Sydney for the final Test on January 4, England will look to keep the momentum going.
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