Overview
- England chased 175 to win by four wickets at the MCG, clinching the fourth Ashes Test inside two days for their first Test victory in Australia since 2011.
- Twenty wickets fell on Boxing Day as ball dominated bat, with Australia making 152 and 132 and England 110 before the successful fourth-innings pursuit.
- Josh Tongue led England’s attack with 5-45 in the first innings and Brydon Carse claimed 4-34 in the second, while Michael Neser took 4-45 for Australia.
- Gus Atkinson exited with a left hamstring injury during day two, leaving England a bowler short during Australia’s collapse.
- Former players condemned the pitch as too lively, curator Matt Page acknowledged leaving roughly 10mm of grass, and CA chief Todd Greenberg warned short Tests are bad for business with refunds issued for the sold-out third day and a move toward greater pitch oversight under consideration.