Cricket
Bowlers dominate as record Boxing Day crowd packs MCG─── MORGAN PIEK 09:11 Fri, 26 Dec 2025
It was a gripping opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia and England traded blows in front of a record-breaking crowd in the fourth Ashes Test.
A staggering 93,442 spectators packed into the iconic Victorian venue and were treated to a frenetic day’s play that saw 20 wickets tumble. Despite only 76.1 overs being bowled, the Test already hangs finely poised and firmly on a knife-edge.
Australia, who came into the match with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series, edged ahead by 46 runs when stumps were called on Friday.
Jake Weatherald and Josh Tongue. Photo: Cricinfo
Sent in to bat, the hosts were skittled for 152 in 45.2 overs. Pretoria-born all-rounder Michael Neser stood tall amid the chaos, top-scoring for the Baggy Greens with a gutsy 35, while Usman Khawaja added 29 and Alex Carey chipped in with 20.
England’s bowlers set the tone early, with Josh Tongue the standout performer. The seamer tore through the Australian line-up to finish with an impressive 5/45 from 11.2 overs.
Buoyed by their efforts with the ball, England would have fancied their chances of taking control, but their reply unravelled in dramatic fashion. Wickets fell in a heap as the visitors slumped to 16/4 after just eight overs, rocked by some sharp new-ball bowling.
Travis Head. Photo: Cricinfo
Mitchell Starc and Neser did the early damage, claiming two wickets apiece to put Australia firmly on top.
England never recovered from the early collapse and were eventually bundled out for a meagre 110 in 29.5 overs. Harry Brook offered brief resistance with a counter-attacking 41 off 34 balls, while Gus Atkinson scored 28 and skipper Ben Stokes contributed 16.
Neser capped a fine all-round performance, finishing as Australia’s leading wicket-taker with 4/45, while Scott Boland claimed 3/30 and Starc returned figures of 2/23.
Scott Boland dismisses Harry Brook. Photo: Cricinfo
Australia then had to negotiate a solitary over before the close of play and sprung a surprise by opening the batting with Melbourne-born seamer Boland alongside regular opener Travis Head. Boland faced all six deliveries, and with the final ball of the day, edged one away to the boundary to draw a cheer from the home crowd.
At stumps, Australia were 4/0, holding a 46-run lead and the early upper hand in what promises to be a captivating Test match.
Play at the MCG resumes on Saturday morning at 10:30
