BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
England finally ended one of their longest and most painful chapters in Ashes history, defeating Australia by four wickets in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday to claim their first victory on Australian soil in nearly 15 years.
The result snapped an 18-match winless streak for England in Australia and delivered a rare moment of celebration in a series that had been dominated by the hosts. Australia had already secured the Ashes by sweeping the first three Tests at Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, wrapping up the contest in just 11 days of on-field play. Yet England responded emphatically in Melbourne, turning the tables with a victory completed inside two days.
The match was notable not only for the result but also for its brevity. It marked the second two-day Test of the series, echoing Australia’s opening win in Perth and making it the first Ashes series in 129 years to feature multiple matches finished within two days.
England’s previous Test win in Australia dated back to the 2010–11 series. Since then, they had endured a punishing run of 16 defeats and two draws across 18 matches, including a 5-0 whitewash in the 2013–14 Ashes. That drought finally ended as England calmly chased down a modest target of 175, reaching 178 for 6 and sparking jubilant scenes among the thousands of traveling supporters who packed the stands.
Resuming their chase on the second morning, England set the tone early, racing to 70 for 2 in the first 10 overs. Ben Duckett fell for 34 and Brydon Carse for 6, but the intent was clear as the visitors took advantage of scoring opportunities before conditions could worsen. Zak Crawley made a brisk 37 and Jacob Bethell added a valuable 40, both playing key roles in maintaining momentum.
Australia clawed their way back into the contest when Scott Boland removed Crawley and Bethell, raising hopes of another collapse. Joe Root departed for 15 and captain Ben Stokes followed cheaply for 2, briefly swinging the tension back toward the home side. However, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook held their nerve, guiding England through the final phase of the chase to seal a morale-boosting win ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
Earlier in the day, England’s bowlers had set up the victory by dismissing Australia for 132 in their second innings shortly after lunch. On an MCG pitch offering pronounced sideways movement, batting proved treacherous throughout the match. A dramatic collapse in the morning session saw Australia slide from 82 for 3 to 88 for 6, with Travis Head’s 46 the only substantial resistance. Usman Khawaja was dismissed for a duck, while Alex Carey managed just four.
Ben Stokes played a crucial role with the ball, claiming 3 for 24 and removing Cameron Green for 19 after lunch, caught at second slip. Brydon Carse then tore through the lower order to finish with figures of 4 for 34, ensuring Australia were unable to set a more challenging target.
The Test followed a frenetic opening day in which 20 wickets fell. Australia posted 152 and held a slender overall lead of 46 after bowling England out for 110. Josh Tongue was the standout performer, earning player of the match honors after claiming a career-best 5 for 45, while Michael Neser responded for Australia with 4 for 45.
The match also reignited debate over pitch preparation. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg described the trend of ultra-short Tests as damaging, particularly from a commercial standpoint, and suggested the governing body may take a more active role in overseeing wicket preparation in the future.
Attendance figures underlined the public’s appetite despite the rapid finish. Saturday’s crowd of 92,045 was the second-highest Test attendance ever recorded in Australia, trailing only Friday’s opening-day crowd of 94,199.
For England, the victory provided long-awaited relief and renewed belief. While the Ashes remain out of reach, the triumph at the MCG restored pride, ended a historic drought, and ensured the series heads to Sydney with momentum finally on the visitors’ side.
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