A close-up view of a red cricket ball striking wooden stumps, dislodging the bails on a green pitch inside a large, empty stadium under overcast skies.

Historic Carnage at the MCG: Twenty Wickets Fall on Opening Day of Fourth Test

December 26, 2025

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has played host to innumerable historic moments in Ashes folklore, but few opening days have been as chaotic, explosive, or breathless as the start of this Fourth Test. In a dramatic display of bowling dominance that saw 20 wickets fall in a single day—a feat not seen at this venue in over a century—the contest has accelerated at a breakneck speed, leaving both dressing rooms with serious questions to answer.

By the time the bails were removed at stumps, the match had effectively advanced three days in terms of narrative arcs. Australia were bowled out for a meagre 152, only for England to be skittled for 110 in reply. With the hosts holding a lead of 46 runs and having navigated a brief period in their second innings to reach 4/0, the balance of power sits precariously with the home side.

The Toss and the Green Monster

The drama began before a ball was bowled. The MCG pitch, often scrutinised for its lifelessness in years past, presented a very different face this morning. Sporting a distinct green tinge and offering the promise of significant seam movement, it was a surface that demanded the captain winning the toss insert the opposition.

England’s captain did exactly that, electing to field first in the belief that early inroads were essential. It was a decision rooted in traditional cricket logic: utilise the overcast conditions and the live grass to expose the opposition’s top order. The decision was vindicated almost immediately. The surface offered consistent assistance throughout the day, with the ball jagging off the seam and swing keeping the batters on high alert. However, while England’s tactical assessment of the conditions was correct, their ability to navigate those same conditions later in the day would prove their undoing.

Australia’s First Innings: Resistance Crumbles

Australia’s first innings was a stop-start affair that never truly gathered momentum. The English pace attack, rejuvenated and finding the right lengths, exploited the helpful conditions expertly. There was no settling in for the Australian batters; the combination of disciplined lines and the pitch’s natural variation meant that every delivery posed a question.

The hosts were dismissed for 152 in just 45.2 overs, a total that, in isolation, looked significantly under-par. The standout performer for the tourists was undoubtedly Josh Tongue. In a display of controlled aggression and skill, Tongue claimed remarkable figures of 5-45. It was a historic achievement for the fast bowler, marking the first five-wicket haul by an Englishman at the MCG in decades. His performance was the rare shining light in a day that would later turn dark for the visitors. Supported by Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, who maintained sustained pressure with the new ball, England felt they had seized control of the Test match by the halfway mark of the day.

England’s Reply: The “Bazball” Malfunction

If Australia’s batting effort was disappointing, England’s reply was catastrophic. The tourists had a golden opportunity to bat past the Australian total and build a match-winning lead. Instead, they were bundled out for just 110 runs in 29.5 overs, handing the initiative straight back to their rivals.

The collapse highlighted persistent technical vulnerabilities in the English lineup. On a surface that demanded patience, soft hands, and a willingness to leave the ball, England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach appeared tactically misaligned. The top order failed to cope with the sustained pressure applied by the Australian attack, crumbling in a heap of edges and ill-judged shots.

Harry Brook provided the only semblance of resistance, compiling a counter-attacking 41. However, his effort was a solitary act of defiance in an otherwise dismal scorecard. Even with his brief flurry of runs, Brook could not arrest the slide, and his dismissal signalled the end of England’s hopes for parity. The speed of the capitulation—lasting less than 30 overs—has reignited the debate among analysts regarding the suitability of England’s high-risk strategy on surfaces that heavily favour the bowler.

The Destroyer: Michael Neser and Scott Boland

Australia’s defence of their low total was led by Michael Neser and Scott Boland. Neser, often heralded for his batting utility as much as his bowling, delivered a masterclass in seam bowling. He finished with figures of 4-45, dismantling the English batting lineup with a performance that combined accuracy with subtle movement. His ability to offer control when the pitch threatened to become unpredictable was crucial for the hosts.

Complementing Neser was the MCG specialist, Scott Boland. Known for his nagging line and length, Boland was particularly effective during the height of England’s collapse. He claimed crucial wickets that ensured the visitors could never build the partnerships required to threaten Australia’s total. Together, Neser and Boland ensured that England’s respite from the field was short-lived, turning a potential deficit into a crucial first-innings lead.

Tactical Outlook: A Test for Technique

The statistical headline of the day—20 wickets falling—speaks volumes about the conditions. This was a day where the balance between bat and ball was heavily skewed towards the latter. The tactical takeaway for both sides is clear: on a pitch offering heavy seam movement and aided by overhead conditions, technical discipline is non-negotiable.

Bowlers from both camps who targeted the stumps and invited the drive were rewarded repeatedly. Conversely, batters who tried to force the pace or play across the line paid the ultimate price. The widespread debate triggered by the collapse has seen some critics question whether the surface favoured the bowlers excessively, denying the crowd a balanced contest. However, for the purists, it was a gripping exhibition of the difficulties of Test cricket when the ball dominates the bat.

Looking Ahead: Day Two

As we look toward Day Two, the match sits on a knife-edge, though momentum has undeniably swung toward Australia. Despite a modest first-innings score, the hosts lead by 46 runs with all ten wickets intact in their second dig (reaching 4/0 by stumps). In a low-scoring thriller, a lead of this magnitude is already significant.

The priority for Australia will be to accelerate early and impose scoreboard pressure. If they can scrape together a lead of 200, it could prove insurmountable on this pitch. For England, the challenge is twofold: their bowlers must replicate their first-innings heroics immediately to keep the chase manageable, and their batters must find a way to adapt their technique to survive longer than a single session.

With the pitch likely to remain tricky and the atmosphere at the MCG reaching fever pitch, the opening session of Day Two will be pivotal. Can England stop the game from drifting away, or will Australia’s bowlers have another crack at a fragile batting lineup before the day is out?