England secured a historic victory in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, defeating Australia by four wickets in a chaotic contest that concluded inside two days. Chasing a modest target of 175, the visitors reached 178-6 late on the second afternoon, claiming their first Test win on Australian soil in over a decade.
The match was defined by a treacherous pitch that offered extravagant seam movement and unpredictable bounce, leading to a rapid succession of wickets. Australia, resuming their second innings on the second morning, were dismissed for just 132, setting up a tense but achievable chase.
England’s pursuit began aggressively, with Ben Duckett (34) and Zak Crawley (37) providing crucial momentum at the top of the order. The innings then found its anchor in young batter Jacob Bethell, whose composed 40 proved instrumental in steadying the chase after a cluster of wickets. Harry Brook (18 not out) and Jamie Smith (3 not out) saw the team across the line amid mounting tension.
The bowling hero for England was Josh Tongue, who was named Player of the Match. His match figures of 7-89, including a first-innings five-wicket haul, were pivotal in restricting the Australian batting lineup.
The result ends a long drought for England in Australia and ensures the series concludes at 3-1 ahead of the final Test in Sydney. The nature of the two-day finish, one of the shortest completed Tests ever played in the country, will inevitably lead to scrutiny of the MCG pitch.
For Australia, the defeat raises questions, particularly around the form of all-rounder Cameron Green and the batting output of several senior players. England, meanwhile, will celebrate a hard-fought victory but face their own selection decisions for Sydney, with concerns over the fitness of pace bowler Gus Atkinson.