This was published 2 months ago
Thanks for joining our blog across two action-packed days of the Boxing Day Test.
Don’t miss all the coverage of the wash-up from this match and the lead-up to the next in the coming days, including Cricket Australia’s financial blow, analysis from the second two-day game of this series and the England celebrations.
Be sure to join our live blog coverage of the fifth Test at the SCG, starting on January 4 – Sunday week.
Ben Stokes finally has reason to smile. After three disappointing Tests and weeks of backlash following a heavily criticised break in Noosa, England has finished on the right side of the ledger.
The relieved English skipper gave credit to his players for being able to stay focused amid negative press about the team’s preparation and professionalism. He also gave credit to the voice of the Barmy Army.
“There’s just constant noise going on, constant chants,” Stokes said at the post-match presentations on Channel 7.
“So the guys out in the middle, they hear it, they feel it, and they (the Barmy Army) know it obviously means a hell of a lot to us as players that we’ve got this win.
Acting Australian captain Steve Smith says the home side left themselves 60 runs short across two innings on an MCG pitch that offered too much assistance to the bowlers.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Smith said England’s second-innings aggression set up their four wicket victory in a Boxing Day Test that lasted just two days.
“Obviously, a very quick game,” Smith said on the Channel 7 coverage.
“I think, you know, if we got 50 or 60 more runs across both innings, we might have been there at the end, but, yeah, credit to England. They came out today and fought really well this morning, didn’t let us get away.
Certainly no wild celebrations from the England dugout there.
Hard to get too excited when you’ve been outplayed all series and win one that doesn’t matter. Particularly on a pitch like that.
Another two-day Test in the books. Only the fourth one in Australia. Happened in 1931 against the West Indies and there was also the one at the Gabba against South Africa in 2022.
Perth was wild, but that was just as bonkers. CA set to cop a major financial hit with day three tickets refunded.
Josh Tongue has been named man of the match, winning the Johnny Mullagh Medal.
Tongue took 5-45 in the first innings and followed it up with 2-44 in the second innings.
Former English bowler Stuart Broad is on cloud nine after his country wins the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
“Sixteen painful losses and two draws since England last won a Test match on these shores,” he said on the Channel 7 coverage.
“Look what it means to those fans, who have gone all the way around the world to see this England team.
“I think of Ben Stokes, I think of Joe Root - players who have been through everything here in Australia throughout their Test match careers. They deserve it.
“Ben Stokes has been a warrior throughout this whole series. He deserves to win a Test match in Australia.”
England have avoided an Ashes whitewash by winning a memorable Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
They were set 175 runs to win in the second innings and chased them down in the final session of the second day.
It is the first time the tourists have won a Test on Australian soil since 2011. It is the first time Joe Root and Ben Stokes have won a Test match in Australia.
Harry Brook faces the last ball, but the winning runs come from four leg-byes off Jhye Richardson.
Harry Brook will face the next ball off Jhye Richardson, needing one run for victory.
Harry Brook has clipped one off his legs for four.
Ben Stokes is out. The England skipper went for a big drive outside off-stump but edged the ball to Alex Carey who had to jump high to snare the catch above his head. Mitchell Starc is the bowler. Stokes departs for two, England are 6-165, needing 10 to win. Jamie Smith comes to the crease.
Smith scores three runs off his first ball, and now England need seven.