After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England’s pace attack looked unplayable on a green-tinged surface. Josh Tongue was the hero for the visitors, ripping through the Australian top order to claim career-best figures of 5/45. Australia was bundled out for a meager 152 before tea.
However, the drama was only beginning. Australia’s bowlers responded in kind, skittling England for just 110. By the time stumps were called on Day 1, an incredible 20 wickets had fallen, and Australia had already begun their second innings.
Day 2: The Finish Line
The carnage continued on Day 2 as the pitch offered excessive seam movement. No batter in the match managed to reach a half-century—the first time this has happened in an Australian Test since 1932. Travis Head provided the highest individual score of the match with a gritty 46, helping Australia set England a target of 175.
Despite a middle-order wobble against the relentless Scott Boland, England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provided a fast start that proved decisive. England crossed the line six wickets down, securing their first Test win on Australian soil since 2011.
Controversy Over the Pitch
While England celebrated a hollow victory (Australia having already retained the Ashes 3-0 earlier in the series), the ICC has since rated the MCG pitch as “Unsatisfactory.” Match referee Jeff Crowe noted that the surface favored bowlers too heavily, leading to the match concluding in just two days and depriving thousands of fans of Days 3, 4, and 5.
Final Score:
- Australia: 152 & 132
- England: 110 & 6/178
- Result: England won by 4 wickets.
