After a challenging tour, England finally claimed a Test win in Australia, taking a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was their first Test success on Australian soil in 15 years. The match moved at a rapid pace and finished inside two days in front of more than 92,000 spectators.
Set a target of 175, England kept their composure despite regular wickets falling. The run chase was far from comfortable. England stayed calm during the tense moments and eventually got over the line with four wickets to spare.
Harry Brook finished unbeaten on 18, with Jamie Smith at the other end. Together, they guided England to victory.
Zak Crawley (37) and Jacob Bethell (40) laid important foundations in a chase that tested technique and temperament.
The win followed a dominant bowling display earlier on Saturday, as England dismissed Australia for 132 shortly after lunch. That collapse came after a remarkable opening day in which 20 wickets fell, setting the tone for a contest driven by pace, movement, and constant momentum shifts.
England captain Ben Stokes praised his side’s resilience after a difficult tour. He said the victory was deeply satisfying given the pressure surrounding the team, adding that the players and staff deserved credit for staying focused and showing courage against a strong Australian lineup.
The tourists arrived in Melbourne under scrutiny after heavy defeats in the opening three Tests. Questions had been raised about preparation and discipline, but the response at the MCG was emphatic. England will now travel to Sydney for the series finale with renewed confidence.
It was England’s first Test win in Australia since January 2011, ending a run of 16 losses and two draws. From the outset of the final chase, openers Crawley and Ben Duckett signaled intent with aggressive strokeplay, racing to a rapid half-century stand. Duckett scored 34 before a perfect yorker bowled him. Soon after, Crawley’s determined innings ended when he was trapped lbw.
Australia hit back with quick wickets, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes cheaply to keep the contest alive.
With only a few runs needed, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith remained composed and guided England to victory. Their effort sparked loud celebrations from the travelling England supporters at the MCG.
Australia captain Steve Smith later pointed to missed chances, saying the match could have swung their way with another 50 or 60 runs across the two innings. Duckett scored 34 before a perfect yorker bowled him. Then, Crawley’s determined innings ended when he was trapped lbw.
The condition of the surface quickly became a major talking point. With plenty of grass left on the wicket, fast bowlers were in control from the opening session. Several former players criticised the pitch, suggesting it offered too much assistance and failed to provide a fair contest for batters.
Australia began their second innings without a run on the board and were immediately put under pressure as England’s bowlers struck early. Meanwhile, other than Steve Smith, who finished on 24 not out, Australia’s batters struggled to handle the pace and movement. The innings wrapped up quickly, with the last four wickets falling for just 13 runs.
The win provides England with a much-needed lift after a tough tour and injects fresh energy into the Ashes series. With one Test still to play, the momentum now swings in England’s favour as the contest moves to Sydney.
