Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is always a spectacle, but the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test on December 26, 2025, delivered chaos and drama on a scale few could have predicted. With a record crowd of 94,199 packing the stands—an all-time high for cricket at this historic venue—fans were treated to a whirlwind of wickets and relentless action as both Australia and England battled not just each other, but a devilish pitch that turned every delivery into a potential turning point.
Any notion that Australia’s unassailable 3-0 series lead would sap the contest of its edge was banished almost immediately. From the moment Ben Stokes won the toss and put Australia in to bat, the day’s play unfolded at a breakneck pace, with 20 wickets tumbling—the most on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909. The MCG, with its 10mm of lush green grass, was transformed into a bowler’s paradise, and both sides’ attacks cashed in with gusto.
Australia’s first innings got off to a rocky start as Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue led a rejuvenated England bowling unit. Atkinson made the early breakthrough, bowling Travis Head for 12, before Tongue unleashed a spell of high-class pace bowling that rattled the home side. Tongue’s second ball snaked around Jake Weatherald’s front pad, taking a thin edge, and he followed up by removing Marnus Labuschagne and then Steve Smith with a beauty that jagged back to hit the stumps. According to ESPN, "Smith rarely finds himself beaten through the gate, an early indication of the drama that lay ahead."
By lunch, Australia were teetering at 72 for four, but the carnage was far from over. Usman Khawaja’s resistance ended at 29, nicking Atkinson behind, and Alex Carey’s 20-run cameo was cut short by a clever leg-slip trap set by Stokes and executed by Zak Crawley. The only true partnership of substance came from Cameron Green and Michael Neser, who added 52 runs for the seventh wicket. Green looked in fine touch, dispatching consecutive boundaries off Tongue, while Neser found his rhythm with a flurry of fours, including a hat-trick of boundaries in one over. But even that stand was ended by a moment of fielding brilliance from Brydon Carse, who collected a return off his own bowling and fired a direct hit to run out Green for 17.
England’s much-maligned ground fielding was suddenly a strength, with flawless catching and a rare direct-hit run-out. The tail offered little resistance as Tongue cleaned up Neser and Boland with successive deliveries, finishing with figures of 5 for 45—a career-best performance in Ashes cricket. Australia were all out for 152 in just 45.2 overs, and the English supporters in the crowd could barely believe their luck.
But if England hoped to seize the initiative, they were soon disabused of the notion. The Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland tore through the English top order in a devastating opening spell. Ben Duckett’s struggles continued as he spooned Starc to mid-on for 2, lowering his series average to a dismal 14.14. Debutant Jacob Bethell lasted just five balls before Neser had him caught behind by Alex Carey for one. Zak Crawley and Joe Root both fell cheaply—Crawley to Starc and Root to Neser—leaving England reeling at 16 for four after just eight overs.
Amid the carnage, Harry Brook offered a ray of hope. The vice-captain strode to the crease and immediately counterattacked, launching Starc for a six over cover and following up with a pull for four in the same over. Brook’s audacity paid dividends as he clubbed another six off Neser, bringing up England’s 50 in under 12 overs alongside Stokes. Their 50-run partnership, built in just 50 balls, was the only resistance England could muster. Brook’s 41 off 34 balls, featuring two sixes and two fours, was a thrilling but short-lived innings, ended by Boland pinning him lbw. According to the BBC, "Brook’s audacity kept England from a complete implosion."
Once Brook fell, England’s collapse accelerated. Jamie Smith’s stumps were shattered by Boland, Will Jacks edged behind for five, and Stokes himself was caught in the slips for 13. Brydon Carse was soon caught by Boland off Neser, and only Gus Atkinson offered any further resistance, farming the strike and eking out a valuable 28 off 35 balls before Cameron Green ended his stay. England’s innings was over in just 29.5 overs for a paltry 110, their lowest total and shortest completed innings since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge more than three years ago.
Australia’s bowlers were relentless, with Neser finishing on 4 for 45 and Boland claiming 3 for 30. The pitch, described by stand-in captain Steve Smith as requiring batters to be "on their game," proved a stern examination for even the most experienced players. As the day drew to a close, there was just enough time for Australia to begin their second innings, with Boland—who had batted at number 11 earlier—sent out as nightwatchman alongside Travis Head. The hosts finished on 4 without loss, leading by 46 runs and firmly in control of a match that could, incredibly, be over in two days if the frantic pace continues.
Off the field, England’s woes were compounded by questions about their preparation, training, and even off-field behavior, with reports of excessive drinking during their tour. The team’s improved fielding and bowling offered a glimmer of hope, but their batting collapse reignited concerns about technique and mentality under pressure. For Australia, the day’s events underscored their dominance in home conditions and their ability to exploit every opportunity, no matter how wild the contest becomes.
The Boxing Day Test at the MCG has always been a highlight of the cricketing calendar, but this year’s installment has already carved out a place in Ashes folklore. With 20 wickets falling, a record crowd in attendance, and both teams locked in a frenetic battle against the pitch and each other, the stage is set for more drama as the match resumes. Australia lead by 46 runs, and with the ball still talking, anything could happen next.
