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Australia v England - Ben Stokes' side race to victory inside two days in fourth Ashes Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground
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Updated 27/12/2025 at 07:45 GMT
A whirlwind fourth Ashes Test saw England claim an astonishing victory over Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After bowling the hosts all out for 132, the tourists set about chasing the 175-run target and got over the line with four wickets to spare for a first Test win down under in nearly 15 years. Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights: England secure first Test win in Australia since 2011 to avoid Ashes whitewash
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England avoided an Ashes series whitewash after sealing a four-wicket win at the MCG in an astonishing Test that lasted under two days.
Having taken a 46-run lead after 20 wickets fell on Day 1, Australia were in the driving seat to set a competitive total on a dangerous pitch.
The hosts started steadily, but nightwatcher Scott Boland, Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne all fell for single-digit scores as lunch approached.
Travis Head rallied at the other end, counter-attacking his way to 46 before he was bowled by Brydon Carse.
That triggered a cascade of wickets just before lunch, as Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey soon followed.
Steve Smith began to fight back alongside Cameron Green, but the latter’s wicket triggered another collapse as Smith ran out of partners, finishing on 24 not-out as Australia were dismissed for 132, setting a target of 175.
Carse, alongside Ben Stokes, mopped up the tail, finishing with figures of 4-34.
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‘There it is’ - England wrap up win in fourth Ashes Test at the MCG
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Despite needing the highest score of the match, England went on the attack from the get-go, spearheaded by Ben Duckett.
However, Duckett was cleaned up by a trademark Mitchell Starc yorker while ‘Teahawk’ Carse, promoted to three to counter-attack, was caught at third man.
Zak Crawley and Jacob Bethell steadied the ship, relying more on quick running than big shots, and led England to within 70 runs of the target before the former was dismissed by Boland.
Joe Root then supported Bethell as England closed in on the target, but both ultimately fell short as the chase got nervy.
Harry Brook, alongside Jamie Smith, got their side over the line with four leg byes for their first Test win in Australia since 2011.
Tongue: 'It's what dreams are made of'
Player of the Match Josh Tongue speaking to TNT Sports: "It’s what dreams are made of. To get my name on the honours board is a really special feeling.
"The Barmy Army have been unbelievable, especially here. It's an amazing feeling.
"I was in a tough situation, potentially retiring, but I'm glad I put the hard work back into playing cricket, and now I'm playing for England.
"To win here at the MCG. I can't be happy enough."
All over! England beat Australia by four wickets!
Brook to finish it off now...
He flicks Richardson's full toss to Khawaja and there's no run there.
But next ball is tucked round the corner for four and England have done it!
England 174-6 (Smith 3, Brook 18) Overs 32
England need one more run to win
Smith comes in and punches the ball to midwicket for three straight up!
Brook then flicks for four and England now just need two runs to win!
No, just one left as Starc oversteps. Smith ducks the bouncer
Wicket! Stokes c Carey b Starc (2) England 165-6
Starc isn't done yet!
Stokes edges to Carey and England only have four wickets left.
This should be straightforward but it doesn't feel like it.
England 165-5 (Stokes 2, Brook 13) Overs 31
England need 10 more runs to win
Richardson strays short to Brook, who swivels and pulls for four! Next ball is a swing and a miss which just sails over the stumps.
Australia review for caught behind but there is nothing on Snicko, if that means anything.
England 161-5 (Stokes 2, Brook 9) Overs 30
England need 14 more runs to win
Back comes Starc. Will he have one more say in a series that he has dominated?
He gets Stokes on strike immediately. This match-up has not gone the way of the England skipper thus far.
But Stokes clips into the leg side to get off the mark. Every run feels like a massive win for England.
England 158-5 (Stokes 0, Brook 8) Overs 29
England need 17 more runs to win
Stokes is in at seven, and fends away as Richardson hunts his pads.
He sees out the over.
Wicket! Root lbw Richardson (15) England 158-5
Richardson returns as Australia roll the dice one more time. He starts with a no ball.
It's a sloppy over before he strikes Root's pad and the finger goes up. Root reviews but, like Crawley, this looks plum.
It's clipping leg stump! How are your nerves?
England 154-4 (Root 13, Brook 8) Overs 28
England need 21 more runs to win
There's the Brook counterattack! He goes over the top for four as England inch closer to victory.
Eight off the over.
England 146-4 (Root 12, Brook 1) Overs 27
England need 29 more runs to win
Carey is now standing up to the stumps for Brook. That allows Brook to try a scoop, but it misses everything and goes for byes.
Boland has been on the money all match as he finishes his ninth over of the spell.
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Crawley trapped LBW by Boland
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England 141-4 (Root 12, Brook 0) Overs 26
England need 34 more runs to win
Neser is piling on the pressure with the ball. But he drifts down leg and Root flicks for four crucial runs. Technically that was a dropped catch by Carey actually, even if it was given as byes.
Those were the only runs available in an otherwise tidy Neser over. That will be drinks.
England 137-4 (Root 12, Brook 0) Overs 25
England need 38 more runs to win
Boland has two now. In comes Harry Brook, who comes down the track to the first ball.
Three dots to end the over.
Wicket! Bethell c Khawaja b Boland (40) England 137-4
Bethell's gone! He tries to drive through the covers but drills it straight at Khawaja who takes a sharp catch.
A magnificent innings in the circumstances. Has he done enough though?
England 136-3 (Root 11, Bethell 40) Overs 24
England need 39 more runs to win
Neser returns. Again, England just knock him about for singles.
Three runs closer to the target.
England 133-3 (Root 9, Bethell 39) Overs 23
England need 42 more runs to win
England's running between the wickets has been fantastic. They may have scored big boundaries early on, but the latter stages of the chase has been done with ones and twos.
A quick single forces a misfield, allowing Root to come back for two, epitomising the hard work between the wickets.
England 127-3 (Root 4, Bethell 38) Overs 22
England need 48 more runs to win
Root and Bethell continue to milk singles off Starc. The target is down to 50 runs.
Five runs off that over - all ones.
England 122-3 (Root 2, Bethell 35) Overs 21
England need 53 more runs to win
Bethell takes a single off Boland's first ball, before Root goes defensive for the rest of the over.
He flicks for two off the final ball to avoid the pair though.
England 119-3 (Root 0, Bethell 34) Overs 20
England need 56 more runs to win
Starc is tormenting Bethell at the moment, seaming the ball away from the outside edge.
Bethell then charges, and drives uppishly just wide of mid-off for four. That was risky.
The bigger picture is that England have got seven more runs in that over without losing a wicket.
England 112-3 (Root 0, Bethell 27) Overs 19
England need 63 more runs to win
Here comes Joe Root. England need his calmness now to negotiate this tricky post-wicket period.
Boland looks to attack his pads but Root holds firm.
Wicket! Crawley lbw Boland (37) England 112-3
Boland bounces Bethell, who is surprised by the bumper but crucially survives.
Crawley then gets trapped in front and this time the finger goes up! Crawley will go upstairs, but this looks very out.
Here comes hawk-eye and it is crashing into leg! One more twist to the tail?
England 111-2 (Crawley 37, Bethell 26) Overs 18
England need 64 more runs to win
Starc is back. One more storm for England to weather.
Bethell has handled everything that Australia have thrown at him today, and Crawley is looking equally comfortable at the moment.
Just as I say that, Starc produces some magic that beats Bethell all ends up.
England 108-2 (Crawley 36, Bethell 24) Overs 17
England need 67 more runs to win
The singles are coming too easily for England at the moment.
Boland is trying but the pitch and ball are both doing a lot less than they were before tea.
England 104-2 (Crawley 35, Bethell 23) Overs 16
England need 71 more runs to win
Carey shows off his glovework to whip the bails off but Bethell is comfortably in his crease.
These two are making the most of the spread field to take quick ones and twos and it has helped the target trickle down.
England 97-2 (Crawley 33, Bethell 18) Overs 15
England need 78 more runs to win
Bethell pierces a gap on the off side again to knock a couple more runs off the target.
He then wears a short ball from Boland on the shoulder, but I don't think Bethell will care one bit.
England 95-2 (Crawley 33, Bethell 16) Overs 14
England need 80 more runs to win
More good running from Crawley and Bethell to pick up three.
Neser draws the edge but it flies between second and third slip for four. Crawley then miscues another drive for a couple.
England 85-2 (Crawley 23, Bethell 16) Overs 13
England need 90 more runs to win
Scott Boland to resume around the wicket to Bethell, who reverse-ramps the first ball for two.
His next shot is much more regulation, driving through the gap for four.
Another positive over from England.
England 77-2 (Crawley 22, Bethell 9) Overs 12
England need 98 more runs to win
One more over before tea. Here comes Richardson.
A pretty uneventful over by this Test's standards and that will be tea.
England need less than 100 runs for their first win in Australia in nearly 15 years, with wickets in the tank.
England 76-2 (Crawley 22, Bethell 9) Overs 11
England need 99 more runs to win
Here he comes, Scott Boland is on! He's on the money first ball, beating Crawley and Carey does well to take.
The second ball strikes his pad and there is a big appeal! Not given but Australia go upstairs.
The impact was just outside the line so Crawley survives.
Bethell then comes down the pitch and connects with a straight drive that trickles to the boundary.
England now require less than 100 to win.
England 70-2 (Crawley 21, Bethell 4) Overs 10
England need 105 more runs to win
Bethell in at four. England still need over a hundred runs.
How will he approach this chase? He ducks out of the way of the first ball, which is called a no ball for front foot.
He gets a leading edge on the next delivery which flies over slip for four.
Wicket! Carse c Green b Richardson (6) England 65-2
England need 110 more runs to win
Carse goes aerial, but again it lands safe.
He goes again, but this time he finds the fielder! Green makes no mistake at deep third.
England 61-1 (Crawley 21, Carse 3) Overs 9
England need 114 more runs to win
Crawley spoons up a couple of Starc deliveries but gets away with it.
A surprisingly quiet over, until Crawley drives through cover for four to keep the run rate up.
England 56-1 (Crawley 17, Carse 2) Overs 8
England need 119 more runs to win
Brydon Carse is in at three. Jhye Richardson is on for Neser at the other end. His first ball is another pearler, except for the fact he overstepped.
Carse is playing in the same mould as Duckett, swinging and missing at his first delivery.
Wicket! Duckett b Starc (34) England 51-1
England need 124 more runs to win
Duckett drives for two more. England are motoring towards their target at the moment.
He cuts for four more to bring up the team 50.
But next ball, a vintage Starc yorker cleans him up!
England 45-0 (Crawley 15, Duckett 28) Overs 6
England need 130 more runs to win
Duckett swings again and edges it into the sky. Again, it lands safe and trickles for four at third man.
Next ball, he ramps and connects properly for six more. The Barmy Army let out a louder cheer when he blocks the third delivery. This is madness.
England 34-0 (Crawley 15, Duckett 17) Overs 5
England need 141 more runs to win
If England win this Test, could it be seen as the rebirth of Bazball? Starc wants to review an lbw and gets to.
Is it going down leg? Umpire's call for whether it would have hit leg stump and Crawley survives.
Duckett gets two after nearly taking Crawley's head off with a drive before adding more runs by using the spaces in the deep.
England 26-0 (Crawley 15, Duckett 10) Overs 4
England need 149 more runs to win
Glorious! Crawley casually drives Neser back over his head for six! What a shot.
He then follows it up with an equally sumptuous cover drive for four more. England are racing towards this target.
Duckett tries to scoop and misses.
England 15-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 10) Overs 3
England need 160 more runs to win
Starc is bowling beautifully, but Duckett is surviving and getting the odd boundary when he can. Exactly what England need.
Duckett clears some room to try and drive the fourth ball and somehow the ball misses everything.
He then chips the next ball straight back to Starc who drops it! Replays show it fell just short, but Duckett is comfortably the luckiest man in Melbourne at the moment.
England 9-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 4) Overs 2
England need 166 more runs to win
Michael Neser opens at the other end. Crawley comes down the ground to the third ball and hoicks it over mid-on for a couple.
He gets two more through an agricultural hack to square leg before blocking the final delivery.
So far, so good.
England 5-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 4) Overs 1
England need 170 more runs to win
Starc's first ball jags back and strikes Crawley on the thigh. As does the second, which hits him in the midriff allowing England to get off the mark.
But Starc then strays onto Duckett's pads and he flicks for four!
The fifth ball is a peach, beating Duckett's outside edge, either side of a couple wild swings at wide deliveries.
England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 0)
England need 175 more runs to win
So how do England tackle this? Do they try and blitz the runs ASAP or hope to trundle towards the total with several days in hand?
Out come Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Two players under pressure who can make themselves a hero this afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, Mitchell Starc has the new ball in hand.
Day 2
Welcome to TNT Sports' live text coverage from the second day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Day 1 went by in a blur of wickets, 20 to be exact, as England bowled out Australia for 152 before being shot out for 110 themselves.
Scott Boland survived the one over of Australia's second innings on the first day, and resumed alongside Travis Head on the second day on 4-0 - but the fall of wickets continued as the hosts were six down at lunch and lost their final four wickets in the afternoon to set England a victory target of 175.
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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