What is England's record in Boxing Day Tests? When did they last win at Melbourne Cricket Ground? MCG history ahead of fourth Test v Australia
Updated 27/12/2025 at 08:44 GMT
It's Christmas! Was the best part the massive gravy-doused dinner? Or the presents? Or the way-too-competitive family board games? Of course not. It was that at 23:30 UK time, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, you could settle down for a night of Ashes action from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It wasn't quite a Christmas classic, but England did manage to restore some pride with a victory.
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The series was sealed in rapid fashion, but a whole lot of pride was on the line in the fourth Test of the 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes.
Live on TNT Sports and discovery+, England headed to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the iconic Boxing Day Test.
The urn will remain in Australia for a full decade following their 11-day demolition job across wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, but Ben Stokes and co. arrived at the iconic aiming to avoid the dreaded whitewash.
They received a huge boost in that goal, with three-quarters of Australia's superstar bowling unit - Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and skipper Pat Cummins - ruled out of the remaining two games.
The tourists were facing up to the weight of history, having failed to claim a single Test match victory Down Under in 15 years.
But how far back did the winless streak in Melbourne stretch? TNT Sports looked through the history books...
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Why do Australia play on Boxing Day?
While the Ashes has a history dating back to the 19th century, the Boxing Day Test is a more recent phenomenon.
The 100,000-capacity MCG - the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere - saw its first slice of December 26 Ashes action in 1950, albeit on Day 4 of the Test.
In 1974, the Boxing Day Test was officially born, thanks to a congested six-match schedule which forced organisers to squeeze into the festive gap.
That seminal contest ended in a draw, with Australia 2-0 up in a series they would go on to win 4-1.
Over the next two decades, the Boxing Day Test became a regular occurrence, with 12 matches against the likes of West Indies, South Africa and India. Since 1995, it has been played annually.
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When did England last win a Boxing Day Test?
Victories in this fixture do not come around often for England, but when they do, they sure are memorable.
The remarkable win by an innings and 157 runs during the 2010/11 tour stood as the most recent triumph for 15 years, before the 2025 success.
With the 2010/11 series poised at 1-1 after one draw, Australia were utterly embarrassed in the first innings in Melbourne back, scoring a mere 98 runs with all 10 wickets taken via catches.
This came after Shane Watson was dropped twice on zero, but England held their nerve and soon had the wickets flowing, primarily via Chris Tremlett's 4-26.
In response, England made a mammoth 513, with Jonathan Trott top-scoring on 168 not out. Needing 415 runs simply to make England bat a second time, the hosts fell for 258.
With a single Test remaining, the result meant that England retained the urn with their festive feat, having won it on home soil the previous year.
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Who else has beaten Australia in a Boxing Day Test?
Australia have lost a total of eight Boxing Day Tests, with the other nations joining England in the W column being India, South Africa and West Indies.
Most recently, India won two in quick succession, in 2018 and 2020. South Africa's sole triumph came in 2008, while West Indies enjoyed their Christmas clash of 1996.
New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka hold winless records in the matchup, having played a total of 10 games between them.
Australia's overall win record stands at 61%, with a further 20% ending in draws.
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What is England's overall record at the MCG?
England have played more Boxing Day Tests than any other side - 12, which is two more than India.
As mentioned, the triumphs tend to be ones to write home about. In addition to the 2025 and 2010 displays, England also had an innings to spare in 1986, while they sneaked it by just three runs in 1982 and 12 in 1998.
Stretching the records across all dates, England's history in Melbourne is not too shabby. The tourists have won on 21 occasions to Australia's 29, with eight draws.
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