Melbourne, Australia — During the fourth Ashes Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England secured a historic four-wicket victory over Australia, ending a 15-year drought of Test wins on Australian soil and giving their beleaguered touring side a morale-boosting success in an otherwise one-sided series.
The match — a roller-coaster of unpredictable moments, dramatic collapses and standout individual performances — was completed in just two days of play, an unusually swift finish for a five-day Test. England chased down a modest target of 175 runs, finishing on 178 for 6 in 32.2 overs despite a late wobble that had fans holding their breath.
End of a Long Wait in Australia
For England, this victory marked their first Test win in Australia since the 2010–11 Ashes tour, a period that had seen 18 successive Tests in Australia without success — a span of nearly 15 years and 5,468 days.
The breakthrough was a welcome relief for captain Ben Stokes and veteran batter Joe Root, both of whom had endured tours Down Under without tasting victory on Australian soil since their early Ashes days. Reflecting on the win, Root highlighted the team’s resilience and ability to respond under pressure: “There’s been a lot thrown at this team and the way that we responded throughout these two days has been excellent.” Ashes
Bowler-Friendly Conditions and Quick Turnaround
Australia’s bowlers enjoyed helpful conditions on the MCG pitch, which saw a surprising flurry of dismissals early in the match. England seamer Josh Tongue played a pivotal role in destabilising Australia’s batting lineup, triggering a collapse that saw the home side dismissed for 132 in their second innings after resuming with a 46-run lead and 10 wickets in hand.
Despite the bowling advantages, England’s batters responded with purpose when it mattered most. Zak Crawley (37) and Ben Duckett (34) set a strong foundation with an aggressive opening partnership, accumulating 51 runs at a brisk scoring rate that kept momentum on the tourists’ side. Ashes
Young Talent and Crucial Contributions
England’s victory was not solely down to senior players. 22-year-old Jacob Bethell made a meaningful impact in just his fifth Test appearance, contributing a valuable 40 runs off 46 balls that helped England maintain momentum during a tricky phase of their chase.
The final moments brought tension as England were reduced to 165 for 6, just 10 runs short of victory. However, Harry Brook (18 not out) and Jamie Smith (3 not out) steadied the innings and saw the side home, reaching the target with leg byes off a delivery from Australia’s Mitchell Starc.
A Bittersweet Result for Australia
For Australia, the result was both surprising and frustrating. Having already sealed the Ashes series with wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, the hosts had hoped to maintain dominance at home. Stand-in captain Steve Smith acknowledged England’s role in taking the game away but also reflected on missed opportunities, noting that his side would have wanted to “win every game and keep every streak going.”
Many observers also highlighted the extraordinary nature of the match conditions. A total of 36 wickets fell across just two days of play, prompting debates about whether the pitch offered too much assistance to bowlers and sparked concerns about the balance between bat and ball in modern Test cricket.
What This Means for England
Though England now trail 3-1 in the Ashes series, this victory will be remembered for its emotional significance and the way it snapped a long-standing winless streak in Australian conditions. It provides a morale boost for a team that had endured challenging moments throughout the tour and has given fans renewed optimism ahead of the upcoming final Test in Sydney.
Captain Stokes savoured the moment, acknowledging both the challenge of the conditions and the relief that came with lifting his team to victory. His reflections underscored not just the statistical end of a drought, but the psychological impact of taking a Test win in hostile territory after so many years.
What’s Next
With one Test left to play in the series, England will aim to build on this success and finish their Australian tour on a high note, while Australia — despite already retaining the Ashes — will look to reassert their dominance and address the inconsistencies exposed at the MCG.
For cricket fans around the world, this historic Melbourne Test will be remembered as a match of unpredictability, resilience and breakthrough — a testament to the unpredictable and enthralling nature of Test cricket.
