A record 94,199 spectators came to the MCG on Boxing Day and no one will forget what they saw. As many as 20 wickets fell on a pitch with lots of movement, leaving Cricket Australia fearing a second multimillion-dollar loss in this Ashes series.
The first of these took place in Perth, when a two-day fight led to massive refunds and visiting fans rushed to book trips. This fourth Test was always going to have the makings of a repeat, not just a surface with 10mm of grass, but a touring England side who, having lost the Ashes and facing flying criticism, looked broken before the coin even rose.
It actually ended up in their favor here, with Ben Stokes calling correctly, inserting his opponents without hesitation and Josh Tongue bowling to Australia before tea for 152. Tongue was full value for his figures of five for 45, with his natural inside angle, fuller length and wobbly seam raising more questions than one of the University Challenge Christmas specials.
For all the echoes of England’s famous Boxing Day performance here in 2010, there was also a nagging feeling that this time it represented a test for the batters. That ordeal finally came in a frenzied final session as England fell to 16 for four within eight overs and, thanks to Michael Neser’s four for 45, eventually finished 110 all out in 29.5.
All that was left was for Scott Boland to face six balls to stumps as a relief opener. Just after claiming three for thirty, he just survived, prompting a roar from his fellow Victorians as he sprayed the final ball of the absurd day for four. Australia closed at four without loss in their second innings, a lead of 46 runs, and everyone could finally catch their breath.
A simple scan of England’s scorecard might give rise to an assumption about recklessness; maybe a few mumbled curse words about so-called Bazball. Although the only player who opened his eyes and took the aggressive route became the top scorer for both sides. All in all, Harry Brook’s 41 from 34 balls was a (relative) victory in challenging conditions.
Brook had run away for three in the fifth over at eight and danced down the field to Mitchell Starc’s first ball in front of an almighty yahoo. Granted, it landed in the fresh air, but Brook was undeterred, crashing two fours and two sixes along the way. On his final dismissal, he tried to move over his stumps and trap Boland in the leg side but was beaten for a simple lbw.
As ridiculous as it sounds, it makes you wonder how many runs England could have amassed if they had won a few more. But over the course of this tour, a few began to question themselves and the result was a series of gun-shy pokes. For Joe Root, this led to the longest duck of his Test career as he left Neser behind after the 15th delivery he faced.
Neser was exceptional, fumbling away with the bat after a useful 35 and relishing the lush movement on offer; the latest example of why Australian pitches no longer require explicit pacing. Alex Carey again spent time at the stumps, drawing the England batters into their crease and, in Stokes’ case, on 16, resulting in an edge over Steve Smith at slip.
Starc has been the bowler who caused England’s collective collapse in this series and he has caused the cascade of wickets here. In just his second over the left arm, Ben Duckett turned into a pretzel to send a lead to middle. It wasn’t his first time on tour – although on this occasion it was during the day – and Duckett looked slightly disoriented.
Enter Jacob Bethell, a 22-year-old without a first-class century who walks into the Coliseum at number 3. He lasted just five balls before Neser caught him, only for Zak Crawley to fall in Starc’s next over when a heavy-handed push flew into the cordon. Both players looked suspiciously at the surface, as did Jamie Smith after being bowled through the gate by Boland.
Not since 1901-2002 have more than 20 wickets been taken at this ground on the opening day of an Ashes Test match in Australia, even though that was an era of uncovered pitches. England had Gus Atkinson to thank for ensuring they got at least past three figures, with his 28 from 35 balls, including three fours and a six, another case of attacking before the inevitable happened.
All this distracted attention from Tongue’s earlier achievement, with his first Test five-wicket haul for the England men in Melbourne since Dean Headley in 1998. Most cherished among the wickets was Steve Smith, who bowled for nine and made it four in four first-class innings. He fired the master. Although Jofra Archer is out of this tour, maybe ask him how he’s doing.
While in the healthier position at stumps, Australia will have a few regrets from a first innings with just three scores north of 20. As well as a couple of strangles down the leg side, there was the sight of Cameron Green running himself out for 17. Brydon Carse was alert here, diving in from his own bowling and taking advantage of the all-rounder’s hesitation before throwing down the stumps.
The surface may have been scrutinized by match referee Jeff Crowe, but this Boxing Day wickets feast was not without help.
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