A record crowd of 94,199 at the MCG witnessed an extraordinary opening day of the Boxing Day Test, with 20 wickets tumbling on a pitch offering lavish movement. Australia closed on four without loss in their second innings, leading by 46 runs, after England were bowled out for 110 in reply to Australia's 152.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision vindicated as Josh Tongue claimed five for 45 to skittle Australia before tea. However, England's batting then collapsed to 16 for four inside eight overs, with Michael Neser taking four for 45 to dismiss them for 110 in 29.5 overs.
Harry Brook top-scored with 41 from 34 balls, the only batter to take the aggressive route, while Joe Root endured the longest duck of his Test career, edging Neser behind off the 15th ball. Scott Boland, fresh from three for 30, survived six balls as an auxiliary opener, squirted the last ball for four, and Australia reached stumps at four without loss.
Not since 1901-02 had 20 or more wickets fallen on the opening day of an Ashes Test in Australia. Tongue's five-wicket haul was England's first in Melbourne since Dean Headley in 1998. Cricket Australia now fears a second multimillion-dollar loss in this Ashes series after the two-day Perth Test triggered mass refunds.
