England's cricketers delivered a stirring Boxing Day fightback in the Ashes, skittling Australia for a mere 152 runs in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The standout performance came from fast bowler Josh Tongue, who claimed a magnificent five-wicket haul.
Tongue's Masterclass Dismantles Australian Batting
Despite Australia having already secured the urn with an unassailable 3-0 series lead, England produced their sharpest performance of the tour on Friday 26 December 2025. Josh Tongue was the undisputed star, finishing with exceptional figures of five wickets for 45 runs. His spell included a sensational delivery that clean bowled Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith, detonating the batter's middle stump.
The hosts, batting first after England captain Ben Stokes won a crucial toss on a green-tinged pitch, never found their rhythm. The recalled Gus Atkinson struck first, removing leading run-scorer Travis Head for 12. Tongue, operating from the Shane Warne Stand end, then took centre stage. He removed Jake Weatherald and world-class batter Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession, both caught behind the wicket.
Record Crowd Witnesses England's Resurgence
The drama unfolded before a colossal audience of 93,442 fans, setting a new all-time attendance record for the Melbourne Cricket Ground, surpassing the crowd for the 2015 World Cup final. They witnessed an England side visibly uplifted, putting behind them a week of scrutiny over their preparation and methods.
The visitors' fielding, often criticised this series, was markedly improved. They held every catch that came their way and even effected their first run-out in 11 Ashes Tests, with Brydon Carse's direct hit dismissing Cameron Green. Stokes himself pulled off a superb catch running backwards to remove Mitchell Starc.
Australia's Collapse After Lunch
From a precarious position of 72 for four, Australia lost their final six wickets between the lunch and tea intervals. Usman Khawaja fell for 29, while Alex Carey was caught at a newly-installed leg-slip. A stubborn 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket was ended by the run-out, before Tongue returned to wrap up the innings. He bowled Michael Neser for a top-score of 35 and had Scott Boland caught at second slip with the very next ball to complete his five-for.
This commanding bowling performance has given England a firm platform in the fourth Test, offering a glimpse of the competitive spirit that had been missing for much of the series. The team will now look to build a significant first-innings lead and secure a morale-boosting victory in Melbourne.
