England finally gave Australia a Boxing Day belting and the Barmy Army something to shout about as the Ashes roared back to life at the MCG.
After months of pain Down Under, Ben Stokes’s battlers ripped up the script with a stunning four wicket win inside two days to end a winless streak in Australia and avoid a humiliating whitewash. It might still be 3 1 to the Aussies, but this one belonged to England, loud, proud and unapologetic.
This was Bazball at its wildest and most wonderful. On a pitch that turned batting into a lottery, England laughed in the face of danger, chased 175 on the second evening and left Australia shell shocked in their own backyard.
First, the bowlers did the damage. Brydon Carse had the day of his life, charging in and ripping out Australia’s middle and lower order with four for 34. Captain Stokes dragged his side forward again with three for 24, while Josh Tongue’s whirling arms and awkward angles kept the Aussies guessing and nicking.
Australia crumbled from 82 for three to 132 all out, losing seven wickets for 50 as England finally cracked the code on an Australian pitch. Travis Head top scored with 46 but even he looked like he was surviving on borrowed time. Marnus Labuschagne stormed off after edging Tongue, Usman Khawaja was rushed into a top edge and the tail was swept away with ruthless efficiency.
England even shrugged off losing Gus Atkinson to a hamstring injury early in the day, a blow that would have sunk previous touring sides. Not this one.
Then came the chase, frantic, fearless and very English. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett flew out of the blocks, smashing 51 in just 6.5 overs, England’s best opening stand of the series. Duckett was scoring from ball one, Crawley launched a straight six and suddenly the MCG was buzzing with disbelief.
Duckett’s 34 from 26 balls was scruffy but priceless, swinging hard, missing plenty and still dragging England halfway there before Mitchell Starc knocked him over. In classic Bazball madness, Carse was sent in at number three as a pinch hitter, proof England were playing the game on their terms.
England blasted to 100 for two inside 16 overs, their second fastest hundred ever against Australia. Even Steve Smith admitted the early assault took the sting out of the ball and his bowlers.
Jacob Bethell then showed ice in the veins, justifying his recall with a classy 40 that steadied the nerves. His stand with Crawley, who made 37, sucked the life out of Australia’s fight. Scott Boland threatened briefly with two wickets, but it was too little, too late.
Harry Brook was there at the end, and fittingly it was scrappy too. The winning runs dribbled off his thigh pad, but nobody in white cared. England had done it. The roar from the travelling fans said everything.
This was England’s first Test win in Australia since 2011, a victory built on guts, discipline and daring. Australia can grumble about the pitch all they like, but England out bowled them, out thought them and out fought them.
The Ashes are still Australia’s to lose, but England march on to Sydney with chests puffed out, belief restored and a reminder to the cricket world, write us off at your peril.
