AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test highlights: England beat Australia by four wickets at MCG
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Dec 27, 2025, 12:29:25 IST
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AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test highlights: England beat Australia by four wickets at MCG

Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test highlights: A fighting England won their first Test on Australian soil in 15 years Saturday, restoring their battered pride with a gutsy four-wicket victory to clinch a chaotic fourth Ashes clash that was all over inside two days.
The pumped-up tourists dismissed Australia for 132 soon after lunch in front of a bumper 92,045 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, following the 20 wickets that tumbled on day one.

It left them chasing 175 to win, with Harry Brook (18) and Jamie Smith (three) seeing them home for the loss of six wickets to huge roars from their travelling "Barmy Army" of fans. Jacob Bethell contributed 40 and Zak Crawley 37.

England crashed in the first three Tests and came to Melbourne under enormous pressure amid questions about their limited preparations and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series beach break.

But they finally came good and will head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test brimming with confidence.

England had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011 at Sydney, losing 16 and drawing two since, and openers Crawley and Ben Duckett had a clear objective to snap the streak -- play ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style.

Duckett hit a boundary off Mitchell Starc in his first over while Crawley slammed Michael Neser for a six and a four in successive balls.

They brought up a whirlwind fifty opening partnership but next ball Duckett was bowled by a Starc yorker for 34.

Fast bowler Brydon Carse then strode to the middle as a surprise number three in place of Bethell.

But England's pinch-hitting experiment failed as Carse lasted only eight balls before skying Jhye Richardson to Cameron Green.

Crawley fell lbw to Scott Boland after a gritty knock and Bethell was caught by Usman Khawaja from the same bowler.

Richardson trapped Joe Root (15) lbw and Starc accounted for Ben Stokes (2), but by then only 10 runs were needed and Brook and Smith completed the job.

- Atkinson injury -

Australia resumed on 4-0 in their second innings after an explosive opening day of searing pace saw 20 wickets fall with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England just 110.

It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.

With 10 millimetres of grass on the track it was a bowler's dream, but a host of former greats criticised the pitch for "doing too much" and being "unfair for the batters".

Nightwatchman Boland added two to his overnight four, but his time was always going to be limited and he edged Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Smith.

Atkinson left the field soon after clutching what appeared to be his left hamstring.

Josh Tongue came into the attack on a hat-trick after bagging the last two Australia wickets on day one, but Jake Weatherald whipped his full ball for three.

Weatherald needed a decent knock to cement his spot at the top of the order, but he failed again, bowled by Stokes for five leaving a delivery that nipped back.

Travis Head was joined by Marnus Labuschagne but he only made eight, caught by Root in the slips off Tongue.

Head was in good touch before being bowled on 46 by a peach of a delivery from Carse that beat the outside edge, and when Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) departed in the space of nine balls the momentum was back with England.

After reaching lunch at 98-6, Green (19) became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 119, edging a rising Stokes ball to Harry Brook at slip.

Carse bagged Neser and Starc without scoring and Richardson fell to Stokes with the last four wickets tumbling for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith unbeaten on 24.
09:11 (IST) Dec 27

Will Boland get a nod now? Not yet. Starc (3-0-17-0) to continue. 

09:10 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 6 overs 45 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
460100
  • Zak Crawley 15 (16)
  • Ben Duckett 28 (20)
Michael Neser3-0-26-0
0
Overs5.6
Score45 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Hurls it on a length, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley presses half-forward for the block and is beaten as the ball nips back to catch him on the back pad. Half a shout for LBW but that is comfortably going down leg.

09:09 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs5.5
Score45 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Slides onto the pads, on a good length. Zak Crawley misses out on the tickle and wears it on the front pad.

09:09 (IST) Dec 27
1
Overs5.4
Score45 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Keeps it full and straight, on middle, Duckett works it in front of square on the leg side for a single. Duckett is on 2999 Test runs now in 42 Tests.

09:08 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs5.3
Score44 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, At the sticks, on a length, Duckett is solid in defence and that brings about a loud cheer from the Barmy Army. They are really loving this start from England.

09:07 (IST) Dec 27
6
Overs5.2
Score44 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, SIX! Innovative and mighty effective! Neser lands it fuller, on off, Duckett walks across his stumps and gets low to get the elevation on the scoop. Gets the distance on it as the ball lands beyond the deep fine leg fence for a six. That was a bit Sam Konstas vs Jasprit Bumrah like. Truly audacious.

09:06 (IST) Dec 27
4
Overs5.1
Score38 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Streaky but Ben Duckett won't mind it one bit! Full and on middle, Duckett advances down the track and swings at it. Gets a top edge that flies over the slip cordon and Jake Weatherald at deep backward point stands no chance of getting around and cutting it off.

09:05 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 5 overs 34 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
01(1LB)2023
  • Ben Duckett 17 (16)
  • Zak Crawley 15 (14)
Mitchell Starc3-0-17-0
3
Overs4.6
Score34 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Too full, too straight, on the pads, Ben brings his wrists into play and works it through mid-wicket. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence, but Duckett picks up three runs. It has been a mixed bag so far from Starc in terms of lines and lengths.

09:04 (IST) Dec 27
2
Overs4.5
Score31 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Short and wide on off, Rapped on the pads! Duckett reaches out and thumps it wth a horizontal bat to the left of deep point for two more runs.

09:04 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs4.4
Score29 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Full and on leg, Ben's head falls over to the off side as he tries to clip it away and wears it on the front pad.

09:03 (IST) Dec 27
2
Overs4.3
Score29 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Full and on middle, Ben Duckett presents the full face of the bat and unleashes a drive back past Zak Crawley at the non-striker's end for a couple of runs.

09:01 (IST) Dec 27
1lb
Overs4.2
Score27 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Rapped on the pads! Mitchell Starc is pretty convinced and after a chat with the bowler, Steve Smith takes the review with a couple of seconds left on the timer. Shaping back in, on a length, on middle and leg. Crawley is beaten on the flick, and the ball goes through to hit him on the back pad. A leg bye is sneaked in as the ball rolls away on the leg side. Snicko confirms no bat, but where has this pitched? Ball Tracking comes up as umpire's call on pitching and the ball is clipping the leg stump.

09:00 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs4.1
Score26 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Not far away from crashing into the stumps. Full and tailing back in, after landing just outside the off stump. Zak Crawley goes for the big booming drive and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball sneaks just past the off pole.

09:00 (IST) Dec 27

This has been a perfect start for England. They are going more than run-a-ball right now. Can't see this going into the third day, even if Australia strike with a few wickets before Tea. 

08:59 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 4 overs 26 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
640100
  • Ben Duckett 10 (12)
  • Zak Crawley 15 (12)
Michael Neser2-0-15-0
0
Overs3.6
Score26 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Close! Neser goes wide on the crease and delivers it on a good length, at the stumps. Ben Duckett stays low to get behind it in defence, but the ball jags back in sharply with a bit of extra bounce. It catches the southpaw on the back thigh before going over the stumps.

08:58 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs3.5
Score26 - 0

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Ambitious attempt! On a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett walks across his stumps and attempts the scoop but fails to connect.

08:58 (IST) Dec 27
1
Overs3.4
Score26 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Angled in at the pads, on a length, Zak turns it square on the leg side for a single.

08:57 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs3.3
Score25 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, On a back of a length, on off, Crawley taps it to cover.

08:56 (IST) Dec 27
4
Overs3.2
Score25 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Absolutely hammered! Drags the length back, does Neser, on a good length. Zak gets the width to work with and he slaps it past cover for a four.

08:55 (IST) Dec 27
6
Overs3.1
Score21 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, SIX! Stand and deliver! Pitched up by Neser with Alex Carey up to the stumps. Zak Crawley stays still in his crease and swings through the line. He pumps it back over the bowler's head for a six.

08:54 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 3 overs 15 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
040002
  • Ben Duckett 10 (10)
  • Zak Crawley 4 (8)
Mitchell Starc2-0-10-0
2
Overs2.6
Score15 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, On a hard length, outside off, Ben reaches out and flays at it over point for a couple of runs.

08:53 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs2.5
Score13 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Did that carry? Nearly a repeat of the first innings dismissal. Full and on leg, Duckett tries to turn it away on the leg side and closes the bat face. The ball moves away late to catch the leading edge and it pops back up towards the bowler. Starc sprints and dives on his follow-through but cannot quite get his hands under the ball and can only get fingertips to it.

08:53 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs2.4
Score13 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Mitchell Starc can only chuckle! Very full, landing around middle and off, and then moving away. Premeditation from Duckett as he gives the bowler the charge and then, after seeing the length, he tries to dig it out but is beaten on the outside edge due to the late movement.

08:52 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs2.3
Score13 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, How about that for a comeback? At 146.3 kph, on a good length, going away off the deck. Ben Duckett has a feel for it but is beaten all ends up.

08:51 (IST) Dec 27
4
Overs2.2
Score13 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Too straight and Ben Duckett neatly puts it away. In search of the outswinger, Starc slides onto the pads, Duckett clips it through backward square leg for a four.

08:50 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs2.1
Score9 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Goes after it, does Duckett! Full and moving away from the left-hander. It keeps going away and Ben throws his hands at it, only to connect with thin air.

08:49 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 2 overs 9 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
002020
  • Zak Crawley 4 (8)
  • Ben Duckett 4 (4)
Michael Neser1-0-4-0
0
Overs1.6
Score9 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Slanting in, tucking the batter up for room, on a nagging length. Zak Crawley gets right behind it to defend.

08:49 (IST) Dec 27
2
Overs1.5
Score9 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Fractionally short, on middle. Zak stands tall and swings hard for the pull. Gets it more off the inner half of the blade to the left of deep fine leg for a brace.

08:48 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs1.4
Score7 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, A bit more effort on this ball, on a good length, in the corridor. Crawley makes a watchful leave.

08:47 (IST) Dec 27
2
Overs1.3
Score7 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Fuller and angled in at the sticks, Zak charges down the track and goes over mid on. He does not quite get hold of it and the ball plugs in the outfield. Crawley is off the mark with a couple of runs.

08:47 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs1.2
Score5 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, In and around the off pole, on a good length, Crawley plays it on the rise to cover.

08:46 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs1.1
Score5 - 0

Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Serves it on a good length, in the channel, a hint of away shape. Zak Crawley shoulders arms.

08:46 (IST) Dec 27

Boland from the other end? Nope. It's Michael Neser set to share the attack.

08:45 (IST) Dec 27
Score after 1 over 5 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
01(1LB)4000
  • Ben Duckett 4 (4)
  • Zak Crawley 0 (2)
Mitchell Starc1-0-4-0
0
Overs0.6
Score5 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Fuller and wider on off at 143.7 kph, Ben Duckett backs away and a has a swipe at it but misses by a long way.

08:44 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs0.5
Score5 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, A lot better from Starc! Closer to the off stump, angled in and then going away. Duckett is tentative with his footwork and just hangs his bat out to cover the line, but is beaten past the outside edge.

08:44 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs0.4
Score5 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, A flash and a miss! Short and wide on off, moving away in the air. Ben Duckett looks to flat bat it down the ground rather than going square of the wicket. He reaches out but the ball sneaks under the blade.

08:43 (IST) Dec 27
4
Overs0.3
Score5 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Easy pickings! Starc goes searching for the outswinger but slips it full, on the pads. Ben Duckett does not miss out as he flicks it behind square leg for a four.

08:42 (IST) Dec 27
1lb
Overs0.2
Score1 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Leg bye! This zips through, on a shortish length at the body. Zak is beaten for pace as he tries to fend it down. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind off the thigh pad on the leg side.

08:41 (IST) Dec 27
0
Overs0.1
Score0 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Bashes the hard length and gets the ball to shape back into the right-hander, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley gets his bat out in front to deal with it but the ball beats him on the inside edge and catches him on the thigh pad.

07:55 (IST) Dec 27
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live: Aus 114/6, lead by 156 runs
Australia are 114/6, lead by 156 runs

Cameron Green 16*, Steven Smith 17*
07:54 (IST) Dec 27
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live: Australia retain Ashes
Australia, however, have already retained the Ashes after dominant wins in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run victory in Adelaide.
07:54 (IST) Dec 27
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live: Tongue misses hat trick
Josh Tongue returned on a hat-trick after claiming the final two Australian wickets on day one, but Weatherald briefly countered with a whip through midwicket for three. The opener, however, failed again, bowled by Ben Stokes for five by a delivery that jagged back sharply.

Head, dropped on 26 by Will Jacks, continued to look fluent but Labuschagne fell for eight, caught by Joe Root in the slips off Tongue. Head’s resistance ended when Brydon Carse produced a beauty that beat the outside edge and rattled the stumps.

Tongue and Carse then removed Khawaja and Carey in the space of nine balls to swing the momentum firmly England’s way.
07:53 (IST) Dec 27
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live: Australia's poor start
Australia had resumed the day on 4 without loss following a dramatic opening day that saw 20 wickets fall, with the hosts bowled out for 152 and England dismissed for 110.

It marked the most wickets to tumble on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909, surpassing the 19 that fell on day one of the series opener in Perth.

With nearly 10 millimetres of grass left on the surface, it proved a bowler’s paradise, though several former greats criticised the pitch for “doing too much” and being “unfair for batters”.

Boland resumed on four alongside Head, who was yet to score, and the pair safely negotiated one over before stumps on Friday. Head began positively on Saturday, driving Atkinson for a boundary, while Boland added two before edging the same bowler to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Atkinson soon left the field clutching his left hamstring, forcing England to reshuffle their attack.
07:53 (IST) Dec 27
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live: Hello and welcome!
Hello and welcome!

A fired-up England struck six times before lunch to stay in the contest on another chaotic day of the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday, even as a brittle Australia stretched their lead to 140 runs.

At the interval on day two, in front of another packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia were 98 for 6, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 16 and Cameron Green on six.

The hosts lost nightwatchman Scott Boland (6), Jake Weatherald (5), Marnus Labuschagne (8), Travis Head (46), Usman Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) in a frenetic morning session, despite England being a bowler short after pace spearhead Gus Atkinson limped off with an apparent hamstring injury.
Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test highlights: England had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011 at Sydney, losing 16 and drawing two since, and openers Crawley and Ben Duckett had a clear objective to snap the streak -- play ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style.

Australia resumed on 4-0 in their second innings after an explosive opening day of searing pace saw 20 wickets fall with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England just 110.

It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.

With 10 millimetres of grass on the track it was a bowler's dream, but a host of former greats criticised the pitch for "doing too much" and being "unfair for the batters".

Nightwatchman Boland added two to his overnight four, but his time was always going to be limited and he edged Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Smith.

Atkinson left the field soon after clutching what appeared to be his left hamstring.

Josh Tongue came into the attack on a hat-trick after bagging the last two Australia wickets on day one, but Jake Weatherald whipped his full ball for three.

Weatherald needed a decent knock to cement his spot at the top of the order, but he failed again, bowled by Stokes for five leaving a delivery that nipped back.

Travis Head was joined by Marnus Labuschagne but he only made eight, caught by Root in the slips off Tongue.

Head was in good touch before being bowled on 46 by a peach of a delivery from Carse that beat the outside edge, and when Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) departed in the space of nine balls the momentum was back with England.

After reaching lunch at 98-6, Green (19) became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 119, edging a rising Stokes ball to Harry Brook at slip.

Carse bagged Neser and Starc without scoring and Richardson fell to Stokes with the last four wickets tumbling for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith unbeaten on 24.