Watch: All wickets to fall on Day 1 of Boxing Day 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test in Melbourne
The fourth Ashes 2025/26 Test on the opening day of the Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw 20 wickets to fall with Australia starting their second innings and end with 46 runs.
Australia’s victory in the third Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Adelaide Oval sealed the urn for the hosts before the focus shifted to the fourth fixture of the series on the Boxing Day Test. The home side had to make three changes, with Steve Smith leading the side in the absence of Pat Cummins, while they opted for both Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.
In just 45.2 overs, Australia were bundled out for 152 runs in the first innings as the highest individual score came from Neser with 35 runs in 49 balls at a strike rate of 71 with the help of seven boundaries. Five of their batters recorded single-digit scores as only Josh Tongue returned with figures of 5/45 in 11.2 overs.
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Meanwhile, England were bundled out for 110 runs inside the opening day as only three batters- Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, and Ben Stokes- made their way into double figures. Brook finished with 41 runs in 34 balls at a strike rate of 120.59, with the help of two fours and two sixes. Neser and Boland shared seven wickets between themselves.
Boxing Day 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test in Melbourne sees 20 wickets to fall
Australia had to bat for one over to end the day’s play as Boland was promoted to open the batting as the nightwatchman. He could have been dismissed in the first five balls with the first delivery, which had nearly bounced him out, while the fifth delivery fell short of the slip corridor. Boland, finally, got a boundary on the last ball as Australia took the lead by 46 runs after the first day.
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20 wickets fell on this Test is the joint-second most wickets to fall on the opening day’s Test at the MCG, with 25 being at the top in 1901/02. It also becomes the third joint-most wickets to fall on the first day down under, with 22 wickets falling in Adelaide against West Indies in 1951/52.
Brief Scorecard of 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test on Day 1:
Australia 152 (Michael Neser 35, Josh Tongue 5/45) & 4/0 (Scott Boland 4*) lead England 110 (Harry Brook 41, Michael Neser 4/45) by 46 runs.
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