England’s young batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell believes his brief but intense exposure to the Indian Premier League played a key role in helping him handle the pressure of an Ashes debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the most intimidating venues in world cricket.

IPL experience proves crucial in preparing Bethell for Ashes debut pressure

The 22-year-old was drafted into England’s XI for the Boxing Day Test, replacing Ollie Pope at No.3, and responded with a composed knock of 40 as England chased down 175 to secure a memorable four-wicket win. The victory ended England’s long wait for a Test win in Australia and snapped an 18-match winless run Down Under.

Bethell admitted the occasion initially got to him, but said his stint with Indian Premier League helped him stay calm when it mattered most. Having featured in two matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their title-winning 2025 campaign, Bethell said the atmosphere in India offered an unexpected rehearsal for the Ashes spotlight.

“I was pretty nervous - not so much with the people, just the occasion,” Bethell said. “But I’ve played in India where it feels like there’s 160,000 watching. Playing in front of 50,000 at the Chinnaswamy, which felt like 100,000, definitely gave me more confidence coming into this game.”

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Calm under pressure strengthens Bethell’s case as England’s long-term No.3

Walking out to bat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with England still needing over 100 runs, Bethell showed maturity beyond his years. His timely boundaries eased the pressure and steadied a chase that could easily have slipped away on a challenging surface.

While his first-innings dismissal was forgettable, Bethell’s second-innings contribution offered a glimpse of why England see him as a long-term option at No.3. He described the role as a “double-edged sword”, demanding both survival and intent, but one he is keen to make his own.

For now, Bethell isn’t chasing labels or guarantees. His focus is simple: contribute, learn, and stay in the XI. And if handling a roaring Chinnaswamy crowd helped him breathe easier in Melbourne, England may have the IPL to thank for a calm head on the Ashes stage.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the rating for the recently concluded Boxing Day Test between Australia and England in the Ashes 2025-26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which was a highly controversial Test that ended in two days.

It was the fourth game of the five-match Test series in the Ashes 2025-26, which Australia started with a 3-0 lead, as they already secured the Ashes trophy. While the MCG Test experienced 20 wickets falling on the opening day, the next day had the result of England’s victory by four wickets after the fall of 16 wickets. 

See Also: "Bad business..."- Cricket Australia breaks silence on MCG surface for 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test

Ashes 2025-26, 4th Test: MCG pitch receives “unsatisfactory” mark

The MCG pitch was too pacer-friendly, as there wasn’t a single delivery from the spinner. Even the MCG curator Matt Page was also shocked by the pitch result. Observing the entire situation, the ICC match referee for the game, Jeff Crowe, has marked the pitch “unsatisfactory” – the third rank among the four-ranked pitch rating system. 

The “unsatisfactory” pitch rating comes when the pitch "does not allow an even contest between bat and ball… by favouring the bowlers too much, with too many wicket-taking opportunities for either seam or spin".

The match referee Jeff Crowe called the pitch “too much in favour of the bowlers”, as it earned one demerit point due to getting an “unsatisfactory” rating.

Crowe stated, "The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was 'unsatisfactory' as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point."

However, in the previous three Boxing Day Tests, the MCG received the “very good” rating for those pitches, as the latest demerit point is unlikely to affect the MCG.

Earlier, the Perth Test of the series, which was the five-match series opener, also ended in two days. However, that pitch received the “very good” rating.

We were disappointed for the fans: CA chief of cricket

Cricket Australia (CA) chief of cricket, James Allsopp, recently spoke about the disappointment of bringing hopeless events for the fans due to very early finishes of the exciting Test matches of the series, while many fans were holding tickets for the third and fourth days. 

Allsopp stated, "We were disappointed for the fans holding tickets for days three and four, and also the millions of fans excited to watch the action in Australia and around the world, that the pitch did not provide the MCG's customary balance between bat and ball.”

However, Allsopp is hopeful to bring a better and more satisfying experience to the fans in the upcoming future Tests at the MCG, as the venue will also host the 2026 Boxing Day Test against New Zealand, and the 150th Anniversary Test against England in March 2027. 

The CA chief of cricket added, "We appreciate the outstanding work the MCC staff have done over recent years producing excellent Test match pitches. We're confident they will deliver first-rate surfaces for next year's Boxing Day Test against New Zealand and the hugely anticipated 150th Anniversary Test against England in March 2027."

The Boxing Day Test of the Ashes 2025-26 started in an exciting way, as the jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground experienced 20 wickets on the opening day. The MCG pitch is under scrutiny, as the former cricketers are unimpressed with the track.

The MCG Test started with already set series, as the hosts Australia are leading this series by 3-0 with two matches yet to be completed. Australia are playing with four fast bowlers, as both captains wanted to bowl first in the MCG Test, where the pitch has 10mm grass on the surface, and the temperature is cooler than normal this period. 

After Australia were bowled out for 152 runs, England were bundled out for only 110 runs. With 4/0 in their second innings, Australia ended the opening day with the 46 runs lead. 

The pitch is doing too much: Stuart Broad

Former English pacer Stuart Broad feels that the bowlers don't need too much movement. 

Broad said on SEN Radio, "The pitch is doing too much, if I'm brutally honest. Test match bowlers don't need this amount of movement to look threatening. Great Test matches pitches, generally, they bounce, but they don't jag all over the place."

Watch: All wickets to fall on Day 1 of Boxing Day 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test in Melbourne

It was an unfair contest: Alastair Cook

Meanwhile, former English captain Alastair Cook feels that it was an unfair contest. He has a doubt about the pitch flattening on the second day of the Test match.

Cook said, "The bowlers didn't have to work hard for their wickets. It was an unfair contest. I don't know how you hit it [the ball]. If this flattens out tomorrow then fine, it's an even contest over three or four days. But I don't think this is particularly even."

Only Australian cricketer Michael Neser (35) and English cricketer Harry Brook (41) managed to reach the 30-run mark on the opening day of the Test match. Even former Australian greats have also raised their voices on the pitch. 

That pitch has got too much life in it for Test cricket: Glenn McGrath

Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath believes that the pitch is too good for the pacers.

Glenn McGrath told the BBC: "This pitch has got far too much grass on it… That pitch has got too much life in it for Test cricket… The Australians bowled well [but] it's hard to apply yourself on a pitch that's doing plenty because if you're looking to defend, one's got your name on it. You've got to find that balance between somehow keeping balls out while still looking to score."

I wouldn't be complaining at the end of the day if I was a [current] fast bowler: Brett Lee

Another former Aussie fast bowler Brett Lee had a similar view on the latest MCG track, which he closely looked at in the morning.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was in full voice during the opening day of the Boxing Day fourth Test of Ashes 2025/26 as a massive 93442 supporters filled the stands on the first day, which set the new record for the highest single-day attendance at this venue. The series has already been decided on the back of Australia’s lead of 3-0.

The turnout has registered two benchmarks in the contest. The 91112 spectators who witnessed the 2013/14 Boxing Day Test at this venue against England in the Ashes were followed by 93013, who entered the ‘G’ for the thrilling 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand, which the home side went on to win by seven wickets under the leadership of Michael Clarke.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli celebrates another 50 for Delhi in VHT 2025/26 against Gujarat

The MCG’s Boxing Day Test always remains at the top of the calendar in the global cricket events, which draws a massive crowd among the sporting occasions, as social media exploded with various photos and videos from the fans.

Ashes 2025/26 Boxing Day Test in MCG makes new record 

The ground, which has a massive capacity of 100024 under the partly cloudy skies, confirms that this ongoing Boxing Day Test is the new king. The AFL grand finals, however, draw crowds of over 100000; the stadiums get limited for the cricketing events as some of the seats have to be removed at both ends of the park.

In the field, it was perhaps one of the most thrilling games with the bat and ball in hand. Batting first, Australia were bundled out for 152 runs in just 45.2 overs, with the highest score coming from Michael Neser with 35 runs, while Josh Tongue picked up five wickets for 45 runs in 11.2 overs. The amount of grass didn’t help the batters to spend time in the middle.

But, more viciously, England found themselves 99/9 in the 26th over of the innings. Only three batters- Gus Atkinson, Ben Stokes, and Harry Brook- made themselves into double figures. Scott Boland had a superb figure of 3/30 while Michael Neser picked up four wickets in nine overs.

Latest 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test brief scorecard: 

Australia: 152 (Michael Neser 35, Usman Khawaja 29, Josh Tongue 5/42) vs England 107/9 (Harry Brook 41, Micheal Neser 4/45)

While Melbourne Cricket Ground is ready to host the usual Boxing Day Test, Australian stand-in captain for the last two Tests Steven Smith revealed the bowling combination for the fourth Test of the series.

It is going to be the last Test of 2025, while the hosts Australia have already secured the five-match Ashes Test series by winning the first three matches of the series. The visitors England will play the remainder of the Test series to get back some respect, while the Baggy Greens are ready to continue their domination, despite missing some of their key players.  

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We're going to be playing four quicks, no spinner: Aussie stand-in captain Steven Smith

Regular Aussie captain Pat Cummins and experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon have been ruled out of the series due to injuries. One day before the beginning of the Melbourne Test, the Australian stand-in skipper Steven Smith clarified that they would go with four fast bowlers and no spinner for the upcoming match. The reason for the pace-heavy team is due to the condition of the pitch, where the green grass is furry.  

Smith said, "We landed on a 12. I want to just take a look at the wicket tomorrow. We're going to be playing four quicks, no spinner." 

The Australian stand-in skipper further commented on the present situation of the pitch by quoting, "10 mils of grass, quite furry, quite green. So, I dare say it's going to offer quite a bit. Particularly, I think tomorrow [will be] similar conditions [to] today, quite cold and overcast. So, yeah, I dare say there's going to be quite a bit of movement in that surface."

The maximum temperature for the first three days is expected to be 26 degrees, as the forecast is cooler for the Test match.  

In the second Test of the series, which was a day/night pink-ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia went with four fast bowlers, while the experienced spinner Nathan Lyon was benched. Although Lyon returned to the third Test, his injury forced him to miss the last two Tests of the series. 

It's certainly nothing to do with Todd's skill: Steven Smith

The 25-year-old off-spinner Todd Murphy has replaced injured Lyon for the last two Tests of the series. However, Smith is unlikely to use Murphy for the Melbourne Test, only due to the seam-friendly pitch this summer. 

The Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 season will move ahead with Match 5, in which Melbourne Stars (STA) will play against Hobart Hurricanes (HUR) at the venue of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, 18 December. The match will be the first for the Melbourne Stars, while the other one has kicked off with a winning experience.

Melbourne Stars had finished the last season at the fourth position and would be very eager to make a bright start to the season at their home ground. The Stars under the leadership of Marcus Stoinis possess a well-balanced squad with a lot of talent in both batting and bowling.

Hobart Hurricanes, the defending champions, opened their season with an exciting four-wicket win over Sydney Thunder. Chris Jordan played a key role with both bat and ball and was named Player of the Match. The Hurricanes will aim to continue their good form and pick up another important win.

STA vs HUR: Head-to-Head Record (T20s)

• Matches Played: 22
  
• Melbourne Stars Won: 14
  
• Hobart Hurricanes Won: 8
  
• No Result / Tied: 0

STA vs HUR: Pitch Report

The MCG generally offers help to bowlers early, especially pacers. As the match goes on, batting becomes easier. Teams chasing have had more success here, but a score of 160 or more can be competitive. Winning the toss and bowling first could be the preferred option.

See Also: Watch: Nathan Lyon becomes Australia’s 2nd leading Test wicket-taker during 3rd Ashes 2025/26 Test

STA vs HUR: Predicted Playing XIs

Melbourne Stars (STA):

Joe Clarke, Sam Harper (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Campbell Kellaway, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Mitch Swepson, Tom Rogers

Hobart Hurricanes (HUR):

Mitchell Owen, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rehan Ahmed, Ben McDermott, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake

After the ODI series, India is taking on Australia for a 5-match T20I series. After the 1st T20I match was washed out, India took on Australia in the 2nd T20I at MCG. After a great batting display by Indian batters in 1st T20I, the picture in 2nd T20I was totally different.

In Canberra, Indian Batters seemed in great form, and after washing off, it was expected they would carry this form in the 2nd match. But nothing like this happened at MCG. Josh Hazlewood made a difference with his bowling. Hazlewood always bowled with precision, which created trouble whenever any batter faced him. 

While batting first, Indian batters crumble in Hazlewood's storm. He was also seen in good form in 1st T20I as well. He took early and crucial wickets of Shubman Gill, Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and other power hitters. His brilliant bowling put the host nation in the driving seat.

See Also: [WATCH] Abhishek Sharma charges Xavier Bartlett for 6 during AUS vs IND 2nd T20I at MCG

Josh Hazlewood Strikes; India’s Batting Collapses:

Since the ODI series, Josh Hazlewood has been exceptional in every match. In every match, he created a big difference between the two teams with his brilliant bowling spell. Though the first T20I was washed out, Hazlewood was the only wicket-taker. In the next one, he rattled India’s heavy power-packed top order with his brilliance.

Hazlewood dismantled India’s top order, starting with Shubman Gill’s dismissal in the third over. His devastating third over of the spell — the fifth of the innings — saw him remove Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, conceding just a single run. Both batters, known for their explosive stroke play, were undone by his precision and pace. In his spell, a catch was dropped as well.

In the 2nd T20I match, Josh bowled an exceptional spell. In his spell, he only conceded 13 runs, at an economy of 3.20, and picked up 3 crucial pillars of India’s top order; Shubman Gill, Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. His experience helped Australia take the lead in the series and win the match by 4 wickets.

Suryakumar Yadav, a standout performer for India in T20I cricket, has revealed that the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is his number one cricket stadium in Australia, describing it as one of the most historic grounds in world cricket.  During a recent interaction on YouTube, Yadav spoke fondly about the memories that he associates with the ground and talked about how looking forward to playing in the venue in the white-ball series against Australia early next year.

“It's definitely an MCG, Melbourne, definitely one of the iconic stadiums," Yadav said. "I had an opportunity in 2022, Virat Bhai (Kohli) played the innings of a lifetime. I am really excited to play there I will go for a T20I."

The Mumbai batter was referring to the now-famous India vs Pakistan clash during the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, when Virat Kohli scored a magical 82 off 53 balls* to lead India to a thrilling four-wicket victory with 90,293 fans in attendance, the largest-ever crowd for a T20I match between the two nations. Yadav scored a brisk 15 in that match before being dismissed by Haris Rauf, and asserted that night will always remain one of the best cricketing experiences he has ever had. 

Q: Which is your favourite stadium in Australia? [Suryakumar Yadav YT]

Suryakumar Yadav said "It's definitely MCG, Melbourne - one of the iconic stadiums - I got an opportunity in 2022, Virat bhai played his innings of the life - I am really excited to play there, I am going to… pic.twitter.com/JGnYPOzdJm

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 31, 2025

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The MCG: A Historic Ground Where Legends of Cricket Are Made

The MCG, or the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was established in 1853. It is Australia’s largest stadium with a crowd capacity of over 100,000. The MCG has witnessed some of the greatest historical moments of the game of cricket including the World Cup Final in 1992, the Centenary Test in 1977 and the World Cup final in 2015 when there was an official attendance of 93,013. But Yadav said the MCG is more special than just historical significance or the attendance total stating that "the atmosphere, the crowd, the history, everything about the MCG is special.”

Yadav’s tour with India to Australia in 2025 includes a T20I match at the MCG on November 9 in case Yadav had a chance to impress the crowd in the grand old arena once again. With his fearless stroke making and 360-degree batting approach, he will welcome another opportunity to present his T20I form at a venue that favors aggressive cricket.

The MCG is also a cultural landmark with major events including the AFL Grand Final and the MCG will feature in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics when that happens. As Suryakumar prepares to pursue future plans to return, the MCG remains a cultural icon that seems to offer hope of creating some cricketing magic.

Cricket Australia has officially announced that public ticket allocations for the upcoming T20I between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) have been completely sold out. The match, scheduled for Friday, October 31, has achieved this milestone more than three weeks before the game, highlighting the massive excitement among fans. This adds to what is shaping up to be one of Australia’s biggest cricket summers, with public allocations for all 12 days of the Ashes series also fully booked.

The AFL member tickets went on sale today, followed by MCC member tickets being available from tomorrow. This increased demand is an indication of the immense hype surrounding the India-Australia rivalry. Overall, ticket sales for the Men’s ODI and T20I series have crossed an impressive 175,000, with only about 30,000 tickets still available across the remaining eight matches of the tour.

Public tickets for matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Manuka Oval have already been exhausted, while the Adelaide ODI and the Gabba T20I are also nearing full capacity. Both venues have fewer than 5,000 public tickets left each, according to Cricket Australia.

CA CEO Todd Greenberg on Fan Enthusiasm

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg expressed delight over the overwhelming fan response. He said, “The huge crowd anticipated for the Melbourne T20I is another strong indicator of the incredible interest in this series. We’re thrilled to see fans embracing the Australia vs India contest with such passion, and we look forward to delivering a world-class experience both on and off the field.”

Greenberg further added, “To have over 175,000 tickets sold with 13 days until the first ODI in Perth is a phenomenal result. It speaks volumes about the strength of the rivalry and the enthusiasm of fans across the country.”

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Australia vs India 2025: Full Schedule

There is already a different buzz for the return of two superstars and veterans of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, through the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. They have already retired from the shortest and longest format of the game and will return in the national colours for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Cricket Australia has confirmed that public ticket allocation for the T20I game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has now been exhausted. This is now a huge milestone with Australia promising it to be one of the biggest cricket summers along with the Ashes 2025/26, which is due to begin on November 22. It has also been revealed that 12 days of the Ashes series has also been exhausted as the press release revealed.

See Also: [WATCH] Suryakumar Yadav reveals India’s ‘bold and fearless’ approach to Asia Cup 2025 glory

Now the MCG T20I, which is scheduled to happen on October 31, has reached the milestone more than three weeks ahead of the match day. It reflects the extra-ordinary demand of the fans for the exciting series.

Public ticket allocation exhausted for Australia vs India 2025 T20I series

The announcement comes as the overall ticket sales for the ODI and T20I series have crossed 175000 with just 30000 tickets remaining across the eight games. The Sydney and Manuka Oval games have already been exhausted, while the Adelaide ODI and Gabba T20I are finishing slowly.

The summer only gets bigger 🤩

Tickets for the summer are in huge demand - don’t miss out 🎟️ https://t.co/XP4qyEjwG4 pic.twitter.com/j0hiXS5ho8

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) October 6, 2025

“The huge crowd anticipated for the Melbourne T20I is another strong indicator of the incredible interest in this series. We're thrilled to see fans embracing the Australia v India contest with such passion, and we look forward to delivering a world-class experience both on and off the field.  To have over 175,000 tickets sold with 13 days until the first ODI in Perth is a phenomenal result.” Todd Greenberg, CA CEO, expressed as quoted by the Cricket Australia press release.

The opening game of the trip will begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth before the action moves to Adelaide and Sydney. The T20I series will begin on October 29 in Canberra before it continues to spread in Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and Brisbane.