- England seal first Test win in Australia since 2011
- Two-day thriller ends with four-wicket victory at the MCG
- Series heads to Sydney with Australia still 3-1 ahead
- Stokes’ men keep World Test Championship hopes alive
England finally ended their 14-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil, defeating their arch-rivals by four wickets in a gripping two-day Ashes contest at the MCG. Chasing 175 on a pitch full of demons, England played with fearless intent to seal a result that injects life, and belief, back into their campaign down under.
Jacob Bethell’s composed 40 anchored the chase, with England racing at more than five runs per over as Ben Stokes and his men refused to let scoreboard pressure creep in. Despite a late wobble, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith saw England home, sparking emotional yet measured celebrations from a side desperate to end their long losing streak in Australia.
Earlier, Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse produced decisive spells to bowl Australia out for 132, overturning the hosts’ first-innings lead of 42. Travis Head top-scored with 46, but wickets tumbled regularly as uneven bounce and sharp seam movement turned the surface into a bowler’s dream, and a batter’s nightmare.
The victory also boosts England’s World Test Championship (WTC) hopes, lifting their win-loss percentage to 35.19%, while Australia remain top of the standings despite the defeat. However, England face an anxious wait over Gus Atkinson, who suffered a hamstring injury during the match and is now doubtful for the series finale.
The Ashes now move to Sydney with Australia leading 3-1, but England finally have momentum, and a long-awaited Test victory on Australian soil, to savour.
