The legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed one of the most chaotic days in modern cricket history as the Ashes 2025-26 4th Test Australia vs England kicked off on December 26, 2025. In a staggering display of pace dominance, 20 wickets tumbled before stumps, leaving the record-breaking crowd of 93,442 fans breathless. By the end of Day 1, Australia sat at 4/0 in their second innings, holding a narrow 46-run lead after both sides were bowled out for subpar totals on a spicy “green top” surface.
Josh Tongue Shreds Australia’s Top Order
After winning the toss and electing to field, England’s decision paid immediate dividends. England’s pace attack, led by a relentless Josh Tongue, tore through the Australian lineup with clinical precision. Tongue, replacing the injured Jofra Archer, silenced the MCG by claiming a magnificent 5/45. Consequently, the Australian “cream” struggled to settle, with superstars Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne falling for just 9 and 6 runs respectively. Despite the collapse, Michael Neser provided a vital counter-attack, top-scoring with 35 runs to push the total to a modest 152.
The atmospheric conditions played a significant role, as the ball nipped and zipped off the deck throughout the first two sessions. Transitioning from defense to attack proved nearly impossible for the batters. While Usman Khawaja chipped in with 29, the lack of substantial partnerships meant Australia was bundled out in just 45.2 overs. This rapid dismissal set the stage for an equally dramatic response from the visitors.
Michael Neser Leads the Aussie Fightback
England’s joy was short-lived as the Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland extracted even more venom from the pitch. In a nightmare start for the tourists, England slumped to 16/4 within the first eight overs. Veteran Joe Root perished for a 15-ball duck, while Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were dismissed cheaply by Starc.
Harry Brook offered the only real resistance for England, smashing a quick-fire 41 off 34 balls, including two massive sixes. However, Scott Boland’s accuracy eventually trapped him LBW, effectively ending England’s hopes of a first-innings lead. Michael Neser finished with impressive figures of 4/45, proving his worth as a premier all-rounder in the absence of Pat Cummins. With a lead of 42 runs, Australia survived a single over before stumps to reach 4/0, setting the stage for a high-stakes Day 2.
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