Sports
England achieves historic win in Boxing Day Test
Awaze Bihar2 min read
Melbourne, England made history on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the fourth Ashes Test, on just the second day of the weekend, they defeated Australia by four wickets, securing their first Test win in Australia since January 2011 and ending a 14-year wait. The victory sparked wild celebrations among the Barmy Army and the England team, with senior players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes finally savoring a win that had eluded them in Australia for so long. England's Josh Tongue was named Player of the Match for his seven wickets.
After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, immediately putting pressure on Australia. The hosts managed only 152 runs in their first innings, while England scored 110, giving Australia a slender lead in the first innings. In the second innings, Australia collapsed to 132, with Braden Cars, Ben Stokes, and Gus Atkinson wreaking havoc with disciplined and sharp bowling.
Cars claimed four wickets, including those of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, while Stokes dismissed Cameron Green, Jake Waddell, and Neser. Mitchell Starc was out without scoring, caught by Root, and the innings ended when Jay Richardson played a pull shot that went to hand for Crawley.
Chasing a target of 175, England faced some nervous moments, although a aggressive start by Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley laid the foundation. Jacob Bethell scored a crucial 40, while Root made 15 before falling to Richardson, and Ben Stokes was out when just 10 runs were needed.
However, a calm and composed partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith steered England to victory, with Brook hitting crucial fours in the final overs to seal the historic win. England finished with 178 runs for the loss of six wickets. The Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed a thrilling contest filled with skill, suspense, and drama.
Although this win is not enough to regain the Ashes in the series, it showcases England's aggressive intent in Australian conditions, ending years of frustration for their senior players.
