What a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat disaster for England fans – the Ashes 2025-26 series just witnessed one of the most chaotic days in cricket history, with the tourists collapsing to a humiliating 110 all out on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. But here's where it gets controversial: Was this just bad luck, or did the pitch conditions turn a competitive match into something bordering on unfair? Stick around as we dive into the drama, and trust me, you'll want to see how this unfolds – and maybe even weigh in on whether cricket needs to rethink these wild variables.
England capitulate to just 110 in a frenzied day at Melbourne
By
Chief Cricket Reporter in Melbourne
Updated 5 minutes ago
Fourth Ashes Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground (day one of five)
Australia 152: Neser 35; Tongue 5-45 & 4-0
England 110: Brook 41; Neser 4-45, Boland 3-30
Australia lead by 46 runs
Scorecard (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-224182)
England's Ashes adventure hit another rocky patch as Australia bowled them out for a mere 110 in what felt like a comedic tragedy on the first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This isn't just any low score – it's the most wickets to fall in a single day of an Ashes Test since way back in 1909, even beating the 19 that tumbled on day one of the opening match in Perth this series. For those new to cricket, imagine a whole team getting out twice in one day, which is what happened here, turning a five-day Test into a potential two-day farce.
Acting captain Steve Smith, stepping in for Australia, warned that the 10mm-long grass on the pitch meant batters would need to be 'on their game' for the Boxing Day clash. He nailed it – his team scraped together 152 before England were obliterated in just one session after tea. And if that wasn't wild enough, Australia even started their second innings before stumps, a rare feat that's only happened twice before in Test cricket history. They're now 4-0 in that innings, with a 46-run lead.
Perth became the first two-day Ashes Test in over a century, and Melbourne might just follow suit in record time. The evening mayhem overshadowed England's solid work with the ball and in the field. Pace bowler Josh Tongue shone brightly, snagging 5-45 to lead their efforts. Yet, England found themselves bowling again before the day ended because their batting crumbled in just 29.5 overs. And this is the part most people miss – despite the chaos, it highlighted some brilliant individual moments that kept things from being an absolute rout.
England stumbled to 8-3 and then 16-4 early on. Harry Brook's bold, risky swipe at Mitchell Starc's first ball looked reckless at the time, but his fearless approach prevented total meltdown. Brook smashed 41, including two huge sixes, while Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were the only others to crack double figures. Michael Neser grabbed four wickets, Scott Boland three, and the day's absurdity peaked when Boland stepped in as the nightwatchman – for beginners, that's a lower-order batsman sent in to protect a specialist at the end of a day, but here it was a bowler doing it, adding to the carnival atmosphere.
Holiday mayhem at the 'G'
After England's quick Ashes loss in three Tests and rumors of team excesses during a Noosa getaway, they hoped cricket would provide some festive cheer. For the first two sessions, they seemed poised for their strongest showing, but the post-tea session turned into pure pandemonium. This marks their lowest score and shortest innings under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum's leadership, which began over three years ago.
Even though this was a 'dead rubber' – a match that doesn't affect the series outcome, making it less competitive for the losers – it fueled Australia's holiday spirit. The crowd swelled to a Melbourne record of 94,199, eager for more English struggles. The tension during England's innings was electric, with wickets tumbling like dominos.
The pitch sparked debate: Was it too treacherous for batting? For newcomers, pitches with grass can make balls behave unpredictably, leading to more edges and chances. It certainly made the game thrilling, and as always, Australia came out on top. But here's where it gets controversial – some argue that creating such extreme conditions is exciting, while others say it undermines fair play. What do you think: Should cricket embrace these wild pitches for drama, or enforce stricter rules to protect batsmen?
Australia dominate England once more
To truly grasp a Test pitch, you need both teams to bat on it. Australia struggled first, leading to doubts about England's chances. But the result? Utter mayhem. Ben Duckett mis-hit Starc to mid-on, Zak Crawley edged to second slip, and Ashes newcomer Jacob Bethell scored just one before nicking off to Neser. England were down three in just 26 balls.
They avoided deeper embarrassment thanks to Brook. His early mishit at Starc seemed poor, but compared to teammates defending cautiously, it showed flair. His lofted six over long-off and whip for another maximum were strokes of brilliance. Brook and Stokes put on 50 in quick time, but Brook got pinned lbw by Boland, triggering a collapse of five wickets for 25 runs.
From 91-9, things looked bleak, but Atkinson and Tongue rallied. Atkinson rotated the strike expertly for 28, before getting bowled by Cameron Green. He then took the new ball in Australia's second innings. Boland, oddly batting at number 11 and opening, faced all nine England fielders expecting to catch him. His edges – one just short of slip, another for four – capped the day's craziness with roaring cheers.
Tongue spearheads England's hopeful revival
This glimpse into England's bowling future featured Tongue, Atkinson, and Brydon Carse together for the first time. They maximized a crucial toss win with a much-improved display. Apart from Carse's early wobbles, they bowled fuller lengths than before, supported by sharp catching and Carse's direct-hit run-out of Green.
Tongue, absent for the first two Tests, impressed in Adelaide. His full-pitched deliveries stood out, and his nip-backer that bowled Steve Smith continued a streak of dismissing the legend in all their four first-class meetings. Atkinson forced Travis Head to chop on, Tongue got Jake Weatherald with a leg-side gloved catch, and Atkinson edged Marnus Labuschagne. Atkinson was economical post-lunch, and with Crawley's smart slip placement, Usman Khawaja was caught behind on review. Strangely, Stokes didn't bowl before the break.
Neser and Green countered with a 50-run stand, but Carse's sharp throw ended Green's run. Tongue and Carse then wrapped up the tail, with Australia's last three wickets falling for no runs in four balls. Yet, this was tame compared to the batting bloodbath that ensued.
As the series wraps up, fans are left pondering: Did the pitch unfairly favor bowlers, or is this the raw excitement cricket needs? And what about dead rubbers – do they devalue the game, or allow for fun experiments? Share your thoughts in the comments: Agree that conditions were too harsh, or do you love the unpredictability? Let's discuss!
