England registered their first Test victory on Australian soil in 15 years on Saturday. They produced a spirited four-wicket win in a dramatic fourth Ashes Test that ended inside two days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Roared on by a crowd of 92,045, the tourists dismissed Australia for 132 shortly after lunch on day two. This followed a frenetic opening day in which 20 wickets fell. Set a target of 175, England held their nerve to reach the target six wickets down.
Harry Brook finished unbeaten on 18, while Jamie Smith remained not out on three. England crossed the line to jubilant celebrations from their travelling “Barmy Army”. Jacob Bethell top-scored with 40, and Zak Crawley added a crucial 37 at the top of the order.
AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT!!
AN ABSOLUTE WARRIOR!!
WHAT A MAN @benstokes38!!
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/yK4bf7wbfc#Ashes pic.twitter.com/o95fdZd31O
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2019England captain Ben Stokes praised his side’s resilience after a difficult tour. He said the win reflected bravery and focus. Stokes credited players and staff for shutting out off-field noise and delivering under pressure.
The victory ended a long drought for England, who had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011. They arrived in Melbourne under scrutiny after heavy defeats in the first three Tests. Criticism over preparation and discipline also loomed large. However, the response was emphatic.
England began their chase aggressively, embracing their trademark attacking style. Ben Duckett struck early boundaries before falling for 34, while Crawley played positively before being trapped lbw by Scott Boland. Bethell and Brook steadied the innings after a brief collapse, ensuring England stayed on course.
ENGLAND WIN A TEST IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY 2011! 🏴
An Ashes whitewash is averted with victory inside two days at the MCG! pic.twitter.com/IerI3RFZD8
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 27, 2025Earlier, Australia resumed their second innings on 4 without loss but struggled once again. The pitch was offering excessive assistance to seamers. Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Carse exploited the conditions as wickets fell regularly. The hosts lost their last four wickets for just 13 runs, with Steve Smith left unbeaten on 24.
Australia captain Steve Smith admitted the pitch played a decisive role. He noted that the unusually high number of wickets reflected how difficult batting had become.
The surface, which featured significant grass coverage, drew criticism from former players. They felt it offered too much for bowlers and undermined the contest between bat and ball.
With the Ashes already retained by Australia, England will head to Sydney for the final Test buoyed by confidence. They have a renewed belief, having finally broken their long winless run Down Under in memorable fashion.
