England outclassed Australia by four wickets in the fourth Test of the Ashes 2025 at the MCG. Brydon Carse (4/34 in 11 overs), Ben Duckett (3/24 in 7.3 overs), and Josh Tongue (2/44 in 11 overs) dismantled the Australian batting line-up in the second innings, as Australia were bowled out for 132.

On a difficult pitch, England chased a target of 175 in the fourth innings with positive intent. The top order attacked from the start. In the end, England reached the target with four wickets in hand.

Rare finish raises concerns

This match became only the fifth Test in history to feature multiple two-day finishes in a series. Before this summer, Australia had seen just two such Tests.

More than 186,000 fans attended across two record-setting days. Despite that, Cricket Australia is set to take another financial hit. The Ashes series has turned out to be expensive. Ben Stokes admitted the situation was not ideal. Still, England avoided the danger of another clean sweep in Australia.

Bethell shows promise in unusual Test

Jacob Bethell, recalled for this match, impressed with a score of 40. His innings offered a clear glimpse of his potential. However, his dismissal meant this Test produced no individual half-century.

That made it the first Test in Australia without a fifty since 1932. It was only the fifth such Test in overall history.

England briefly wobbled near the finish. Joe Root fell lbw to Jhye Richardson. Soon after, Stokes edged Mitchell Starc with ten runs still needed. Four leg byes then sealed the win, drawing loud cheers from travelling England fans, even if the team celebrations stayed restrained.

England bowlers set up the chase

Australia held a first-innings lead of 42 after a dramatic opening day that saw 20 wickets fall. However, they struggled badly in the second innings. They were bowled out for 132.

Stokes and Brydon Carse shared seven wickets. Josh Tongue added two more to continue his strong match. England achieved this despite losing Gus Atkinson early in the day to a hamstring injury.

The chase target of 175 was still the highest total of the match. Yet England never let pressure build.

Openers attack from the start

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made their intentions clear immediately. They smashed 51 runs in just seven overs.

Duckett hit Starc through the leg side off the first ball. Crawley then launched Michael Neser straight down the ground in his opening over. That set the tone.

Starc produced some excellent deliveries, especially to Duckett. He nearly claimed a return catch from a leading edge. Still, England kept attacking.

When Alex Carey came up to the stumps against Neser, Crawley responded by hitting him straight for six. He followed it with a fierce cover drive. Duckett also went after Neser, including a top-edged shot to deep third and a stunning scoop for six. The aggressive style looked very much alive.

Middle-order moments shape the chase

Starc eventually bowled Duckett with a full delivery after he had struck four boundaries behind point. By then, the openers had shifted the momentum.

England tried a surprise move by promoting Carse to No. 3. He sliced to deep third, opening the door for Bethell to play a vital knock.

Bethell survived a leading edge first ball. He then drove Scott Boland confidently down the ground. In the final session, he reverse-scoped Boland over Carey and followed it with a clean cover drive.

Boland, introduced late despite England racing to 70, briefly threatened again. He trapped Crawley lbw and then had Bethell caught at cover. However, Australia simply did not have enough runs to defend.

Australia’s second innings unravels

Australia resumed their second innings with Boland surviving overnight. He lasted five more overs before Atkinson found his outside edge. Soon after, Atkinson left the field with a hamstring injury, leaving England short of a frontline seamer.

Stokes stepped up immediately. He struck in his first over, bowling Jake Weatherald after the batter misjudged a delivery he tried to leave. Weatherald’s returns since Brisbane have been poor, and he now faces pressure ahead of the Sydney Test.

The pitch began to misbehave. Marnus Labuschagne took blows on the gloves before edging to first slip. Travis Head looked fluent but fell when a Carse delivery jagged back to hit the top of off stump.

Usman Khawaja followed soon after, top-edging a short ball from Tongue to long leg. Alex Carey could not rescue Australia this time and edged to second slip.

England finish the job

Steven Smith and Cameron Green briefly steadied Australia with a 31-run stand across nine overs. Green looked set again but edged to second slip while driving at a short ball.

Carse continued to impress in Atkinson’s absence. He took a sharp return catch to dismiss Neser. Later in the same over, after a no-ball, he removed Starc, caught at slip.

Smith chose not to shield No. 11 Jhye Richardson. Although Richardson struck a confident straight drive, he soon edged Stokes to the off side. That left England with a manageable chase.

With victory secured, Melbourne’s pubs, golf courses, and Boxing Day sales likely enjoyed an unexpected boost.

Brief Scorecard