England produced a stunning bowling performance on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), ruthlessly dismissing Australia for a paltry 152 runs to seize early control. Having already lost the series, the tourists are fighting to restore some pride in the iconic Boxing Day Test.
Stokes' Toss Win Proves Crucial
England captain Ben Stokes won a vital toss on a green-tinged pitch under overcast skies, a decision that immediately paid dividends. His pace attack, led by the impressive Josh Tongue, exploited the favourable conditions from the very first over. The Australian top order, perhaps complacent after securing the urn in the first three Tests, had no answer to the relentless English seam movement.
Australian Batting Collapse in Detail
The hosts' innings never gained momentum. Openers Travis Head (12) and Jake Weatherald (10) fell cheaply. Key batsman Marnus Labuschagne could only manage 6 runs before edging to slip, where Joe Root accepted the catch. The big wicket of Steve Smith came when he was bowled by Tongue for just 9, sending the travelling "Barmy Army" into raptures.
After lunch, Usman Khawaja (29) and Alex Carey (20) offered brief resistance, but wickets continued to tumble. Cameron Green (17) showed glimpses of form before a disastrous run-out ended his stay. The highest scorer for Australia was Michael Neser with 35, who played a counter-attacking knock that included three consecutive boundaries off Tongue.
Tongue's Fiery Spell Seals the Deal
The day belonged to England's pace bowler Josh Tongue, who finished with outstanding figures of 5 wickets for 45 runs. His persistent line and length, combined with just enough movement, proved too much for the Australian batters. He was ably supported by Gus Atkinson, who opened the bowling in the absence of the injured Jofra Archer.
Australia, having secured the series with comfortable wins in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, were left stunned by the ferocity of the English response. The tourists, whose limited Ashes preparations and off-field controversies had been heavily criticised, finally delivered a performance worthy of the historic rivalry. The day ended with England firmly in the driver's seat, looking to build a substantial first-innings lead on day two at the MCG.
