Summary

  • Fourth Test, day one, Melbourne - England win toss & bowl

  • Australia close on 4-0 - leading by 46 runs in their second innings after 20 wickets fall on frenetic day

  • England crumble to 110 all out: Brook 41 (34); Neser 4-45, Boland 3-30

  • Duckett, Bethell, Crawley and Root fall in first eight overs of England innings

  • Australia dismissed for 152 with Tongue taking a tremendous 5-45

  • Hosts hold unassailable 3-0 series lead

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  1. Eng 106-9published at 27 overs

    Trail by 46

    Chance... albeit a very tough one.

    Josh Tongue drives the ball back at Scott Boland, it hangs in the air and the bowler sticks out his left hand.

    He reaches the ball but these either stick or they don't. This one doesn't and England's innings continues.

  2. Postpublished at 06:35 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia will be looking at the clock now. They won't rush around, they will take their time.

  3. How's stat?!published at 06:32 GMT 26 December 2025

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    Gus Atkinson of England plays a shotImage source, Getty Images

    That brought up the 10 partnership from just 11 balls.

    That's just the second 10 partnership of the innings.

  4. Eng 106-9published at 26 overs

    Trail by 46

    A couple of balls after nearly ramping the ball into his own and/or Alex Carey's face, Gus Atkinson flat bats one back over Michael Neser's head.

    That races to the boundary and brings a huge cheer - the 100 is up for England.

    Four more! Clobbered over extra cover this time by Atkinson. Very useful runs.

  5. Postpublished at 06:30 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia's Scott Boland (3/R) is congratulated by teammates after taking a catchImage source, Getty Images

    All the Aussies were out there, and I was staggered by their conversation.

    'We're right in this. It is doing plenty. Do it right and we will get plenty of wickets.'

    That was the confidence that they had that this pitch did all sorts.

  6. Eng 97-9published at 25 overs

    Well they were bowled out for 152 today, Elliott.

    And England did try that approach for a couple of series in a row and were blown away.

    They changed their approach for this one but while the bowling hasn't been perfect, the batting has been more of an issue.

    Anyway, no further runs from the over despite Gus Atkinson nearly swinging himself off his feet at least twice more in the over.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:26 GMT 26 December 2025

    Click on 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    I don't understand why England went away from the plan that got success in 2010-11 with patient batting and persistent line and length bowling. What they have tried this series hasn't worked and I don't think it has caused Australia too many problems across this series.

    Elliott, Nottinghamshire

  8. 6 runs

    Eng 97-9published at 24.2 overs

    Trail by 55

    Another short ball and Gus Atkinson top-edges on the hook... all the way over fine leg for six!

    It's been an all-action kind of day. To put it mildly.

  9. Postpublished at 06:24 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Scott Boland of Australia takes a caught to dismiss Brydon CarseImage source, Getty Images

    Clever bowling, the keeper stood up, and the last delivery that Brydon Carse expected was the bouncer.

    It is a good catch from Scott Boland.

    Michael Neser has 9-71 in his last two innings.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 24 overs

    Carse c Boland b Neser 4 (Eng 91-9)

    That's nine.

    A new way to get out on this surface as Brydon Carse takes on a bumper from Michael Neser and sends it skywards.

    For a moment it looks like it might land safely but Scott Boland comes in from fine leg, judges it well and takes a good catch.

    Time for England to take a couple of wickets before the close, I reckon...

  11. Postpublished at 06:20 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    There are indentations, so maybe this morning there was some moisture and England have created the indentations. There is no cracks, but there is oval indentations that have been created.

    How can England win the game from here? It might be their best opportunity to get 20-30 quick ones now and then get the ball in hand against Australia.

    Steve Smith knows they're going to try and swing. He is moving his extra cover to mid-wicket.

  12. Eng 90-8published at 23 overs

    Trail by 64 runs

    Cheers, Mike. It was all looking so good when I was last on...

    What on earth has happened?

    I'm sure there will be a rush to really get stuck into the England batters but I don't know how much more they could really have done?

    The bowling in both innings has been very good but when 18 wickets fall on day one - with more than 40 minutes left in the day - then there has to be some questions over the pitch, surely?

  13. Eng 88-8published at 22 overs

    Trail by 64 runs

    Brydon Carse of England is struck on the hand by the ball whilst battingImage source, Getty Images

    Brydon Carse is the latest England man out of the dressing room.

    He opens his account from his second delivery, driving two down the ground.

    Here's Sam Drury to take you through to the close.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:10 GMT 26 December 2025

    Click on 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    Please just let this end.

    Allan, United Kingdom

  15. Postpublished at 06:10 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    You are getting to the stage where England probably need to bowl tonight while the pitch is doing what it is doing.

    It is a good catch from Steve Smith - he catches everything.

    Smith makes it look so easy.

  16. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 21.1 overs

    Stokes c Smith b Neser 16 (Eng 83-8)

    There goes another one.

    Ben Stokes, who has dug in a few times in this series, sees his 38-ball innings come to an end after he edges to Steve Smith at slip.

    It's a third wicket for Michael Neser, who takes a wicket with the first ball of his spell after replacing Jhye Richardson.

  17. What you've missed on day onepublished at 06:10 GMT 26 December 2025

    Erm... plenty.

    Just the 17 wickets have fallen so far on a chaotic first day at the MCG.

    England won the toss, chose to bowl and it all started so well on a green seamer.

    Gus Atkinson struck first to remove Travis Head and then it was over to Josh Tongue as he got Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith before lunch.

    There was some brief resistance from Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey and latterly Michael Neser but England's bowlers would not be stopped.

    Atkinson struck again, Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse got one each and then it was over to Tongue, who ended with 5-45, to finish off the innings with two in two.

    It was three wickets in four balls wrap up the innings with Australia 152 all out on the stroke of tea.

    At that point, England were delighted. It didn't last for long.

    Australia's pacers quickly made the most of a pitch perfect for seam bowling as the tourists were reduced to 8-3 and then 16-4.

    Harry Brook came out and tried, with some success to hit England out of trouble.

    He put on 50 with Ben Stokes before falling lbw to Scott Boland for 41.

    Boland has since done for Jamie Smith and Will Jacks with England in all sorts of bother, still trailing by 69.

  18. Postpublished at 06:09 GMT 26 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    The last time I was on commentary Australia were five down...

    The pitch is a shocker for a Test match on the first day. It has just done far too much.

  19. Eng 83-7published at 21 overs

    Gus Atkinson gets off the mark with a big whip of the wrists, sending Scott Boland's ball square for four.

    He then adds two more out to the fielder at third.

  20. Postpublished at 06:06 GMT 26 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Scott Boland of Australia celebrates the wicket of Will JacksImage source, Getty Images

    Another good delivery from Scott Boland.

    It nipped back into Will Jacks. There is no question that he has nicked that. It is an inside edge through to Alex Carey. The big old gap between bat and body does England, again. If you're just waking up, yes, England are seven down.

    It is so frustrating because England got themselves into such a good position, and they have just thrown it away.