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 56-4published at 14 overs

    Time for Jhye Richardson to come into the attack, replacing Michael Neser.

    The 29-year-old has accelerated back into international cricket having returned from a shoulder injury - this is just his fourth match since January, two of those were games against England Lions on their recent tour, before a Big Bash game last Friday.

    Harry Brook takes a single square off the first ball of the over, and Ben Stokes sees out the rest of it without scoring.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:27 GMT 26 December 2025

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

    England's Harry Brook batsImage source, Getty Images

    Currently have no idea what will be done first. The last bit of yesterday's turkey I'm eating at 5am, or England's innings. Shambles.

    Nick, Manchester

  3. Postpublished at 05:27 GMT 26 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    If Harry Brook pulls it off, he looks a genius. If he doesn't pull it off, he looks a complete tool.

  4. Eng 55-4published at 13 overs

    Quieter.

    Just three runs off Scott Boland's second over.

  5. How's stat?!published at 05:21 GMT 26 December 2025

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Harry Brook stepped down five times in his first 15 balls today.

    He is the only top-five batter who has played an attacking shot while stepping down the track that many times in the first 15 balls of an innings against pacers in our database (since 2007).

  6. Eng 52-4published at 12 overs

    Ben Stokes of England plays a shotImage source, Getty Images

    Fifty up for England!

    Michael Neser goes too full and Ben Stokes takes the opportunity to hit his first four of the innings, sending the ball through long-off.

    13 runs off the over, and England now trail Australia by exactly 100 runs.

  7. How's stat?!published at 05:18 GMT 26 December 2025

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Harry Brook's six off Mitchell Starc after 8.1 overs was the earliest hit by any batter in Test cricket when their side has been four wickets down, where ball-by-ball data is available.

  8. 6 runs

    Eng 45-4published at 11.2 overs

    Cracked over mid-wicket this time!

    Harry Brook keeps going after drinks, smashing a short-ish delivery from Michael Neser over the ropes.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:15 GMT 26 December 2025

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

    Bring it on Brook. #Runtowardsthedanger

    George, Leicestershire

  10. Postpublished at 05:15 GMT 26 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia have bowled pretty well, but the only difference so far has been Harry Brook with his approach. He is winning at the moment.

    If Brook plays it from the crease, I don't see how they get the scoreboard ticking over.

  11. drinks break

    Drinks - Eng 39-4published at 11 overs

    Scott Boland comes into the attack in place of Mitchell Starc and immediately gets big dollops of movement.

    His penultimate delivery has Ben Stokes groping desperately outside his crease - not much the England skipper could do with that delivery.

    The players will take drinks.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:12 GMT 26 December 2025

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

    England's Harry Brook batsImage source, Getty Images

    Re. Stephan at 05:05 - Wow, the pandemic of poor batting has spread to poor old Joe Root. I really didn't think this embarrassment could get any worse, but this England team surpass all that with extremes of dire garbage.

    Moore, United Kingdom

    Players out defending without scoring many, yet Brook is criticised for trying to get runs.

    Ben, Buckinghamshire

  13. Not outpublished at 10 overs

    Eng 38-4

    Harry Brook is safe.

    His foot came up and then back down by the time Alex Carey took off the bails.

    The England number five adds three more off the last delivery of the over with a shot sent square, gaining an extra run via a Mitchell Starc misfield.

    He moves to 25 from 18 balls.

  14. Umpire reviewpublished at 9.4 overs

    Ben Stokes gets going with a three into the covers off Michael Neser, and Alex Carey comes up to the stumps to try and stop Harry Brook dancing out of his crease.

    After Brook runs two past the slips, he misses a delivery and Carey whips off the bails.

    The umpires are going to take a look at this.

  15. Postpublished at 05:05 GMT 26 December 2025

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Melbourne

    England's Joe Root leaves the fieldImage source, Getty Images

    Out of interest, who played a worse shot? Brook to his first ball, or Root getting out defending Neser?

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:05 GMT 26 December 2025

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

    Re. Stephan at 04:55 - Root's out for 0 trying to play safe. We are going to be skittled for less than 50 trying to block out the ball. Brook has to play this way.

    Mark, Los Angeles

    Looking at the balls Joe Root, our best ever batter, is getting nowhere near, I have no problem with Brook trying to score as many runs as he can before he gets a jaffa.

    Joe, Brockley

  17. Postpublished at 05:05 GMT 26 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Harry Brook of England plays a shotImage source, Getty Images

    Harry Brook is reading the play better than Mitchell Starc is at the minute.

  18. Eng 30-4published at 9 overs

    Harry Brook defends the next delivery, but then returns to counter-attack.

    He chops a ball into the leg side for three and then, having returned to the strike via a leg bye, whips a four through fine leg.

    14 runs off the over.

  19. Postpublished at 05:03 GMT 26 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Pat Cummins, who is not playing, he was out there this morning. He went, 'Maybe I should be playing'.

    Harry Brook was coming, he would have had a chat with Ben Stokes. If they sit back and look to defend, it could be over very quickly.

    You have got to beat fire with fire here.

  20. 6 runs

    Eng 22-4published at 8.1 overs

    Yeah, why not.

    Harry Brook has his game and he is playing it.

    He slams Mitchell Starc over cover for six.