fuller length into the pads, Crawley falls forward in his eagerness to work the ball to leg
Australia vs England, 4th Test at Melbourne, The Ashes, Dec 26 2025 - Live Cricket Score
Test CAREER
Partnership: 1 Run, 0.5 Ov (RR: 1.2)
Reviews Remaining: Australia - 3 of 3, England - 3 of 3
DRSMatch centre Ground time: 15:18
Scores: Chandan Duorah | Comms: Andrew Miller0.5
1
Starc to Crawley, 1 run
0.4
•
Starc to Crawley, no run
0.3
•
Starc to Crawley, no run
0.2
•
Starc to Crawley, no run
threatening line, back of a length again, Crawley drags his bat inside the line, safe enough with the ball climbing over the stumps
0.1
•
Starc to Crawley, no run
good line across the right-hander, just back of a length, climbing past the off stump. Left alone
3.13pm Hello again. Back come the players, and out come England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett... a man who's been in a few headlines of late. No time like the present to change his personal narrative. Mitchell Starc has the new ball, as ever. Three slips and a gully. Play!
2.53pm Australia have been bundled out for 152 before tea on the opening day. It's been all-action, not for the first time in the series. The pitch is heavily grassed and offered help throughout, although some of the wickets had a helping hand from the batters. Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson were very good, supported Ben Stokes with Brydon Carse getting better later in the innings. They'll be a talking point about whether Mitchell Starc's wicket was a no-ball. Australia's lower-order folded after Cameron Green ran himself out. But the home side have a very strong pace attack and they could make 152 look like quite a lot. Tea has been taken and we'll be back shortly to see how England's openers go.
From Namooh: 3rd shortest first inns by overs for Australia in a home Ashes Test - 32.1 overs: Melbourne 1902 | 42.5 overs - Melbourne 2010 | 45.2 overs - Melbourne 2025
And from Sampath: Josh Tongue, first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul at MCG in a men's Test since Dean Headley in 1998
45.2
W
Tongue to Boland, OUT
edged, taken! Good length outside off, Boland presses forward, the thick edge flies towards Brook at second slip who takes it nicely. Five wickets for Tongue, and that's finished in rush. He'll be on a hat-trick in the second innings
Scott Boland c Brook b Tongue 0 (1b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
45.1
W
Tongue to Neser, OUT
cleaned up! Full, seams back, beats the big drive and takes the top of the stumps. Like the Smith delivery, that came back a long way
Michael Neser b Tongue 35 (49b 7x4 0x6 65m) SR: 71.42
end of over 45Wicket maiden
AUS: 152/8CRR: 3.37Â
Jhye Richardson0 (1b)
Michael Neser35 (48b 7x4)
Brydon Carse 12-3-42-1
Josh Tongue 11-2-45-3
Aaron: "that's a clear no ball?" Yes, just seen the replay. Looked like a no-ball
44.6
•
Carse to Jhye Richardson, no run
short of a length, tucked into midwicket
Jhye Richardson returns to the Test scene...fielders going everywhere: deep third, deep square both out
44.5
W
Carse to Starc, OUT
super catch, Stokes running back from mid-off! Full at off stump, Starc plays a lofted drive but can't get the distance. Stokes turns, chases and makes a lot of ground to take it over his shoulder
Mitchell Starc c Stokes b Carse 1 (6b 0x4 0x6 12m) SR: 16.66
Vikas: "Why is Pat Cummins not playing? Is he injured again?" Not injured, but with Ashes secured they have decided not to risk him. Won't feature again this series
44.4
•
Carse to Starc, no run
short of a length, behind the line and defends
44.3
•
Carse to Starc, no run
short of mid-on! Aims to swing this over the on side, bat twists and he skews it in the air
44.2
•
Carse to Starc, no run
short outside off, 138kph/85mph, allows it through
44.1
•
Carse to Starc, no run
chases a full delivery outside off, no footwork, zips to the keeper
end of over 441 run
AUS: 152/7CRR: 3.45Â
Michael Neser35 (48b 7x4)
Mitchell Starc1 (1b)
Josh Tongue 11-2-45-3
Brydon Carse 11-2-42-0
Jay: "2 leg side wickets and now a run out. Looks like Aussies are still in good christmas spirit."
43.6
•
Tongue to Neser, no run
goes full outside off, drives into the covers, and this time Bethell dives to his right to intercept
43.5
•
Tongue to Neser, no run
short outside off, on his toes, cracks a drive at the top of the bounce, well fielded by Bethell
43.4
•
Tongue to Neser, no run
left alone outside off
43.3
•
Tongue to Neser, no run
short, angled down the leg side, stays inside the line
43.2
•
Tongue to Neser, no run
full outside off, left alone
A very deep gully in place...almost a short third
43.1
1
Tongue to Starc, 1 run
round the wicket, a yorker at middle, dug out to the on side
Half an hour until tea
end of over 438 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 151/7CRR: 3.51Â
Michael Neser35 (43b 7x4)
Mitchell Starc0 (0b)
Brydon Carse 11-2-42-0
Josh Tongue 10-2-44-3
Chad: "People always talk about Cam Green's big bucket hands in the field. I think it's time he got a chance to fully use them by carrying the drinks."
42.6
•
Carse to Neser, no run
wide outside off, made a late decision to pull out of the square cut
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AustraliaTM HeadJ Weatherald
12 (22)10 (16)
27 (38)
J WeatheraldM Labuschagne
0 (7)4 (12)
4 (19)
SPD SmithM Labuschagne
1 (8)2 (7)
3 (15)
UT KhawajaSPD Smith
9 (22)8 (23)
17 (45)
UT KhawajaAT Carey
20 (30)18 (27)
38 (57)
AT CareyC Green
2 (8)0 (7)
2 (15)
MG NeserC Green
31 (38)17 (27)
52 (65)
MA StarcMG Neser
1 (6)4 (10)
9 (16)
MG NeserJA Richardson
0 (1)0 (1)
0 (2)
SM BolandJA Richardson
0 (1)0 (0)
0 (1)
EnglandBM DuckettZ Crawley
0 (0)1 (5)
1* (5)
Match details
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
| Toss | England, elected to field first |
| Series | |
| Season | 2025/26 |
| Match number | Test no. 2615 |
| Hours of play (local time) | 10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30 |
| Match days | 26,27,28,29,30 December 2025 - day (5-day match) |
| Umpires | |
| TV Umpire | |
| Reserve Umpire | |
| Match Referee | |
Language
English
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