KEY POINTS:
- Twenty wickets tumbled in a single day of Test cricket
- Australia lead by 46 runs after dismissing England for 110
- Rare feat on first day, historic crowd and lively pitch challenge batters
MELBOURNE: In an extraordinary first day of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday, a remarkable 20 wickets fell at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia seized control of the match.
The two teams’ batters hardly stayed more than seven hours on the pitch, and Australia bundled England out for 110. By the end of the full first day, Australia was leading by 46 runs, with 4 of 6 wickets fallen in the second innings contributing to their first innings total of 152. It was one of the rarest bowling spectacles in modern Test cricket and is counted among only a small number of occasions where 20 or more wickets have fallen in a day’s play in the sport’s long history. (reuters.com)
A record Boxing Day crowd of 94,199 witnessed the frenetic action, with seamers exploiting a lively surface that offered pronounced movement and bounce. Australia’s bowlers were rewarded early before England’s batting lineup disintegrated quickly, with several key players out cheaply and a brief lower-order resistance doing little to arrest the collapse, according to The Guardian
England’s fast bowler Josh Tongue had earlier impressed with figures of 5 for 45, but his efforts were overshadowed by the ensuing carnage as batters on both sides struggled to cope. Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc were among the Australian bowlers who exploited the conditions to great effect.
Although 20 wickets in a day is not a fresh record, 27 wickets fell in a Test in 1888 and 25 at the same Melbourne venue in 1902, it remains a rare and notable event in modern era Test cricket, especially on the first day of a match. The feat places this Boxing Day’s play among the most thrilling and unusual bowling displays seen in recent decades, according to the primecaptain.com
There was little resistance from the middle order, and hopes of a recovery quickly faded as partnerships failed to develop. According to BBC Sport, England’s total was among their lowest in an Ashes Test in Australia in recent years, highlighting persistent concerns around the side’s batting under pressure.
Earlier, Australia had been bowled out for 152, a total that appeared modest on a surface offering assistance to bowlers. ESPNcricinfo noted that England’s bowlers had kept the contest evenly balanced, only for the advantage to slip away rapidly once their batters took the crease.
With the hosts holding a robust first‑innings advantage, the match is set up for further dramatic developments as the Ashes rivalry continues.
