The Australia vs England — The Ashes 2025/26 Fourth Test Day 2 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) produced thrilling Test cricket drama that has grabbed global attention. England pulled off a sensational 4-wicket win chasing 175 on Day 2, showcasing one of their best performances in Australia in recent history. This result gives fans and cricket analysts a lot to discuss as the historic Ashes series continues.
📊 Match Summary – 4th Test, Day 2 (MCG)
| Team | Innings | Runs / All Out |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1st Innings | 152 all out |
| 🏴 England | 1st Innings | 110 all out |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2nd Innings | 132 all out |
| 🏴 England | 2nd Innings | 178/6 (won by 4 wickets) |
Target for England: 175 runs in their second innings.
Match Breakdown & Key Highlights
🇦🇺 Australia’s Batting Performances
Australia struggled with the bat on a lively MCG pitch:
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1st Innings: Australia was dismissed for just 152, despite some resistance.
Bowlers like Josh Tongue excelled for England with an impactful bowling effort. - 2nd Innings: After gaining a modest lead, Australia collapsed again for 132.
Brydon Carse was the pick of the bowlers with 4-34, while Ben Stokes also chipped in with key wickets.
This left England needing 175 runs to win with plenty of overs remaining — a very achievable total but tricky given the pitch behavior.
England’s Remarkable Comeback
After a poor first innings score of 110, England showed resilience and determination:
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England chased down the 175-run target, finishing on 178/6.
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This win broke a long drought — England had not won a Test in Australia for 15 years before this match.
England’s batsmen built a measured chase under pressure, blending aggression and patience as conditions were challenging on a pitch offering movement and bounce.
Strategies & Key Performances
England’s Bowling
England’s bowlers responded well after Australia’s innings:
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Brydon Carse led the attack in the 2nd innings, grabbing 4 important wickets to swing the momentum.
- Stokes & Tongue complemented the pressure with consistent bowling, keeping Australia under control.
England’s Batting
In the chase:
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England’s top and middle order played crucial innings to steady the chase.
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Their ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at key moments allowed them to cross the finish line with 4 wickets in hand.
Why This Win Matters
Historic Context
While Australia had already secured the Ashes series with a dominant 3-0 lead, England’s victory in the 4th Test was remarkable for several reasons:
First Test win in Australia in over a decade.
Demonstrated England’s fighting spirit with both bat and ball.
Solid execution of a successful chase on a historically challenging Aussie wicket.
Series Standings After 4th Test
| Team | Tests Won |
|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 3 |
| 🏴 England | 1 |
Australia still leads the series 3–1, but England’s performance in this match injects fresh drama into what has been a compelling contest.
Final Thoughts
The Day 2 win for England in the Fourth Ashes Test showcased:
✨ A resilient batting chase under pressure
✨ Effective bowling changes and execution
✨ A major psychological breakthrough for England on Australian soil
This match will be remembered as one where England fought back with composure and tactical brilliance — an ideal blend of competitive Test cricket that classic Ashes rivalries are known for.