England secured a consolation victory in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in Melbourne, bringing an end to an
18-match winless streak on Australian soil. The match, completed in just two days, saw England chase down a target of
175 to win, reducing the series deficit to 3-1.
The victory, while avoiding a clean sweep, also serves to alleviate some pressure on the England leadership, including
captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, following criticism and reports of off-field issues. It also marks the
first Australian Test win for veterans Stokes and Joe Root after numerous attempts.
The match was defined by challenging batting conditions, with the pitch heavily favoring bowlers. England's 'Bazball'
approach, emphasizing aggressive play, found an unlikely ally in the chaotic circumstances. Brydon Carse's performance
with the ball, taking 4-34, and Ben Stokes' 3-24, compensated for the injury to Gus Atkinson. Carse was also promoted to
number three in the batting order, highlighting England's intent to maintain momentum.
England's top order contributed significantly to the chase, with Zak Crawley scoring 37 and Ben Duckett 34, forming
England's highest opening partnership of the series (51 runs in 6.5 overs). Jacob Bethell, in his recall to the team,
added a valuable 40. While the conditions drew scrutiny for favoring ball over bat, the match provided compelling
viewing for the near 200,000 spectators over the two days.
Australia's batting struggled throughout, being dismissed for 132 in their second innings. Travis Head's 46 was the
highest individual score in the match, underscoring the difficulty batsmen faced. Australia were bowled out twice in
79.5 overs, their quickest loss of 20 wickets in a Test since 1928.
The win offers England a morale boost heading into the final Test in Sydney, providing a platform to build on and
potentially disrupt Australia's momentum. However, the unusual nature of the victory, heavily influenced by extreme
conditions, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the approach and the balance between bat and ball in