England cricket team may have thought that they were in the driver’s seat after bowling out Australia for 152 runs on Day 1 of the AUS vs ENG Ashes 4th Test at the MCG. But little did the visitors expect Michael Neser and Scott Boland to join hands to wreak havoc on their batting order, ensuring that Ben Stokes and co. were bowled out for just 110 runs. Overall, the surface at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test was a nightmare for the batters as 20 wickets fell in just a single day, something which experts – especially from England – are going to cry foul about.
England’s batting woes in Down Under continues
Mitchell Starc and Neser ran through England’s top-order, getting rid of Ben Duckett (2), Zak Crawley (5) and Jacob Bethell (1) cheaply. Joe Root became Neser’s 2nd victim as he fell for a 15-ball duck. Harry Brook attempted a spirited fight back with a 41-run knock. But that was brought to a grinding halt by Scott Boland.
Wickets then fell in a heap, resulting in England being bowled out for 110 runs. Neser finished with 4 wickets to his name, Boland with 3, Starc with 2 and Cameron Green with one to his name. The innings was also marred with a no-ball controversy involving Green. The last time 20 or more wickets fell on the first day of an Ashes Test in Australia was back in 1901-02.
Tongue England’s lone warrior on Day 1
Batting first in the contest, Australia were reduced to 72/4 at Lunch on Day 1 of the Ashes 4th Test at the MCG. Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bowl first as the visitors are eyeing to bounce back after having already lost the series 3-0. England made a couple of changes to their playing XI, replacing Jofra Archer and Ollie Pope with Gus Atkinson and Jacob Bethell. Josh Tongue was the pick of the bowlers for England in the first session, as he got rid of Jack Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith cheaply and in quick succession.
Eventually, Tongue finished with a five-wicket haul to his name, becoming the first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul at the MCG in the 21st century. Neser was the highest run-getter for Australia in the 1st innings with his 35-run knock, while Usman Khawaja (29) and Alex Carey (20) were the only other Australian batters who managed to get going.
The contest is now headed to a finish before Day 3, given the rate at which wickets are falling. And England could potentially be staring at a fourth-straight loss.
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