England seized an early advantage on day one of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne, with bowler Josh Tongue instrumental in reducing Australia to a precarious 72 for four. Despite having already lost the Ashes urn, the touring side displayed renewed spirit in front of a massive 90,000 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This dominant performance marked England’s strongest session of the series, offering a glimmer of hope for the embattled tourists.
Recalled pace bowler Gus Atkinson struck the first blow, dismissing the in-form Travis Head in the seventh over. However, it was Josh Tongue who truly seized the momentum, delivering a devastating three-wicket spell that sent shockwaves through the Australian batting lineup. Tongue’s impactful performance shifted the game’s narrative, showcasing England’s potential to challenge the dominant hosts.
Taking over from the wayward Brydon Carse at the Shane Warne Stand End, Tongue unleashed an eight-over spell that yielded three wickets for just 24 runs. His victims included Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, and captain Steve Smith, each falling to his incisive bowling. This spell underlined Tongue’s effectiveness and his ability to exploit favourable conditions on the green-tinged pitch.
At the lunch interval, Australia’s scoring rate was notably slow, allowing England to reflect on a highly successful session. Ben Stokes had won the toss and opted to bowl first on a pitch that promised assistance for seam bowlers. However, Carse’s struggles with accuracy initially hampered England’s new-ball plans, with one over being plundered for 15 runs.
Travis Head, who had been part of Australia’s Ashes celebrations, attempted to free his arms but misjudged a shot, dragging the ball onto his stumps for 12. Tongue then made an immediate impact, his second delivery trapping Jake Weatherald lbw. Marnus Labuschagne followed shortly after, edging behind to Joe Root at first slip after being beaten by a previous seaming delivery.
Steve Smith, known for his resilience, appeared set to frustrate England but was ultimately undone by a superb delivery from Tongue. The ball jagged back sharply, shattering Smith’s middle stump and leaving the stand-in captain visibly perplexed. This dismissal continued Tongue’s impressive record against Smith, having now dismissed him multiple times in Ashes cricket.
Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey managed to navigate Australia through to the lunch break, but the hosts face a significant challenge to build a competitive total. Their early wickets have put immense pressure on the remaining batsmen, highlighting the effectiveness of England’s disciplined bowling attack.
