England End 15-Year Ashes Drought with Gritty Melbourne Test Victory

Post by : Saif Nasser

England finally gave their fans a reason to celebrate on Australian soil as they defeated Australia by four wickets in a dramatic fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The win was special not because it changed the series result, but because it ended a painful 15-year wait for an England Test victory in Australia.

Under bright Melbourne sunshine, England chased down a tricky target of 175 runs in just two action-packed days. The match was full of tension, quick wickets, and brave performances from both teams. While Australia had already secured the Ashes urn, England showed strong character and pride by fighting back when it mattered most.

A Long-Awaited Moment for England

England had not won a Test match in Australia since January 2011, when they dominated the final Test in Sydney during the famous 2010–11 Ashes series. Since then, every tour had ended in disappointment. This Melbourne victory finally ended that long drought.

England captain Ben Stokes and his team were under pressure throughout the series, facing tough crowds, fast pitches, and a confident Australian side. However, this match gave England a chance to show they still belonged at the highest level.

Joe Root, one of England’s most experienced players, said after the match that although losing the series was disappointing, the team needed to show courage and belief. According to him, the way England responded over two intense days showed the true spirit of the team.

Match Turns in Just Two Days

The fourth Test was unusually short. After a fast-paced opening day where 20 wickets fell, Saturday saw another 16 wickets tumble. The pitch offered plenty of help to bowlers, making batting difficult from the start.

Australia began the second day with a 46-run lead and all 10 wickets in hand. At that point, many believed they would push England out of the game. However, England’s bowlers had other plans.

Josh Tongue was once again outstanding, building on his five-wicket haul from the first innings. He removed key Australian batters early, and soon Australia collapsed from a solid position. They were bowled out for just 132 runs in 34.3 overs, leaving England with a chase that looked simple on paper but was anything but easy on the field.

Stand-in Australian captain Steve Smith later admitted that the pitch offered too much for bowlers. He felt that if Australia had scored just 50 or 60 more runs in each innings, the result could have been very different.

England’s Chase: Calm Under Pressure

England began their chase with intent. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett attacked the Australian bowlers from the start. Crawley scored 37 runs while Duckett added 34, putting together a quick 51-run partnership. Their positive approach set the tone and gave England early confidence.

Duckett was eventually bowled by Mitchell Starc, and England tried a bold move by sending Brydon Carse up the order to attack. The gamble did not work, as Carse was dismissed for just six runs.

Young batter Jacob Bethell, only 22 years old, then played one of the most important innings of the match. In just his fifth Test, he scored a fluent 40 off 46 balls. Bethell looked comfortable and fearless, showing great promise for the future. Sadly for him, he missed out on a first Ashes half-century after being caught brilliantly by Usman Khawaja off Scott Boland’s bowling.

At that stage, England needed only 38 runs with six wickets in hand. Still, the match was far from over.

Australia’s fast bowlers fought back hard. Jhye Richardson trapped Joe Root lbw for 15, and Starc dismissed Ben Stokes for just two runs. Suddenly, England were 165 for six, and nerves spread through the stands.

Brook and Smith Finish the Job

With the pressure rising, Harry Brook and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith showed calm heads. They played carefully, choosing the right balls to defend and the right moments to score. Brook finished on 18 not out, while Smith stayed unbeaten on three.

The winning runs came in an unusual way — four leg byes off Mitchell Starc — but England did not care how the victory came. What mattered was crossing the line.

As England players hugged each other, their travelling fans erupted in joy. Songs echoed around the MCG, marking a rare and memorable celebration for English cricket supporters.

Australia Left to Reflect

For Australia, the loss raised questions about pitch preparation and batting discipline. They had started the day well at 61 for two but then lost wickets in clusters. The middle and lower order failed to provide resistance, adding just 13 runs for the final three wickets.

Steve Smith praised England for taking the game away from them but admitted disappointment. He also pointed out that fans missed out on extra days of cricket, as the match ended far earlier than expected. Cricket Australia is likely to lose millions in revenue due to the shortened Test, despite strong crowds of over 90,000 on day two.

A Win Beyond the Scoreline

Even though England cannot win the Ashes this time, this victory means much more than just one Test match. It restores belief, ends a long losing streak, and gives young players confidence ahead of future tours.

For England fans, the Melbourne Test will be remembered as the moment when hope returned. After 15 years of waiting, England finally proved they could survive the Melbourne mayhem and walk away winners once again.