Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) England captain Ben Stokes said the wicket for the fourth Test of the Ashes series at Melbourne would likely attract greater criticism if it had been prepared somewhere else in the world, adding that one wouldn’t like to see a game finish in less than two days.The 10mm of grass left on the pitch resulted in 36 wickets falling in six sessions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), as England ended a 14-year wait for a Test match victory in Australia with a four-wicket w…
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Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith admitted that an extra 50 or 60 runs across both innings might have altered the outcome of the fourth Ashes Test, which England won by four wickets to seal their first victory in the country since 2011. England chased down 175 to beat Australia by four wickets inside two days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The tourists bundled out the hosts for 132, with Brydon Carse taking 4-34 and captain Ben Stokes picking up 3-24, before c…
Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) England captain Ben Stokes said it felt “really special” to be on the winning side in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and lauded his team for maintaining their focus and intensity. On Saturday, England ended a 14-year wait for a Test match victory in Australia with a four-wicket win on day two’s play in Melbourne, a result that capped an intense turnaround after three successive defeats and mounting scrutiny over the team’s preparation, as well…
Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) England ended an almost 15-year-long wait with a spirited victory on Australian soil in the fourth Ashes Test, defeating the hosts by four wickets in a frenetic Boxing Day contest here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While the Ashes remain out of reach, Ben Stokes’ side produced a statement performance, sealing the match in just 32.2 overs on Day 2.The Test was wrapped up inside two days on a surface that heavily favoured the fast bowlers, with not a single over deliv…
New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Former England captain Michael Vaughan took a dig at the Melbourne Cricket Ground surface after wickets fell like ninepins and bowlers dominated the opening stages of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia. A staggering 20 wickets fell on the opening day after England chose to bowl first, with Australia dismissed for 152. The visitors fared little better, collapsing to 110 in reply and conceding a 42-run deficit. The frenetic pace of the match continued into day two, as…
Melbourne, Dec 26 (IANS) Australia held a 46-run lead on day one of the Boxing Day Test after the hosts were bowled out for 152 and England replied with an even limper 110 as a record 20 wickets fell on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.The last time 20 or more wickets fell on the first day of an Ashes Test in Australia was back in 1901-02, an era where cricket was played on uncovered pitches.After England won the toss and opted to field first,…
Melbourne, Dec 25 (IANS) Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith opted for an all-pace attack for the fourth Ashes Test against England with the hosts yet to settle on their Playing XI.Smith announced the final 12 for the fourth Test after Australia’s last training session on Thursday and said selectors would assess the “quite furry” MCG pitch again on Friday morning before finalising their pace attack, with Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and returning quick Jhye Richardson vying for the f…
Melbourne, Dec 24 (IANS) England announced their playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia, making two changes from the Adelaide game, as Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the remainder of the series with side strain and Ollie Pope missed out on the upcoming game. Left-handed batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell comes into the side and is listed at No.3, while fast bowler Atkinson returned after missing the last outing. The fourth Ashes test is set to begin on Boxing Day, December 26…