Ashes 2025-26 [WATCH]: Josh Tongue stuns Steve Smith with unplayable delivery on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test | AUS vs ENG

England struck a decisive early blow on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test as Josh Tongue produced a moment of magic to dismiss Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith at the MCG. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Ben Stokes’ decision paid instant dividends with England’s pace attack exploiting helpful conditions. Australia struggled to settle at the crease as wickets fell regularly in the opening session. Among those dismissals, Smith’s wicket stood out as the defining moment before Tea on Day 1.

Ashes 2025-26: Josh Tongue castles Steve Smith at the MCG with a absolute jaffa

Tongue produced a moment of high-class fast bowling to remove Smith in Australia’s first innings of the fourth Ashes Test. Bowling full and on a probing length, Tongue got the ball to nip back sharply off the surface, targeting the stumps. Smith, looking to break the shackles, committed early to a booming drive, but the movement defeated him completely.

The ball zipped past the inside edge, leaving Smith rooted to the crease as it crashed into middle stump. It was a combination of a loose shot and an outstanding delivery, with Tongue exploiting both swing and seam at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Smith’s dismissal for 9 off 31 balls underlined Australia’s struggles against England’s pace attack, and it handed Tongue his third wicket of the innings, further tightening England’s grip on the opening day.

The dismissal summed up Australia’s difficult morning, with Tongue and Gus Atkinson extracting consistent movement off the pitch. Smith departed for just 9 off 31 balls, unable to steady an innings that kept losing momentum. By lunch, Australia had slumped to 72 for 4, with England firmly on top. The pressure only intensified after the break as Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey and Cameron Green followed Smith back to the pavilion. Michael Neser’s 35 offered brief resistance, but Tongue’s five-wicket haul ensured Australia were bundled out for just 152.

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Bowlers dominance in the Fourth Ashes Test at MCG between Australia and England

After winning the toss and electing to field, England’s bowlers wasted no time in exploiting the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia found themselves on the back foot early, losing key wickets in rapid succession. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald were dismissed cheaply, followed by Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Despite a brief resistance from Alex Carey and Michael Neser, Australia collapsed to a mere 152 all out. Josh Tongue emerged as the star bowler, claiming 5 wickets, while Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes also contributed with crucial breakthroughs. The hosts struggled to counter England’s pace attack, and their innings ended in just 45.2 overs.

England’s chase began with early setbacks, as Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser found form, dismissing three of England’s top order within the first four overs. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell fell for single-digit scores. Despite a spirited knock from Harry Brook, who scored 41 off 34 balls, England continued to falter, losing wickets at regular intervals. By the 21st over, they were 83/8, still trailing by 69 runs. Scott Boland and Michael Neser claimed key wickets, with Ben Stokes being dismissed by Neser. England’s batting crumbled under pressure, and with just two players left to bat, the visitors face an uphill battle in their response.

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