The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was poised for a Boxing Day thriller, but a familiar script unfolded for England on the opening day of their fourth innings: Ben Duckett Ashes dreams were cut short, yet again, in the most brutal fashion. Facing a mammoth target of 435 to win, Duckett’s early departure wasn’t just a wicket—it felt like the final, definitive blow to England’s already slim hopes of retaining the urn .
Table of Contents
- The Ashes 2025: A Series on the Brink
- 3rd Test Recap: How Australia Built Their Fortress
- The Ben Duckett Ashes Dilemma: A Pattern of Promise and Peril
- MCG Pitch Report: What Awaits for the 4th Test?
- England’s Path Forward: Is There Any Hope Left?
- Conclusion
- Sources
The Ashes 2025: A Series on the Brink
Before we dissect Duckett’s latest stumble, let’s set the stage. The 2025-26 Ashes has been a masterclass in Australian dominance. They clinched the 1st Test in Perth inside two days—a brutal, 8-wicket victory that sent shockwaves across the cricketing world . The 2nd Test in Brisbane was a more prolonged affair, but the result was the same: another Australian win .
Heading into the historic Boxing Day Test at the MCG—the 4th Test—the series stands at 3-0 to Australia. A clean sweep is not just a possibility; it’s looking inevitable . This isn’t just about losing a series; it’s about the psychological toll it takes on a team, especially one that arrived with so much talk of ‘Bazball’ 2.0.
3rd Test Recap: How Australia Built Their Fortress
The 3rd Test in Adelaide was where the contest effectively ended. After bowling England out for 286 in their first innings—thanks to a gritty 83 from Ben Stokes and a fiery 5/53 from Jofra Archer—Australia responded with authority .
Travis Head, the man who has become England’s nemesis in this series, was once again the architect of their misery. Following up on his explosive 69-ball century in Perth , Head crafted a masterful, unbeaten 142 in the second innings at Adelaide Oval . In partnership with Alex Carey (52*), he guided Australia to a commanding 271/4 declared, setting England the impossible target of 435 .
Head’s series statistics are staggering: he’s amassing runs at an average of over 63, proving himself to be the most consistent and destructive batter on either side . His ability to switch from aggressive stroke-play to patient accumulation has left England’s bowling attack grasping at straws.
Why Adelaide Was a Turning Point
The Adelaide Oval pitch is renowned for offering a fair contest between bat and ball . Yet, Australia’s batting unit, led by Head, exploited it to perfection. They didn’t just score runs; they demoralized the opposition. When England walked out to chase 435, the body language said it all—they were playing for pride, not victory.
The Ben Duckett Ashes Dilemma: A Pattern of Promise and Peril
This brings us back to Ben Duckett. The left-hander has been a revelation in white-ball cricket in 2025, boasting an ODI average of 52.88 and a blistering T20I strike rate of 168.25 . He even smashed a monumental 165 against Australia in the Champions Trophy earlier this year . So, what goes wrong in the longest format?
Looking at his recent Test record, a worrying trend emerges:
- 1st Test, Perth: A solid 43 in the first innings, but only 19 in the second.
- 2nd Test, Brisbane: Another promising start ended in disappointment.
- 3rd Test, Adelaide: The now-familiar early exit, falling for a low score while chasing a huge total .
The issue isn’t Duckett’s talent—it’s his approach. In the high-pressure environment of an Ashes chase, the aggressive, boundary-hunting mindset that serves him so well in limited-overs cricket becomes a liability. He seems caught between the old, patient Test-match approach and the modern, high-risk ‘Bazball’ philosophy, and it’s costing him his wicket.
His overall Test average of 41.35 is respectable , but in an Ashes series where every run is magnified, and against a bowling attack featuring the likes of Cummins, Starc, and Boland, that average needs to be closer to 50 to be truly impactful at the top of the order.
MCG Pitch Report: What Awaits for the 4th Test?
All eyes now turn to the MCG for the 4th Test, starting on December 26th . The ‘G’ is not just any cricket ground; it’s a cauldron of pressure, especially on Boxing Day.
Historically, the MCG pitch is known for its true bounce and early swing, offering a challenge for batters in the first session . It’s the same venue where Scott Boland famously took 6/7 in the 2021-22 Ashes, and while conditions have evolved, the potential for a spicy contest remains .
For England, the pitch report is a double-edged sword. While it can aid their seamers like Archer and Wood, it also plays perfectly into the hands of Australia’s pace trio, who thrive on bounce and carry. If Duckett and the top order can’t survive the new ball, a repeat of Adelaide is almost guaranteed.
England’s Path Forward: Is There Any Hope Left?
Realistically? Very little. With the series already lost, England’s focus must shift from winning to rebuilding and salvaging personal pride.
- Back Ben Stokes: The captain’s fighting 83 in the 3rd Test was a lone beacon of resistance. He needs to be protected and given the freedom to play his natural game.
- Rethink the Top Order: The Duckett-Zak Crawley opening combination has yielded mixed results. A potential shift, maybe promoting a more solid number 3 like Joe Root to open, could be considered for stability.
- Embrace the ‘Learning Tour’ Narrative: This is a young England side. Accepting this series as a harsh but necessary lesson against the world’s best could be the healthiest long-term strategy.
[INTERNAL_LINK:england-ashes-history] This isn’t the first time England has faced a whitewash Down Under, and it likely won’t be the last. What matters is how they respond. The true test of this team’s character begins now, in Melbourne, not in chasing an impossible 435.
Conclusion
Ben Duckett’s early dismissal in the 3rd Test is more than just a statistic; it’s a symptom of a deeper malaise within the England setup. While Travis Head and Australia are playing with the confidence of champions, England appear to be a team searching for an identity in the most demanding of environments. As the teams head to the MCG, the focus for England shouldn’t be on the Ashes urn—it should be on laying the foundations for the next one.