In a stunning but controversial victory, England ended a 14-year winless streak in Australia, only for captain Ben Stokes to slam the MCG pitch conditions that turned the Boxing Day Test into a two-day spectacle.
After a chaotic opening day at the MCG saw 20 wickets tumble in one session, Cricket Australia’s CEO has declared that ultra-short Test matches are ‘bad for business’—raising urgent questions about pitch preparation and the sport’s commercial future.
Former England captain Alastair Cook has delivered a scathing verdict on England’s recent 2-2 Test series draw with India, calling the opposition ‘not a great side’ and warning the result may create a dangerous illusion of progress.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a scathing critique of the MCG pitch after 20 wickets tumbled on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, calling it excessively bowler-friendly and ‘unfair for the batters.’
In a stunning twist of cricketing fate, 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG—the first time this has happened in an Ashes match since January 1902—setting the stage for a dramatic contest.
In a stunning and chaotic opening day at the MCG, 20 wickets fell as Australia and England both collapsed, reigniting debate over pitch conditions and turning the Boxing Day Test into a high-stakes thriller.