The Ashes 2025-26: England bowled out for 110 as 20 wickets fall on day one of Boxing Day Test

England’s Ashes tour plunged into another crisis as they were beaten by 110 points on the almost farcical first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 20 wickets fallen was the most on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909, surpassing the 19 taken on the first day of the first Test of that series in Perth.

Australia captain Steve Smith said 10mm tall grass on the pitch meant batsmen had to be “on their game” in the Boxing Day Test.

Smith was right. His side were bowled out for 152 before England were destroyed in a single session after tea.

There was still time for Australia to face one over in their second innings before the close, for only the third time in Test history that the third innings of the match began on day one. The home team is ahead 4-0, 46 points ahead.

Perth was the first two-day Ashes Test in 104 years. Melbourne could be second in five weeks.

The evening’s turmoil made England’s improved performance with the ball and on the field a distant memory. Pace bowler Josh Tongue was excellent with 5-45.

But England were bowling again before the end of the day as their innings steadied with 29.5 overs remaining.

England were 8-3 16-4. Harry Brook’s dance, hit and miss to Mitchell Starc at his first ball seemed silly at the time, but it was Brook’s audacity that saved England from a complete blowout.

Brook hit 41, including two sixes. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were the other men to reach double figures.

Michael Neser took four wickets and Scott Boland took three; Boland summed up the day’s nonsense and then started the beat as the night watchman.