The bowlers of Australia and England dominated the first day (Friday, 26 December) of the ongoing fourth Test match at the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. This was the first time since the 1901–02 Ashes series that a total of 20 wickets fell on the opening day of a Test between Australia and England.
There was a lot of grass on the opening day, which made life difficult for the batsmen. After winning the toss, Ben Stokes-led England bowled out the hosts for just 152, with Josh Tongue taking five wickets. After this, the Australian bowlers counterattacked and took the lead of 42 runs by bowling out the visiting team for 110 runs in less than 30 overs.
20 wickets fell on the first day of action at MCG
The opening day of the Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed non-stop action, with the bowlers dominating right from the first session. A total of 20 wickets fell on the first day, a collapse that is rare in modern Test cricket.
This was the first time since 1902 that 20 wickets had fallen on the same day of a Test in Australia and England. The pitch was providing a lot of support and the batsmen on both sides had to struggle to settle on the crease.
The game progressed at a fast pace, with successive successes keeping the match in constant motion and giving the day the feel of a bygone era. The only busy day at the MCG between the two teams also came in 1902, when 25 wickets fell on the opening day, a record that still stands today.
Overall, the 20-wicket day ranked as the sixth highest number of wickets to fall on the opening day of a Test between Australia and England and the fifth highest day total for any Test played in Australia.
Most wickets to fall on the first day of Test in Australia
| Wicket | match | venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Australia vs England | melbourne | 1901-02 |
| 22 | Australia vs West Indies | adelaide | 1951-52 |
| 20 | Australia vs South Africa | melbourne | 1931-32 |
| 20 | Australia vs England | melbourne | 1894-95 |
| 20 | Australia vs England | melbourne | 2025-26 |
The ball is definitely rolling around – Michael Nesser
Australian bowler Michael Neser shared his thoughts on the circumstances. The Australian all-rounder said that it was difficult to bat, the ball was spinning and bowlers who bowled in the right areas were getting rewarded. He said that to score runs one has to put pressure and it is not easy to do so in such difficult conditions.
“When we batted, we noticed it was tough. The ball is definitely spinning, you still have to hit it in the right field,” Nesser said.
“A dream come true (to play in the Boxing Day Test). I dreamed of it as a kid and being here gives me goosebumps. It’s a difficult task, plus you have to put pressure on their bowlers. It’s not easy because the ball is moving around.”
Also read: Josh Tongue continues his incredible performance against Steve Smith and clean bowls him beautifully
