The iconic Ashes rivalry has produced a result that has shocked the cricket world and raised alarm bells for the future of the format. For the first time in 129 years, two Test matches of a series ended in just two days, as England’s four-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended in a breathtaking and brutal fashion on Saturday, December 27.
England’s historic Ashes Test win overshadowed by unwanted history
The Ashes Urn may already be out of reach in England, but after years of pain, frustration and failed attempts, history was still written in Australia. After a long time of 15 years and 18 failed attempts, England has finally won the Test match once again on Australian soil.
Also Read: AUS vs ENG ICC World Test Championship points table after 4th Test, WTC table – The Ashes 2025-26
Ben Stokes and Co. defeated Australia by four wickets in the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday, December 27. This was England’s first Test win since January 2011, and the wait has been tough for them.
This win holds some special significance for players like Joe Root and Stokes, who have toured Australia several times and endured one heartbreak after another. England showed strong character in the fourth Ashes Test, fighting back when needed and refusing to back down despite the five-match Test series already out of reach.
Ashes 2025-26 created unwanted history
However, this Boxing Day Test match went down in the record books for an embarrassing reason. The fourth Ashes Test ended in just two days, a rare result that stunned the cricket world and raised serious questions over the balance of the competition.
This happened for the first time in 129 years that two Test matches of the same series between England and Australia ended within two days. This was only the fourth time that a Test match in Australia ended in two days.
https://t.co/8oTr7bxlRE pic.twitter.com/dDCogISuQ3
– Josh Schonfinger (@joshschon) 27 December 2025
MCG collapse: How a Test match unraveled in six sessions
The Boxing Day Test progressed quickly from the start, with neither team able to hold on to the crease at the MCG. On the first day, Australia was out for just 152 runs in 45.2 overs. England then came in to bat but struggled even more and were all out for only 110 runs in 29.5 overs.
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England’s collapse forced Australia to bat for one over in their second innings before the end of the first day. The fast pace continued on the second day also.
Australia were once again bowled out cheaply and all out for 132 runs in just 34.3 overs. Chasing an easy target of 175 runs, England completed the task with four wickets remaining on the second day and finished the game in just two days.
Disgrace to Test cricket: Cricket Australia
After the conclusion of the fourth Ashes Test, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg admitted that the first day of the Test had made him very anxious.
After the fall of 20 wickets on the first day, Greenberg revealed that he could not sleep all night because he thought about the huge financial loss that would be caused by shorter Test matches.
SEN Radio quoted Todd Greenberg as saying: “As mesmerizing, fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket to obviously last a long time. A simple phrase I would use is “Shorter Tests are bad for business.” I couldn’t be more clear than that.’
