The Ashes: Urn to remain in Australia but pride at stake for England in Boxing Day Test
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Can England break their 2025-26 Ashes duck at the MCG?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground will be packed to the rafters this week as Australia and England prepare to face off in the fourth Test of the Ashes, which gets underway on Boxing Day, and you can find all the key insights ahead of this match in our cricket predictions.
The Baggy Greens took an unassailable 3-0 lead and guaranteed that the Urn will remain Down Under for another 18 months at the Adelaide Oval in the third Test, where Alex Carey and Travis Head produced a batting masterclass supported by veteran Usman Khawaja.
Despite losing the series, England still have to try and salvage some pride over the final two games, and provide the Barmy Army with at least some festive cheer amid what has been a massively disappointing trip to the Southern Hemisphere.
However, the record books do not favour the Poms - since the 2013 Ashes, the Aussies have won an incredible 16 of their 18 Test matches against their old foes on home soil, with the exceptions being drawn results in 2017 and 2022.
That draw in 2017 came here at the MCG, but when these sides met here in 2021, England lasted a mere seven sessions before losing the match before lunch on Day 3. Scott Boland led the charge for the hosts, taking 6 wickets for only 7 runs in just four overs in the second innings.
To find the visitors’ last victory at the MCG, you would need to go all the way back to 2010, when Australia were bowled out for just 98 in the first innings and eventually lost the match on day four after England scored 513 in their first innings.
Since then, though, the Baggy Greens have gone on to win 10 of 14 matches at the MCG - all of which were Boxing Day Tests. They have drawn two and lost two during this period, but both those defeats came against India back in 2018 and 2020.
Team news for Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG
Australia have opted to rest skipper Pat Cummins for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Steve Smith, who missed the third Test in Adelaide due to vertigo, is set to return to the team and will deputise as the team’s captain in Cummins’ absence.
Tinkering in the top order will likely be required to accommodate Smith’s return. Cameron Green has not scored a fifty as yet in his series, but provides all-round coverage, meaning that Khawaja could be the one sacrificed, despite his performance in the third Test.
Nathan Lyon is an enforced omission after tearing a hamstring while fielding in the Adelaide Test, and reports in recent days have revealed that the 38-year-old spinner will remain sidelined for “an extended period” after undergoing surgery. Todd Murphy has been called up in his place.
For England, speedster Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the remainder of the series with a side strain, which is a huge blow for the visitors. Gus Atkinson has been confirmed as his replacement and will likely be handed the new ball at the MCG.
The other major change for the Poms sees Jacob Bethell return to the team in place of Ollie Pope, who has been dropped after a poor run of form. Notably, Ben Duckett retains his place despite many expecting him to be excluded, given his recent off-field controversy.
