England End 15-Year Ashes Drought with Historic Win in Australia

After nearly 15 years of frustration, heartbreak, and near misses, the England cricket team finally tasted victory on Australian soil again. Their dramatic four-wicket win over Australia cricket team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground marked England’s first Test win in Australia since January 2011 and ended an 18-match winless streak in the country.

The victory came in extraordinary circumstances during a chaotic Boxing Day Test, one that lasted just two days and produced a staggering 36 wickets on a heavily criticized pitch.

A Win for Pride in a Lost Series

Although Australia had already secured the Ashes with an unassailable 3–0 lead, England’s triumph prevented a humiliating whitewash and injected belief back into a struggling touring side led by Ben Stokes.

“This win means a lot,” Stokes said after the match. “The way we did it showed bravery and courage. The lads never backed down.”

Josh Tongue: From Injury Doubts to Match Winner

The standout performer was fast bowler Josh Tongue, who produced a career-defining performance to claim 7 wickets for 89 runs across both innings, earning Player of the Match honors.

Tongue tore through Australia’s first innings with 5–45, bowling them out for just 152—a feat not achieved by an England bowler at the MCG since 1998. Incredibly, the 27-year-old revealed post-match that repeated injuries had once made him consider retirement.

His efforts were backed superbly by Brydon Carse, who took 4–34 in the second innings as Australia collapsed for 132, despite England being forced to bowl short-handed after Gus Atkinson exited with a hamstring injury.

A Fearless Chase on a Dangerous Pitch

Chasing 175 on a surface described by both captains as “dangerous,” England showed intent from the first over. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley smashed 51 runs in just seven overs, setting the tone before Mitchell Starc’s searing yorker removed Duckett for 34.

The calm head in the chaos was debutant Jacob Bethell, who stepped in for the dropped Ollie Pope and responded with a composed 40 off 46 balls. Crawley added 37, while Harry Brook stayed unbeaten on 18 as England reached 178–6, sealing a famous win.

More Than Just a Test Match

This victory will not change the series result—but it changes the narrative. For the first time in 15 years, England walk off an Australian ground knowing they can win here again.

In a series filled with criticism, injuries, and doubt, England found something priceless in Melbourne: belief.

And sometimes, that matters more than the urn itself.