20 wickets fall on opening day of Boxing Day Ashes Test before record MCG crowd

A record Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG saw 20 wickets fall on Day 1. Australia collapsed for 152 but still led England by 42 runs. Josh Tongue took 5/45, while Michael Neser claimed 4/45

Melbourne: Australia collapsed for 152 yet still claimed a 42-run lead over England on the first innings in a remarkable opening day of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday, in which 20 wickets fell.

The day’s play unfolded before a world-record crowd for a single day of cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The attendance figure of 94,199 surpassed the 93,013 for the 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG.

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Australia was 4-0 in its second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 46 runs, after batting through one nervous over before close.

The 20 wickets on the first day was also a record for a Boxing Day Test, beating the 18 in the 1998 Ashes match. The all-time Test record is 27 wickets on the opening day of the 1888 Ashes Test at Lord’s.

England had already lost the first three Tests, allowing Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action.

Josh Tongue claimed a career-best 5/45 as England bowled Australia out after winning the toss. In reply, England made 110 in 29.5 overs as Michael Neser grabbed 4/45.

Tongue, in his eighth Test, took three early wickets as Australia stumbled to 72/4 at lunch. Travis Head (12) and Jake Weatherald (10) fell cheaply, while Marnus Labuschagne (6) edged to first slip at 34/3. In a key breakthrough, captain Steve Smith lost his middle stump attempting a drive with the total on 51.

Australia looked to rebuild through veteran Usman Khawaja, but the 39-year-old was caught behind off Gus Atkinson for 29 at 89/5. Alex Carey fell cheaply two runs later. Neser (35) and Cameron Green (17) added 52 before Green was run out at 143/7. Tongue was cheered off at tea after dismissing Neser and Scott Boland with consecutive deliveries.

England’s reply began disastrously at 8/3 in 4.2 overs. Zak Crawley (5), Jacob Bethell (2) and Ben Duckett (2) all departed quickly. Joe Root was caught behind for a duck off Neser at 16/4. Harry Brook counter-attacked with 41 off 34 balls, adding 50 with Ben Stokes (16).

Boland (3/30) dismissed Brook, Jamie Smith (2) and Will Jacks (5) in successive overs as England slumped to 77/7. Neser then removed Stokes, and England folded for 110.

Australia faced one over before stumps, finishing 4-0 with a lead of 46.

Neser said: “With 20 wickets falling, it has been a whirlwind. I dreamed of this as a kid. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.”

England had earlier confirmed Jofra Archer’s absence for the rest of the series, including the fifth and final Test starting Jan 4 in Sydney.