8Photo© hindustantimes.com20 wickets tumble on Boxing Day as England's Ashes horror continues
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 2025 Test on Friday in which 20 wickets fell. The day’s play unfolded before a world-record crowd for a day of cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The attendance figure of 94,199 beat the 93,013 for the 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG.
Australia was 4-0 in its second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 46 runs, after having to bat through one nervous over before stumps. 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 for the 1888 Ashes test at Lord’s.
England lost each of the first three Tests to allow Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action.