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passion tongue Led to delayed Ashes battle England as soon as they slipped Australia 152 runs out in front of a record Boxing Day crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The hosts already knew they would win after taking an irrevocable 3–0 lead, but England had a much better performance and thrashed the hosts in front of 93,442 fans.
This is the largest attendance ever at the MCG, topping the 2015 World Cup final.
And it was Tong who performed brilliantly on the big stage, taking five for 45, including a blockbuster delivery that blasted past Steve Smith’s middle stump.
England, who have spent much of the past week avoiding criticism of their preparation, training methods and drinking habits, were very sharp in everything they did – catching everything that came their way and even scoring their first run out in 11 Ashes Tests.
Ben Stokes won an easy toss on a green pitch, which gave the fast bowlers plenty of life, and Gus Atkinson, who was recalled in the seventh over, bowled the first ball. Leading run-scorer Travis Head, who by admission has taken part in Australia’s Ashes winning celebrations more than anyone else, tried to free his arms outside off, but he did not have enough room and only managed to hit his stumps for 12.
braydon carseHis selection, possibly due to Jofra Archer’s side strain, was less disciplined and soon gave way to Tongue at the Shane Warne Stand End. The Nottinghamshire fast bowler quickly made his mark, bowling his second ball near the front pad of Jake Weatherald and taking the edge as the left-handed batsman was over-balanced.
Marnus Labuschagne was next, edging Tongue just past Cordon, before being beaten even more decisively on the next ball. Offering an angular bat on a full, tailing delivery he was dismissed by Joe Root at first slip.
Stubborn Blacksmith England were now the main concern and he gave every indication that he was prepared to let them down, but he was struck by Tung’s beauty. Attacking the stumps, he hit the ball hard from the right-handed batsman and blasted a hole between bat and pad, momentarily surprising Australia’s stand-in captain.
This continued Tongue’s impressive record in head-to-head battles with Smith, whom he has now eliminated three times in Ashes cricket and once in the County Championship.
From a shaky position at 72 for four, Australia lost their next six wickets between lunch and tea as they failed to equalize. Usman Khawaja made 29 before being dismissed by Atkinson and Stokes was thrilled to see Alex Carey trap the leg-slip he had just bowled.
A partnership of 52 for the seventh wicket gave England pause, but it ended due to hesitation from struggling all-rounder Cameron Green in chasing down a chance. Carse held his own with his bowling and smashed down the stumps at the non-striker’s end, a rare direct hit for a team whose out-fielding has attracted severe scrutiny.
However, once everything was going right, Mitchell Starc slogged Carles to mid-on, after which Stokes took a brilliant catch by back-tracking. Tanguay returned to wrap up the innings and took a well-earned five wickets, top-bowling Michael Neser for 35 and then having Scott Boland caught at second slip on the next ball.