Cricket – The Ashes – Australia v England – Fourth Test – MCG, Melbourne, Australia – December 27, 2025 England celebrates after England’s Brydon Carse gets the wicket of Australia’s Alex Carey REUTERS
MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (Reuters) – Australia were bowled out for 132 in their second innings before tea on day two of the fourth Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, setting England a target of 175 runs for victory.
* Australia lost their last four wickets for 34 runs after resuming on 98 for six after lunch on a glorious afternoon.
* Brydon Carse led England’s bowling with 4-34, while skipper Ben Stokes took 3-24.
* Fast bowler Gus Atkinson came off injured with a left hamstring strain in a major blow for England’s hopes of winning a first test in Australia in 15 years. Atkinson had removed nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind for six in the sixth over of the morning.
* Carse and Josh Tongue, who took 5-45 in the first innings, grabbed two wickets apiece in the morning session as Australia collapsed in a 4-27 burst.
* Carse captured the key wicket of Travis Head, bowling the opener for 46, before having wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught in the slips for four.
* Tongue had number three Marnus Labuschagne caught in the slips for eight and number five Usman Khawaja caught for a duck with a miscued pull-shot to fine leg.
Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Shri Navaratnam
