"A record 94,199 spectators turned up to the MCG on Boxing Day and none will forget what they witnessed. An extraordinary 20 wickets tumbled on a pitch offering lavish movement and Cricket Australia were left fearing what would be a second multi-million dollar loss in this Ashes series. The first came in Perth, when that two-day series opener triggered the refunds and left visiting supporters scrambling for sightseeing trips."
"The toss actually landed in their favour here, Ben Stokes calling correctly, inserting his opponents without hesitation, and watching Josh Tongue skittle Australia for 152 all out before tea. Tongue was good value for his figures of five for 45, with his natural angle in, fuller length, and wobble seam asking trickier questions than one of the University Challenge Christmas specials."
"But for all the echoes up to this point of England's famous Boxing Day performance here in 2010, there was also a nagging sense that Tongue's success was signposting an ordeal for England's batters. That ordeal ultimately came to pass when they fell to 16 for four inside eight overs and ended up 110 all out from 29.5, with Michael Neser claiming four for 45."
94,199 spectators attended the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where a seam-friendly pitch offered lavish movement and 10mm of grass. Josh Tongue exploited the conditions, taking five for 45 to bowl Australia out for 152 before tea. England then collapsed to 16 for four inside eight overs and were dismissed for 110 in 29.5 overs, with Michael Neser taking four for 45. Scott Boland finished the final over and Australia closed the day four without loss, leading by 46 runs. Cricket Australia feared a repeat of the Perth-triggered refunds and potential multi-million dollar losses.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]