The Ashes: Recap the action from Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England
Australia couldn’t complete an Ashes series whitewash, with England winning in Melbourne inside just two days. Stay across the latest from the MCG here!
Cricket: After a whopping 20 wickets fell on Day 1, Day 2 brought just as much carnage - and a result!
Australia entered Saturday at the MCG in a strong position, with a lead of 46 runs as they resume at 0-4.
But England finally played near their potential to set up a gutsy run chase.
Recap the action below.
Key events
27 Dec 2025 - 02:24 PM
Won and done!
27 Dec 2025 - 02:17 PM
EDGED!
27 Dec 2025 - 02:02 PM
LBW
27 Dec 2025 - 01:37 PM
CAUGHT!
27 Dec 2025 - 01:07 PM
PLUMB!
27 Dec 2025 - 12:01 PM
JHYE’S BACK!
27 Dec 2025 - 11:46 AM
YORKER!
27 Dec 2025 - 11:02 AM
ALL OUT
27 Dec 2025 - 10:48 AM
AND NOW STARC GOES!
27 Dec 2025 - 10:46 AM
OUT! NESER DEPARTS!
27 Dec 2025 - 10:39 AM
OUT! GREEN’S GONE!
27 Dec 2025 - 09:33 AM
LUNCH - England’s session
27 Dec 2025 - 09:23 AM
OUT! CAREY GOES!
27 Dec 2025 - 09:14 AM
AND KHAWAJA GOES SOON AFTER!
27 Dec 2025 - 09:11 AM
HEAD’S GONE!
27 Dec 2025 - 08:51 AM
OUT! Labuschagne goes
27 Dec 2025 - 08:15 AM
OUT! Weatherald gone
27 Dec 2025 - 07:53 AM
OUT! Boland goes
27 Dec 2025 - 07:21 AM
Pitch fallout
Rate slows
The cricket is just calming down a little.
Richardson was strong in his first over and Starc is hitting his lines.
ENG 1-57, need 118
WHAT!?
England have sent Brydon Carse to the middle!
They have shown next to no faith in Jacob Bethell as Jhye Richardson comes on.
YORKER!
Starc finally gets the breakthrough as the left-arm quick nails the base of off-stump.
It brushed Duckett’s pads on the way through but he departs for 34 from 26.
51 is England’s largest opening stand of the series.
ENG 1-51, need 124
50 up
Duckett flays a boundary behind point and England make it to 50 without loss.
The opener has also passed 3000 Test runs.
ENG 0-51, need 124
WOW!
Duckett ramps Neser over the keeper, who is up to the stumps, and over the boundary for six.
England are racing towards victory here.
ENG 0-44, need 131
Review
Starc swings one back into Crawley’s pads and goes with a big appeal.
Smith is reluctant to go up stairs and it is shown as umpire’s call on impact and the stumps.
ENG 0-27, need 148
Bang, bang
Carwley starts the second Neser over with a six down the ground and a boundary through cover.
The Aussies need a wicket.
ENG 0-25, need 150
Dropped!
Starc gets a tough caught and bowled chance and can’t quite hold on diving forward.
Duckett attempted to clip the ball into the leg side as he has done for two boundaries but the ball swung back and took the leading edge.
Near miss for England.
ENG 0-15, need 160
Charge!
Both openers are making their plans clear.
They are throwing the bat at anything wide and charging down the wicket to force Neser and Starc off a good length.
ENG 0-9, need 166
Run chase begins
Crawley gets a leg bye to start the chase as Starc thunders into his waist.
The big quick is looking fast.
ENG 0-1, need 174
