Josh Tongue Becomes First England Bowler This Century to Take Five-for at MCG

Landmark Bowling Feat at the MCG

England fast bowler Josh Tongue etched his name into cricket history by claiming a five-wicket haul at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Boxing Day Test against Australia. His figures of 5 for 45 helped bowl Australia out for just 152 in their first innings, making him the first England bowler this century to achieve the feat at the iconic venue.

Ending a 27-Year Wait

Tongue’s spell ended a long drought for England bowlers at the MCG. The last time an England bowler took five wickets in a men’s Test at the ground was in 1998 , when Darren Gough and Dean Headley accomplished the milestone. Despite England trailing 3–0 in the Ashes series , with Australia already having retained the urn, the performance injected fresh energy into the contest.

Triggering Australia’s Collapse

After England chose to field, Tongue made early inroads by dismissing three of Australia’s top four batters during the morning session. His impact continued after lunch when Usman Khawaja was removed following a successful review. Alex Carey fell to a well-set leg-slip trap, while Cameron Green was run out just as conditions began to ease, compounding Australia’s batting troubles.

Career-Defining Spell

The five-wicket haul surpassed Tongue’s previous best of 5 for 66 against Ireland at Lord’s in 2023 and became the third five-for of his Test career . He finished the innings in dramatic fashion by dismissing Scott Boland and Michael Neser with consecutive deliveries , putting himself on a hat-trick at the start of Australia’s second innings.

Match Context and Crowd Response

Michael Neser top-scored for Australia with 35 runs , but the hosts were unable to recover from the collapse. Tongue’s heroics were witnessed by a packed stadium, with 93,442 spectators present, reaffirming the enduring appeal of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Important Facts for Exams

• Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the world’s oldest cricket stadiums

• The Ashes is a historic Test series between England and Australia

• A five-wicket haul is a major Test cricket milestone

• Boxing Day Tests in Australia begin on December 26