England Secures Victory in Melbourne Ashes Test with Key Contributions from Tongue and Carse
England won the Melbourne fourth Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series by four wickets, with bowlers Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse central to this significant victory.
Josh Tongue produced an impressive Boxing Day five-wicket haul and was named England’s man of the match, marking the first time an England bowler received this award in Australia since Dean Headley in Melbourne, 1998.
After eight Tests, Tongue is now viewed as the leader of England’s bowling attack, known for his focused, accurate pace and slightly unorthodox edge.
Brydon Carse delivered his best day in Test cricket during this match, taking important wickets and maintaining pressure on the Australian batsmen, including dismissals of Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc.
With injuries sidelining key bowlers such as Broad, Anderson, and Woakes, and uncertainty surrounding the fitness of Archer and Wood, England’s bowling attack is effectively led by Tongue and Carse.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch offered seaming and challenging conditions, making the win a notable overseas result and demonstrating England’s late-tour resilience.
Together, Tongue and Carse accounted for 12 of England’s 20 wickets at the MCG; they are ranked 29th and 43rd respectively by the ICC, despite having only 21 matches combined between them.
There is optimism that if Tongue and Carse can replicate their Melbourne performances, they may form the core of England’s bowling attack well beyond this tour.
Australian reactions to the victory included debate over the scoreline and described the result as an "immoral victory," reflecting a broader commentary on the playing conditions and the moral framing of the win.
