England’s first win Down Under in 15 years came on a spicy MCG pitch, where none of the 22 batters could score a fifty.
Five ducks, no 50s: MCG Test over in under two days
There have been only five instances of a men’s Test in Australia finishing without any of the batters getting a fifty. The last such instance, before the Ashes 2025/26 Boxing Day Test, came 93 years ago in February 1932, also in Melbourne.
Twenty wickets fell on day one of the Test, with Australia falling from 27-0 to 51-4, 89-4 to 91-6 and then from 143-6 to 152 all out in two sessions. Michael Neser was the unlikely top-scorer with a 35 from No. 8, followed by Usman Khawaja’s 29 and Alex Carey’s 20. No other batter got to the 20-run mark as Josh Tongue picked up a five-wicket haul.
England’s first innings was even shorter, lasting just 29.5 overs for 110 all out, even allowing Australia to start their second innings on the first day itself. Harry Brook top-scored with a 34-ball 41, while Gus Atkinson’s rearguard action got him 28 runs. Ben Stokes scored 16, while no other visiting batter got into double digits.
4th Test, Australia vs England
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- Ball by ball Over
Wickets fell in a clump on the second day as well, with the hosts losing six of their batters before lunch, and Travis Head top-scored with a 46. Another four wickets went down before tea as Australia were bowled out for 132. Needing 175 to win, England batted quickly, at 5.50 runs per over, to get there in 32.2 overs, but lost six wickets.
Jacob Bethell, picked in the XI for Ollie Pope, scored 40 off 46, while Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got into their 30s as well. But no one got to the 50-run mark as England won by four wickets. Overall, just Brook (59) and Head (58) had match aggregates of over 50, and there were five ducks registered.
List of men's Tests in Australia without a fifty
| Match | Venue | Runs | High score | Ducks | Start Date |
| Australia v England | Melbourne | 518 | 46 | 5 | 26 Dec 2025 |
| Australia v South Africa | Melbourne | 219 | 42 | 10 | 12 Feb 1932 |
| Australia v England | Sydney | 348 | 44 | 7 | 10 Feb 1888 |
| Australia v England | Sydney | 490 | 42* | 4 | 25 Feb 1887 |
| Australia v England | Sydney | 413 | 33 | 6 | 28 Jan 1887 |
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