Australia 122/9 in 32.2 Overs | AUS vs ENG 4th Ashes Test Live: Brydon Carse dismisses Mitchell Starc for a duck as Australia slips to 9 wickets down against England at the MCG.

Australia vs England 4th Ashes Test Live Coverage

Chaotic Morning Session

In a thrilling start on day two of the fourth Ashes Test, England’s bowling attack took six Australian wickets before lunch, keeping the contest intense. As the session progressed, Australia managed to stretch their lead to 140 runs despite struggling with their batting lineup.

Score Update

At the lunch break, Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 98 for 6, with Steve Smith remaining unbeaten on 16 and Cameron Green contributing six runs.

Key Wickets Fallen

Australia’s batting lineup faced significant challenges, losing key players:

• Scott Boland: 6
• Jake Weatherald: 5
• Marnus Labuschagne: 8
• Travis Head: 46
• Usman Khawaja: 0
• Alex Carey: 4

Despite England being a bowler short due to Gus Atkinson’s hamstring injury, their attack proved effective.

Historical Context

Australia had resumed the day with a score of 4 without loss after an extraordinary opening day that saw 20 wickets fall. The hosts were bowled out for 152, while England managed just 110 runs. This marked the highest number of wickets to fall on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909, surpassing the previous record of 19 in the series opener in Perth.

Pitch Conditions

With nearly 10 millimeters of grass left on the wicket, the pitch has been described as "a bowler’s paradise." However, some former greats voiced concerns, labeling the conditions as "unfair for batters."

Resumption of Play

Boland and Head resumed the play cautiously, navigating the first over without losing a wicket. Head began the day positively, hitting a boundary off Atkinson, while Boland added a couple of runs before being caught by Jamie Smith.

England’s Bowling Strategy

With Atkinson leaving the field due to injury, England quickly adjusted their strategy. Josh Tongue, on a hat-trick after taking the last two Australian wickets the previous day, returned to the attack. Weatherald made a brief appearance but ultimately fell to Ben Stokes.

Australia’s Resistance Crumbles

Despite a promising start from Head, who was dropped on 26 by Will Jacks, the Australian innings began to collapse. Labuschagne was dismissed by Tongue, and Head himself fell victim to a stunning delivery from Brydon Carse. The momentum had decidedly shifted in England’s favor as they took Khawaja and Carey in rapid succession.

Series Outlook

Despite the day’s turmoil, Australia has already retained the Ashes, celebrating dominant victories in Perth, Brisbane, and an 82-run win in Adelaide. The excitement continues as the series unfolds further.