Tongue fifer skittles out Australia on Boxing Day Ashes Tests opening day
Tongue's 5 for 45 was the headline-grabbing act in front of 93,442, a record crowd for a cricket match at the MCG, eclipsing the 93,013 at the 2015 World Cup final.
New Delhi: Josh Tongue’s lead England’s bowling attack with a fifer as Australia were shot out for 152 at tea on the opening day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne on Friday.
Tongue’s 5 for 45 was the headline-grabbing act in front of 93,442, a record crowd for a cricket match at the MCG, eclipsing the 93,013 at the 2015 World Cup final.
Australia lost their wickets without adding a run on the score board and last four for only nine at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The hosts were 72 for four at lunch and following the run out of all-rounder Cameron Green for 17, they suffered a late collapse as Mitchell Starc (one), Michael Neser (35) and Scott Boland (0), all fell cheaply after.
Travis Head chopped Gus Atkinson onto his stumps for 12, his opening partner Jake Weatherald departed for 10, caught behind with a leg-side edge off Tongue, who then dismissed No.3 Marnus Labuschagne for six with an edge at slip to Joe Root.
Tongue then castled up Steve Smith through the gate for nine, dismissing him in every innings he has played against the top Aussie batter in first class cricket, including twice in the 2023 Ashes Test at Lord's.
After lunch, Atkinson induced an edge from Usman Khawaja (29) to the keeper Jamie Smith, breaking a 38-run partnership after a successful review of the initial not-out decision.
Australia keeper Alex Carey then flicking the ball off his pads straight to Zak Crawley at leg gully off Ben Stokes for 20.