England Breaks Australian Jinx with Historic Ashes Victory

England achieved a significant milestone by securing a historic victory over Australia in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), ending a 14-year winless streak in Australia. The match concluded with England successfully chasing a target of 175 runs, although the victory was not without its challenges, as they lost six wickets in the process.

The chase began on a shaky note, with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley providing a solid start. Their partnership of 51 runs was the best opening stand of the series for England. However, the team found itself in a precarious position at 158/5 when captain Ben Stokes came to the crease. Unfortunately for Stokes, his innings was cut short as he managed only two runs off nine balls. Attempting to hit a back-of-a-length delivery from Mitchell Starc, Stokes edged the ball to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who took a spectacular catch.

This dismissal marked the 13th time that Starc has dismissed Stokes in Test cricket, according to ESPNcricinfo. In 29 innings between the two, Stokes has accumulated just 225 runs against Starc, averaging a mere 17.3. With this latest wicket, Starc has equaled the record set by India’s Ravichandran Ashwin for the most dismissals of Stokes in Test matches. Notably, seven of these dismissals have occurred in Australia, making Starc the bowler with the highest number of dismissals against Stokes in his home country.

In the current Ashes series, Starc has managed to dismiss Stokes four times, contributing to his impressive tally of 26 wickets overall. He has maintained an extraordinary average of 17.42 in the series, making him the leading wicket-taker, as no other bowler has reached the 20-wicket milestone.

While Starc has excelled, the England captain has struggled with the bat throughout the series. Stokes has scored a total of 183 runs in eight innings, averaging 22.87, which includes two fifties. This performance raises questions about his form as England looks to build on its recent success and secure further victories in the ongoing series.

As the Ashes 2025-26 progresses, both teams will be keen to analyze their strategies and performances. England’s recent triumph at the MCG not only boosts their morale but also shifts the dynamics of the series as they aim to continue their winning momentum.