England Strikes Back in Ashes: Josh Tong’s Five-Wicket Haul Restricts Australia to 152

Melbourne: On the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England delivered a stunning comeback, bundling out Australia for just 152 runs. Despite Australia having already sealed the series by winning the first three matches, England’s bowlers, led by young pacer Josh Tong, sent a strong message to their opponents and cricket fans worldwide.

Josh Tong’s Magic
The spotlight belonged to Josh Tong, who took 5 crucial wickets for just 45 runs. His swinging deliveries left Australian batsmen struggling from the start. Tong struck early, dismissing Jack Vedurld and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, with Joe Root taking a brilliant catch to send Labuschagne back to the pavilion. Tong then delivered a magical ball to dismiss Steve Smith, knocking off the middle stump and electrifying the crowd with a roar of applause from England supporters.

Green Pitch and Afternoon Mayhem
Australia’s middle-order resisted briefly, with Usman Khawaja fighting for 29 runs. However, after lunch, England’s disciplined attack regained control. Reviews went in England’s favor, and dismissals of key players like Alex Carey (20) and Cameron Green (17) put Australia on the back foot. Lower-order batsman Michael Neser scored 35, but Tong’s persistence ended the innings at 152.

England’s Response Amid Criticism
This performance comes at a crucial time for England, who faced heavy criticism following losses in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, compounded by off-field controversies. With main pacer Jofra Archer unavailable, Gus Atkinson made a successful return, dismissing Travis Head early and contributing to England’s morale boost. Captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first proved strategic, showing that England can still challenge even when the series is lost.

England’s fightback on day one sets up an exciting test of resilience, and Josh Tong’s emergence as a match-winner could be a silver lining for the visitors as the Ashes series continues.