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Aus lead Eng after crazy day at MCG | The Express Tribune
Australia’s Scott Boland is congratulated after taking a catch to dismiss England’s Brydon Carse. Photo: AFP
MELBOURNE:
An astounding 20 wickets fell on a frantic day one of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday with Australia all out for 152 before storming back to dismiss England for 110 and leave the clash on a knife-edge.
England skipper Ben Stokes won a key toss on a green track and his quicks feasted after sending in the hosts under overcast skies in front of 94,199 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was the biggest cricket crowd ever at the cavernous arena, exceeding the 93,013 who watched the 2015 World Cup final, and they witnessed the home side collapse with Josh Tongue grabbing 5-45.
But England fared even worse, slumping to 16-4 and never recovering, leaving Australia to face one over before stumps, which nightwatchman Scott Boland safely negotiated with Travis Head at the other end.
Australia were 4-0 at the close with Boland on four, 46 ahead, with Head yet to face a ball.
“I feel like anyone could have taken a ‘five-fer’ today,” said Tongue, who became the first Englishman to take five wickets in an innings in a Test at the MCG since Dean Headley and Darren Gough in 1998.
“When I’m at my best I’m bowling at that fuller length. Stokes has spoken to us quite a bit about it, going a touch fuller but hitting the pitch hard.
“If we get the ball in the same areas tomorrow we can get them three of four wickets down in the first hour.”
Australia bowler Michael Neser, who took 4-45, was not making any predictions for the second innings after a day when the ball dominated the bat.
“We saw how tough it was when we batted. The ball was nipping around and we needed to bowl in the right areas,” Neser said.
“You need to put pressure back on their bowlers. You need to find the perfect balance between defence and attack.”
Beleaguered England opener Ben Duckett’s week went from bad to worse, out for two just days after unverified video surfaced showing him drunk during a mid-series beach break.
It was another shocking dismissal for the 31-year-old, lobbing a simple catch to Neser at mid-on off the irrepressible Mitchell Starc.
Neser in the next over removed Jacob Bethell, playing in place of the under-performing Ollie Pope, when he edged to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
Zak Crawley was taken in the slips by Steve Smith off Starc four balls later, then Joe Root edged Neser to Carey to put England into freefall.
Harry Brook decided attack was the best form of defence, smashing sixes off Starc and Neser, and with Stokes temporarily halted the carnage.
They put on 50 before Scott Boland trapped Brook lbw for 41.
Boland then bowled Jamie Smith for two and had Will Jacks caught behind, all within the space of 10 deliveries from the 36-year-old.
When Stokes edged Neser to Smith in the slips for 16 it was all but over.
Australia have already retained the Ashes after crushing eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run win in Adelaide.
The tourists lost the famous urn in just 11 days of play with a drinking scandal by players during a beach break piling on the pressure.
Crucial toss
They responded well after Stokes won a crucial toss.
Head drove consecutive boundaries off a wayward Brydon Carse, but he only lasted 22 balls, chopping on Atkinson for 12.
Steve Smith is bowled by Josh Tongue on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test © William WEST / AFP
Jake Weatherald tickled down the leg side to wicketkeeper Smith on 10 in Tongue’s first over.
Tongue then enticed an edge from Marnus Labuschagne on six that was well taken by Root at slip.
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja began to stabilise the innings before Tongue struck again to bowl the Australia captain for nine.
Khawaja on 29 got the faintest of edges to Smith off Atkinson before Adelaide century-maker Alex Carey, on 20, flicked Stokes to Crawley who had just moved to leg gully.
Cameron Green, who has had a lean series, crunched back-to-back fours off Tongue. Neser, in his fourth Test but first red-ball affair, went one better, cracking three in succession off the same bowler.
But Green ran himself out for 17 going for a risky single then Starc hoisted Carse to a back-pedalling Stokes at mid-off before Tongue removed Neser and Boland.
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American skier Hunter Hess appeared to backtrack on the “mixed emotions” he said he had about representing the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Hess drew backlash from President Donald Trump and others when he made his initial comments to reporters last week. But after a few days, Hess made clear about wearing the red, white and blue on one of the biggest stages in sports.
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Hunter Hess of the United States reacts while competing in the Men’s Freeski Halfpipe Final during the Toyota US Grand Prix 2025 at Copper Mountain on Dec. 20, 2025 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“I love my country,” he wrote with an American flag emoji. “There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.
“One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”
Hess’ comments came as the Trump administration faced backlash over the use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in immigration enforcement operations. An incident with ICE agents in January left Renee Good dead in Minnesota. Border Patrol agents also had a deadly encounter with Alex Pretti.
Hunter Hess of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men’s Ski Superpipe Final on day two of the Dew Tour at Copper Mountain on Feb. 25, 2023 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
OLYMPIC SKI STAR AMPS UP ICE CRITICISM AFTER POSTING GRAPHIC PHOTO
Those incidents were apparently used as the catalyst for the comments from Hess and his teammate Chris Lillis. Hess said he had “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S.
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.
“I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the economy at a rally Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Clive, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)
“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”
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Trump ripped Hess for the comments, calling him a “real loser.”
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Track the Milan Cortina Olympic medal counts country by country and see who won gold, silver or bronze in each event.
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Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans was sold for a record Rs2.45 billion during an auction conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday.
The franchise rights were acquired by Walee Technologies at a high-profile auction held in Lahore, marking the highest-ever valuation for a PSL team.
The auction commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the national anthem. PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer welcomed the five qualified bidders before PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi officially inaugurated the proceedings by striking the gong.
Moderator Sidra Iqbal outlined the auction rules, while auctioneer **Fakhre Alam owner Ali Tareen, who opted not to renew the ownership agreement after the conclusion of the league’s 10th edition. Following his exit, the PCB temporarily assumed control of the franchise and initially announced it would manage the team for PSL 11, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.
However, the board later reversed that decision and invited fresh bids for the franchise. The PCB received six technical proposals, of which five were approved for the final auction stage.
PCB Chairman Hails Auction Success
Speaking at a press conference alongside the new owners, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi described the auction as the result of months of preparation.
“Our aim was to take the team to the highest possible price,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted him during the auction and expressed satisfaction over the outcome.
Naqvi recalled that some critics had questioned whether the franchise could even reach a valuation of Rs1 billion. “When effort is made, results follow,” he said.
Referring to the vision of former PCB chairman Najam Sethi, Naqvi said the league’s value had increased significantly, with international players now regularly participating in the PSL.
He added that the PCB’s objective is to make the PSL not only Pakistan’s flagship tournament but a globally recognised league.
ICC Discussions Also Addressed
During the media interaction, Naqvi also commented on recent discussions with Imran Khwaja, who arrived in Pakistan to hold talks related to Pakistan’s stance on a scheduled T20 World Cup match against India.
The PCB chairman said discussions with the International Cricket Council were ongoing and that decisions regarding Bangladesh-related matters were still pending. He added that several friendly countries had also shared their views with the PCB.
Responding to questions about possible sanctions, Naqvi said the board and the government were not intimidated by threats of fines or bans.
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