MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 27: England captain Ben Stokes shakes hands with coach Brendon McCullum after winning the Fourth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
UPDATE: England has just achieved a stunning victory in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, marking their first Test win on Australian soil in 15 years. This rapid win, completed in just two days, has significant financial implications for Cricket Australia, which now faces a major revenue loss from an unprecedented short match.
The Test, which concluded on December 27, 2023, saw England claim victory by four wickets, bringing the Ashes series score to 3-1 in favor of Australia, with one match remaining. Cricket Australia is reeling from the financial hit as they grapple with the fallout of what is only the fourth Test in Australian history to end before day two, with two of those occurring in this series alone.
Attendance records were shattered during this extraordinary match, with 94,199 fans attending on day one, the highest ever for a cricket match in Australia, followed by 92,045 on day two. The rapid-fire nature of the contest saw 36 wickets fall, highlighting a pitch that turned batting into a nightmare over just six sessions.
England captain Ben Stokes, who has faced criticism over a controversial mid-series break, expressed his relief following the victory. “It’s an awesome feeling… to end up on the right side of the result after a long period of time is a pretty special feeling,” he stated. This win comes after a week of intense scrutiny of the England team, especially following video footage of players partying ahead of the Test.
Despite the victory, both Stokes and Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith acknowledged that such brief matches are detrimental to the sport. Stokes noted, “Being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want,” emphasizing that a Boxing Day Test should not conclude within two days. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg was straightforward in his assessment, stating, “Short Tests are bad for business,” reflecting the financial strain on the organization due to lost ticket sales and fan disappointment.
As the cricketing world processes this unexpected outcome, the next Test is set to begin on January 4, 2024, at the SCG. While England celebrates a rare victory, Australia’s grip on the Ashes remains strong, with their last series win dating back to 2015 and their last triumph in Australia occurring in 2013.
With the series nearing its conclusion, all eyes will be on the upcoming Sydney Test to see if England can build on this momentum or if Australia will maintain control over the Ashes. The implications of this match extend beyond the scoreboard, impacting both teams’ reputations and the financial health of Cricket Australia. Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
