2011 Ashes Series: MCG, Boxing Day Test: The Day England Won the Ashes

The first day of the Boxing Day test match in Melbourne, and I had a funny feeling we were about to see something special. The series was tied at 1-1, and although England had been beaten heavily in Perth, I felt that the England bowling attack would come good again in Melbourne. At the same time, Mitchell Johnson had his day in the sun as far as I was concerned, and he would be revisiting planet mediocrity faster than his leg side wides.

The MCG was absolutely packed, almost bursting at the seams. Surely there aren't many sports events that come close to the atmosphere of a Boxing Day test match. By the time we were in our seats, England had won the toss, elected to bowl first on a greenish track and Australia were batting.

"Right then. This is going to be perfect. We bowl them out cheaply and we are hundred-plus for no wicket by close of play," I cheerily told Cordy over our first cold one. It was a good day for a prediction to come true. I just didn't realise how spectacularly true it would turn out to be.

England started with purpose and accuracy. The man mountain Tremlett looked ferocious as he thundered in and aimed to snort them in just short of a length. Anderson in complete contrast gracefully glided to the wicket, before the trademark ducking of his head, and bowling full and true in search of swing.

Shane Watson has become the prize Aussie wicket. Normally its his over confidence that is his downfall. Today he looked horribly ill at ease. Even Philip Hughes looked more comfortable, and that is something not often said.  By the time Watson faced Tremlett for the first time in the fourth over, he had already been dropped twice off Anderson. Third time lucky. He gloved one to gully, we jumped out of our seats in celebration and the tone was set for the day.

Then the clouds came in. For a few overs Anderson was unplayable, more swing than a christmas party. Then just as the Aussies seemed to break their shackles in the 12th over, Bresnan got Hughes. Another key moment. Inspiration from coach Flower to pick him, and from captain Strauss to put him on so early. Then more great captaincy, Tremlett was brought back on and Ponting was on his way.

That gave Anderson a breather. He came back on just before lunch and snagged Hussey, the other key wicket. Australia were 64/4. A short break for rain and an early lunch. Thirty minutes later Anderson had 3 more wickets and this match was almost over at 78/8. Tremlett came back on to finish them off for a paltry 98, but it was Anderson's spell which had ripped them apart. If this was to be the day England firmly put a grip on the urn, Anderson's was by far the key performance.


And all this happened before tea. What a time to reflect on an amazing first two sessions. The green and gold legions were still surprisingly upbeat, which unsettled me. Did they know something I didn't?

Or were England just very good?

Two hours later and it became evident what it was, though I wasn't sure it was what they had in mind. Namely just how easy it was for Strauss and Cook to bat the day out and notch 157 glorious runs.  
England would go on to a first innings total of 513 effectively batting the Aussies out of the game. For the record England retained the Ashes three days later on December 29th, but it had really happened on December 26th. Boxing Day.

The Sprinkler.

At the start of the match there had been a team of passionate and boisterous twenty something Aussies just in front of us, clearly intent on savouring the occasion, and winning. By teatime they had dwindled to a dispirited few. That it was the police that had ejected this particular bunch and not Anderson was by the by: the Aussies were gone. And gloriously so.