Aussie batters flop in MCG carnage as Green nightmare continues — Boxing Day Test Player Ratings

England has emerged victorious following a wild two-day shootout at the MCG, defeating Australia by four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test.

The tourists chased down the 175-run target in just 32.2 overs to secure England’s first Test victory on Australian soil since January 2011.

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The volatile pitch created plenty of headaches for the batters, while both teams were guilty of some regrettable shot selection.

The fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on January 4.

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JAKE WEATHERALD – 2

10 and 5

Weatherald’s lean run with the bat continues, dismissed cheaply in both innings of the Boxing Day Test.

The Tasmanian might have considered himself a tad unlucky after tickling a wayward delivery down the leg side on Friday, albeit with his batting stance and head position coming under scrutiny.

However, he only had himself to blame on day two, leaving a delivery from rival captain Ben Stokes that thudded into his off stump.

TRAVIS HEAD – 5

12 and 46

England’s quicks refused to offer any width to Head on day one, with the left-hander losing his patience and flashing at a delivery in the channel that wasn’t there to cut, chopped on.

With wickets toppling around him on Saturday, the South Australian fell short of a counterpunching half-century after copping an absolute peach from Brydon Carse that evaded his defences and crashed into the pegs.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 2

6 and 8

Labuschagne fell in near identical fashion across both innings at the MCG, edging England quick Josh Tongue towards Joe Root at first slips without reaching double digits.

The Queenslander attempted an expansive drive with hard hands on day one, but he fell while defending on Saturday morning, with the catch only just carrying to Root.

He averaged 20.84 in Tests this year.

STEVE SMITH – 5

9 and 24*

The Australian captain once again fell victim to Josh Tongue on day one, bowled through the gate by a delivery that seamed viciously off the deck.

Smith anchored the second innings but ran out of partners, inexplicably allowing tailender Jhye Richardson to keep the strike.

USMAN KHAWAJA – 3

29 and 0

There was almost nothing Khawaja could have done about his first-innings dismissal, feathering a near-perfect delivery from Gus Atkinson though to the wicketkeeper.

However, the Queenslander fell for a second-ball duck on day two after top-edging a needless pull shot towards deep fine leg, a dismissal that set the scene for England’s unlikely comeback.

ALEX CAREY – 3

20 and 4

Carey fell into an obvious trap on day one of the Boxing Day Test, clipping a wayward delivery towards leg slip moments after the fielder had been placed there.

The South Australian played a regrettable shot the following morning, wafting in the channel and caught in the slips cordon for single figures.

There were no issues with his glovework in the Victorian capital.

CAMERON GREEN – 3

17 and 19, 1-0

Green made a promising start with the bat on Friday before gifting his wicket to England by sprinting through for a suicidal single, run out for the first time in his Test career.

The West Australian then needlessly flashed at a wide delivery from rival captain Ben Stokes on day two, which sparked a dramatic collapse of 4-13 in the second innings.

With fellow all-rounder Beau Webster breathing down his neck, he’s at serious risk of missing selection for the New Year’s Test, averaging 21.42 with the bat in Tests this year.

MICHAEL NESER – 8

4-45 and 0-54

Playing his first red-ball Test, Neser was recalled for the Boxing Day clash and top-scored for Australia on Friday with a counterpunching 35, also taking four wickets in a perfect day for the Queenslander.

However, he couldn’t replicate his heroics day two, dismissed for duck and leaking 6.75 runs per overs, receiving his first taste of Bazball.

MITCHELL STARC – 7

2-23 and 2-55

Starc was once again at his ferocious best in the first innings, removing both of England’s openers in a damaging spell with the shiny new Kookaburra, but the left-armer struggled to create early inroads on Saturday as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett combined for a rapid 51-run opening partnership.

Elsewhere, he flopped with the bat, contributing one run in the low-scoring affair.

JHYE RICHARDSON – 6

0-8 and 2-22

Making his first Test appearance in more than four years, Richardson was hardly required on day one as his teammates ripped through England in just 29.5 overs.

The West Australian quick removed pinch-hitter Brydon Carse and superstar Joe Root the following afternoon, but it was otherwise a forgettable return to national colours.

SCOTT BOLAND – 9

3-30 and 2-29

Where’s that statue?

After ripping through England’s middle order on Friday afternoon, Boland received the loudest cheers of the match when he survived the final over of day one, opening the batting for Australia as a night watcher.

The Victorian seamer was almost unplayable of the dicey surface, chipping in with a couple of crucial wickets during England’s run chase.