Marnus\u2019 888-day drought hits dire low as unfixed \u2018issue\u2019 rears ugly head<\/a><\/p>\nSee the Boxing Day Test Talking Points.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
\u2018LOTTERY\u2019 THAT LEAVES ALL EYES ON AUSSIE STARS AMID GRIM SLUMP <\/p>\n
It is the Test match that will forever carry an asterisk given its farcical nature, with former England captain Michael Vaughan succinct as it descended further into farce on Day 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a lottery. I\u2019m enjoying it \u2013 it\u2019s entertaining. But you can\u2019t tell me that this is Test match cricket,\u201d the former English skipper and Fox Cricket expert analyst said.<\/p>\n
England great Kevin Pietersen went one step further on X, labelling the pitch a \u201ccomplete disrespect to the greatest form of the game\u201d.<\/p>\n
Bearing that significant caveat in mind amid significant concerns about the quality of the pitch and the fact this is a dead rubber, it does not absolve the Aussie top order completely.<\/p>\n
As fruitful as the MCG pitch proved for both attacks, members of the Australian top order who failed in Melbourne will arrive in Sydney under a cloud and desperate for runs.<\/p>\n
Both captains critical of MCG pitch | 01:12<\/p>\n
The 284 runs Australia scored over two innings and 79.5 overs is the lowest recorded on home soil since the bloodbath that occurred against South Africa in Hobart in 2016.<\/p>\n
That could prove an ominous portent given the Aussie selectors took a sword to an XI bowled out for 85 and 161 and one that was beaten by an innings and 80 runs.<\/p>\n
After that outing, Australia made five changes for the final Test in Adelaide, with Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill and Joe Mennie dropped from the team.<\/p>\n
Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddison all debuted, while Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird also came into a team that rebounded to win a dead rubber day-night Test.<\/p>\n
The circumstances are far different this time around, with Australia having retained the Urn and in an impregnable position heading into the Boxing Day Test.<\/p>\n
As Fox Cricket expert David Warner said on Saturday, he expects the national selectors to stick with batters including Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just think you\u2019d have to (stick with them), there\u2019s no cricket leading into (the Test series against Bangladesh), unless they wanted to start with a clean slate,\u201d Warner said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, it just gets the guys fine-tuned, ready for South Africa and New Zealand. I think what you\u2019ve got to assess is the shot selection, not so much the dismissals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labuschagne ended his annus horribilis in pain when struck twice on the right hand by Ben Stokes before falling to Josh Tongue for eight.<\/p>\n
The Queenslander, who lost his spot in the team in the Caribbean before reclaiming his spot based on strong domestic form, averaged 20.84 for 2025, the third lowest on record for a top four Australian bat.<\/p>\n
Stokes critical of MCG pitch despite win | 19:05<\/p>\n
Cameron Green dipped down the batting order to No.7 and despite looking in reasonable form, ran himself out on Friday for 17 before dabbing a Ben Stokes delivery to the slips when on 19 on Saturday. He did not bowl in the second innings.<\/p>\n
Jake Weatherald, too, arrives in Sydney under scrutiny having scored a solitary half-century for the summer in what has proven a testing debut.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs runs in Sydney. I think career on the line,\u201d former Australian leg spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n
Warner said several Aussies will not be thrilled with the shots that led to their demise, as difficult as the batting conditions proved.<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnique on this is tough,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re getting out trying to defend you feel like it\u2019s a good technique, that\u2019s fine, but when you\u2019re playing rash shots \u2013 Marnus\u2019 first shot and Steve Smith the same \u2013 that\u2019s not the shot of a guy averaging over 50. They\u2019re (usually) a bit more patient than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Overall, it was the first Ashes Test since Edgbaston 1981 without any player making a half-century.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve only got themselves to blame with their batting today. Yes, it was difficult, but some of the dismissals we saw weren\u2019t good enough for Test match cricket,\u201d Ricky Ponting said on Seven.<\/p>\n
MCG pitch under scrutiny after opener | 07:46<\/p>\n
THREE MILLIMETRE DIFFERENCE THAT TURNED BOXING DAY INTO A \u2018JOKE\u2019 <\/p>\n
244 runs, 409 balls, 634 minutes.<\/p>\n
Alastair Cook\u2019s marathon knock during the 2017 Boxing Day remains the highest individual Test score by a touring player at the MCG. <\/p>\n
The performance has been commemorated in the Members\u2019 Stand with a \u2018COOK 244*\u2019 in large white letters above one of the Percy Beams Bar.<\/p>\n
The English opener\u2019s double-century ultimately denied the Australians an Ashes series whitewash, with the Melbourne contest ending as a draw after 24 wickets fell across five days.<\/p>\n
The lifeless pitch drew heavy criticism from players and administrators, with match referee Ranjan Madugalle handing down a \u2018poor\u2019 rating in his official report. <\/p>\n
The Melbourne Cricket Club launched a review into their pitch preparation following the batter-dominated contest, ditching the concrete slab used under its drop-in decks and replacing several ageing wickets.<\/p>\n
Matt Page took over as the MCG curator shortly after, having already logged more than two decades worth of experience in turf wicket preparation and management. <\/p>\n
His appointment brought about an immediate change, with the iconic venue\u2019s deck providing plenty of seam movement across the following eight years.<\/p>\n
But after 20 wickets fell on day one of this summer\u2019s Boxing Day Test, the pendulum was arguably swung too far the other direction. With 10mm of grass left on the spicy pitch, 3mm more than last year, fast bowlers wreaked havoc with the Kookaburra at the MCG on Friday, prompting plenty of criticism from pundits.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters ahead of the match, Page declared that he wanted to replicate the pitch from last summer\u2019s MCG Test against India, which ended during the final session of day five. However, this week\u2019s Ashes match ended before 5:30pm on day two.<\/p>\n
Questionable shot selection and superb bowling was also partly to blame for the carnage, along with the Kookaburra\u2019s double-coating of lacquer, but Page and the curators have inevitably come under scrutiny.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrass was left on this pitch because of the weather forecast for days three, four and five,\u201d former Australian spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe said on Fox Cricket commentary.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we haven\u2019t even got there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stats gurus CricViz gave the pitch a PitchViz rating of 8.9 out of 10 – where a higher rating indicates tougher batting conditions. It was the highest for any Test match in Australia since records began (2006).<\/p>\n
All of this meant pitch became the focus, rather than the cricket, for one of the sport\u2019s marquee events. The Goldilocks surface, which offers enough for batters and bowlers, continues to elude Melbourne\u2019s curators.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually think it was a bit of an unfair contest,\u201d Cook said on TNT Sports on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was watching some of the bowling on that pitch and I was thinking, how do you face that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Australian veteran Usman Khawaja described the Perth wicket, which received a \u2018very good\u2019 rating from the ICC after 19 wickets fell on the opening day, as a \u201cpiece of s**\u201d. A penny for his thoughts on this week\u2019s deck, particularly after a second ball duck in what is almost certain to be his final Test innings at the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go out there and you face the conditions, you\u2019ve got to crack on and deal with it. But being brutally honest, that\u2019s not what you want,\u201d Ben Stokes said post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoxing Day Test match, you don\u2019t want a game finishing in less than two days. (It\u2019s) not ideal, but you can\u2019t change it once you start the game; you\u2019ve just got to play what\u2019s in front of you. I\u2019m pretty sure if that was somewhere else in the world…\u201d<\/p>\n
Veteran broadcaster Jim Maxwell, who has been commentating on the game for nearly half a century, was overheard lamenting the match while taking a Shane Warne Legacy Health Check at the MCG.<\/p>\n
\u201cTest cricket\u2019s dead, so I might be next,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
Aussies lose 3\/6 before lunch! | 01:54<\/p>\n
\u2018CAREER ON THE LINE\u2019: TOP END TALENT AT RISK OF MISSING RARE CHANCE<\/p>\n
Weatherald\u2019s Test career is officially at a crossroads.<\/p>\n
In his debut Test series, the left-hander has made 146 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.85 with almost half of those runs coming in his 72 in the first innings at the Gabba. In Melbourne, he fell for 10 and 5 after scores of 18 and 1 in Adelaide.<\/p>\n
It has left the 31-year-old on the cusp of the axe if he cannot turn things around in the New Year\u2019s Test.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs runs in Sydney. I think career on the line,\u201d former Australian leg spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe rode Travis Head\u2019s coattails in Perth, he got a little 20, then he batted well at the Gabba.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former England captain Michael Vaughan quizzed his colleague as to whether he should feature in the SCG Test.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, l think he deserves the extended trial throughout this series,\u201d O\u2019Keeffe replied.<\/p>\n
On the second morning at the MCG, Weatherald suffered every batter\u2019s nightmare when he heard the death rattle after leaving a Ben Stokes delivery that nipped back and crashed into the top of off stump.<\/p>\n
Batting at No.3 after Scott Boland took on nightwatchman duties late on Boxing Day, Weatherald clearly knew it was a big day in his career.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Keeffe told foxsports.com.au on day one that he was \u201cunsure of Jake\u201d and that the \u201cjury was still out\u201d after the opener was caught down the leg side in the first innings.<\/p>\n
The pressure of a string of low scores was clearly weighing on Weatherald\u2019s mind before play started on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
The Darwin-native spent a considerable chunk of time standing behind the stumps at the Shane Warne Stand End shadow batting and visualising. Perhaps he knew something about that end as it proved to be the scene of his demise.<\/p>\n
In his shadow batting, Weatherald also showed he is well aware of the technical flaw that has been exposed by the English seamers this summer.<\/p>\n
He focused on making sure his came back down the pitch towards the bowler, but habits can be hard to shake, and it proved so once again in the middle.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does have that head that kind of falls over to the off side,\u201d former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at that head position; it\u2019s a good way outside the off stump. When your head goes that far outside, the off stump goes with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Keeffe said it was clear the opener needed to rectify a technical flaw to flourish at the highest level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why four of his dismissals have been three lbws and one bowled with that head position in a poor place,\u201d O\u2019Keeffe replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cWork to be done for Jake Weatherald.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I’ve ruined a lot of people’s sleep!” | 03:24<\/p>\n
Former Australian opener David Warner later told foxsports.com.au: \u201cWhen you\u2019re at Test cricket level, they work you out fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get too many Test matches until they work you out. For him, it\u2019s about working out how he can be nice and sharp,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Darwin product who made his way at domestic level with South Australia before moving to Tasmania was rewarded with a baggy green this summer for topping the Sheffield Shield run scoring charts last season.<\/p>\n
He smacked 906 runs at 50.33 opening the batting while having to navigate the lively, green Bellerive Oval pitch in half his matches.<\/p>\n
He also scored his runs at the impressive strike rate of 68.27, which was a key factor in his selection for national honours.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s selectors were eager to partner Usman Khawaja with an aggressive opener, but with Travis Head now fulfilling that role, they may be tempted to look for a more conservative option.<\/p>\n
Weatherald\u2019s numbers would suggest that they look for an alternative option.<\/p>\n
In the past decade, fellow openers Joe Burns (36.97), Matt Renshaw (29.31), Cameron Bancroft (26.23) and Marcus Harris (25.29) were all dumped from the side despite boasting superior Test averages than Weatherald.<\/p>\n
Albeit, that quartet have all played at least ten Tests each and former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee believes should be afforded a similar length of time to stake a long term claim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen from Weatherald, I think he\u2019s got the goods and Australia have picked him on his talent, they\u2019ve picked him on his form. They\u2019ve picked him on his ability to score runs at the top level in terms of Shield cricket,\u201d he told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I want to see this selectors back who they have picked. I just love loyalty. Now there comes a stage where, obviously, you can\u2019t play 10 games if, you are not scoring runs, but what I want to see is for them give these guys a go and back them in, back what they\u2019re doing. I think he\u2019s got some really good talent, Jake Weatherald.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s next Test assignments are two Tests against Bangladesh set to be played in Darwin and Mackay in August before a three-Test tour of South Africa.<\/p>\n
Weatherald would no doubt love to become the second Darwin-born Test cricketer \u2013 after Damien Martyn \u2013 to wear the baggy green on Marrara Oval, but that opportunity rests in his own hands in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Boland lifts lid on nightwatchman nerves | 03:30<\/p>\n
CA\u2019S \u2018HANDS-OFF\u2019 APPROACH ON GODLEN GOOSE THAT WILL COST MILLIONS<\/p>\n
This was to be the summer of the golden goose for Cricket Australia, a year to bounce back into the black after a difficult financial year in which it lost $11.3 million in 2024-25.<\/p>\n
But the spicy deck at the MCG has resulted in the second two day Test match for the Ashes after the opening match in Perth finished in a similar time frame.<\/p>\n
That, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg acknowledged on Saturday, is \u201cbad for business\u201d, with the national body facing a massive loss of revenue this summer.<\/p>\n
While another bumper crowd filled the MCG on Day 2, which followed a record attendance for a cricket match in Australia of 94,199 on Boxing Day, the stands will be empty on Sunday. It shapes as as big a loss in revenue as last year\u2019s entire deficit.<\/p>\n
CA will be forced to refund what had been tagged as a sell-out attendance for the third day and it is probable a massive number of tickets had also been sold for Day 4 in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
It was estimated the shortened Test in Perth cost about $5 million in ticket revenue and with an additional 40,000 or seats available at the MCG, the hip pocket pain will be far greater.<\/p>\n
Combine tickets sold for days three and four and the cost will be over $10 million.<\/p>\n
That, Greenberg told SEN on Saturday morning, was a major problem. <\/p>\n
SCENES: Boland faces the final over! | 06:48<\/p>\n
\u201cAs mesmerising, fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket, clearly, to go for longer. The simple phrase I\u2019d use is, \u2018short Tests are bad for business\u2019. I can\u2019t be much more blunt than that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball and I thought (day one) slightly favoured the ball. I would say that I think the batters have ownership in some of that. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s all around the pitch. But yeah, we\u2019ve got some challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
The national body might well step in to ensure the wickets being prepared around Australia provide a more even balance, the CA boss said, though that would pose other issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those characteristics to be presented,\u201d Greenberg told SEN.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially. I\u2019m not suggesting we\u2019re going to go around talking to ground staff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer. As I said, short Tests aren\u2019t good for business.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just about CA, of course; it\u2019s about the flow-on effects to cricket around the country, who may find it harder to be fully funded.<\/p>\n
And with Test cricket around the world far from its peak – with South Africa not playing any Tests this summer, and many nations and players incentivised to prioritise shorter formats of the game – it\u2019s these types of days which have a bigger impact than you\u2019d think.<\/p>\n
20 wickets fall on WILD Boxing Day | 04:07<\/p>\n
BAZBALL ARRIVES… FINALLY<\/p>\n
It took until the fourth Test with the Ashes already lost, but Bazball finally arrived on Australian shores, and it did so in a blaze of glory despite the late wobble. <\/p>\n
England had not won a Test down under since Andrew Strauss\u2019 side thrashed Australia at the SCG in 2011 before they break that drought with a swashbuckling display on the second afternoon at the MCG. <\/p>\n
Joe Root had tasted defeat in Australia 15 times in 17 Tests before Boxing Day, but his winless streak ended in the fashion that was exactly how it would have been envisaged pre-series. <\/p>\n
After England\u2019s bowlers produced an excellent display to skittle the hosts for 132 in 34.3 overs, the Bazballers came out all guns and blazing. <\/p>\n
Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley enjoyed their best partnership of the series, putting on 51 in only seven overs. <\/p>\n
The tide finally seemed to turn England\u2019s way when Mitchell Starc failed to hang on to a diving leading edge off Duckett in the third over, considering he held on to every half chance presented earlier in the series. <\/p>\n
Duckett then swung as hard as humanly possible on his way to 34 off 26, including ramping Michael Neser for six while Alex Carey was stood up to the stumps. <\/p>\n
Crawley also sent Neser over the rope, straight back over his head as the Barmy Army went ballistic and the whole of Australia finally saw the shot making, they had been promised before Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes\u2019 men arrived last month. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the right way to go about it,\u201d former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a perfect storm this situation now,\u201d Australian great Mark Waugh replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese shots get the field spread and there are runs on offer when the field is spread.\u201d <\/p>\n
The madness, or genius depending on which way you look at it, continued as fast bowler Brydon Carse went out to bat at No.3 after Starc knocked over Duckett with a yorker. <\/p>\n
Labuschagne left raging after dismissal | 01:22<\/p>\n
Carse was deployed in the \u2018Nighthawk\u2019 role made famous by Stuart Broad, the only difference being that he strolled to the crease before tea break in bright sunshine. <\/p>\n
It was a ploy that was not necessarily a fruitful one as Carse was caught at third man off Jhye Richardson for 6 off 8 balls, but it certainly entertained and allowed England\u2019s middle order to get further away from the more dangerous, newer ball. <\/p>\n
When Carse departed, England were left needing only 110 more runs for victory, but it took some time for the chaos to calm. <\/p>\n
Jacob Bethell reserve ramped Scott Boland off middle stump for a streaky two from the first ball after tea and then struck a gorgeous off drive for four the following delivery. <\/p>\n
It seemed from that moment on that England reverted to the \u2018Bazball with brains\u2019 method they said they had adapted to earlier this year. <\/p>\n
The field was spread, Australia\u2019s bowlers were thrown off their lengths, the hosts\u2019 fielding became sloppy, and the pitch appeared to settle down, allowing the tourists to accumulate with relative ease. <\/p>\n
Crawley was eventually trapped in front by Scott Boland for 37, but Bethell had overtaken him as the danger man by that time. <\/p>\n
The 22-year-old left-hander\u2019s selection at Test level has been widely criticised given he has never made a first-class century. <\/p>\n
In fact, before his maiden ODI ton against South Africa in September, he had never made a hundred in a professional match, but Bethell has been backed by the English hierarchy because of his undeniable talent. <\/p>\n
If McCullum and Stokes could build batters in a science lab, they would make him and why that would be the case was on show for all to see on Saturday afternoon as he combined eye-catching stroke play like running at Mitchell Starc and hitting him just over mid off for four with a compact defence. <\/p>\n
On a pitch where everyone else struggled, he looked comfortable for much of his 46-ball stay at the crease and it led to former Australian leg spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe joking on Fox Cricket: \u201cI wonder what Jacob Bethell would say to Joe Root if they get across the line? I don\u2019t know why you found it so difficult.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bethell, who became England\u2019s youngest ever captain in September when he handed the reins for a T20 series against Ireland, was unable to see it through, however. <\/p>\n
He picked out Usman Khawaja at cover off the bowling of Boland to depart for 40, the third highest score of the match, with 38 runs needed for victory but the youngster enhanced his reputation. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe looks like a real find for England here,\u201d former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Kayo Sports\u2019 live Ashes coverage. <\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you don\u2019t need to have the history and track record behind you. Sometimes there\u2019s just something you can see in a player, and it looks like he has the package.\u201d <\/p>\n
O\u2019Keeffe said the newcomer reminded him a former English great who was blessed with magnificent shotmaking ability.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s (David) Gower like isn\u2019t he,\u201d O\u2019Keeffe replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe reminds me so much of David Gower, he\u2019s got quick hands and quick feet and he\u2019s brave. He\u2019ll take bowlers on. <\/p>\n
\u201c(He has a) big future. (He is) yet to register a first-class century, but you\u2019d expect he\u2019ll have a number under his belt when he\u2019s finished Jacob Bethell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe Root falls for a 15-ball duck | 01:18<\/p>\n
AUSSIE\u2019S \u2018DESERVING\u2019 RECALL RIGHT MOVE… DESPITE TWO-WICKET MATCH<\/p>\n
It had been a long 1,467 days between drinks for Jhye Richardson, but after four years, the Western Australian quick returned to Australia\u2019s Test side. And rightly so, even if his wickets column this Boxing Day didn\u2019t truly reflect it.<\/p>\n
Richardson has been a player Cricket Australia has invested a plethora into, having long been touted as part of the next generation of quicks to replace the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, or even earlier days a James Pattinson-type.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately though, injury has cruelled the right-armer, having earlier this year undergone his third round of surgery on a troublesome right shoulder.<\/p>\n
As time has gone on, those procedures threatened to put a full stop on his three-Test career, which last saw him take 5\/42 in the second innings of a pink-ball match against the Poms in Adelaide.<\/p>\n
So, needless to say, it was a huge milestone for the 29-year-old when he was named in Australia\u2019s 15-man squad for this Boxing Day Test.<\/p>\n
As a result of his numerous surgeries, Richardson has lost about 10km\/h off his quickest ball, though that wasn\u2019t an issue in the slightest when steaming in to the Australian batters in the Adelaide Oval nets before the third Test. <\/p>\n
He and Marnus Labuschagne were locked in a fascinating battle the morning before the third Test, with Richardson consistently hitting a good length on or just outside the top of off stump.<\/p>\n
A more metronomic approach is important given his slight loss in pace, and clearly selectors believe he\u2019s still more than good enough to fulfill that role for Australia when fit and healthy.<\/p>\n
Pat Cummins\u2019 departure from the starting XI almost straight after Adelaide opened the door for his first Test in four years and the snubbing of Todd Murphy on a thick MCG pitch made it evident Richardson would return to the international arena.<\/p>\n
This is despite playing just one first-class match for 2025, where he took 4\/35 and 1\/41 against the England Lions in Brisbane earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got air speed. The selectors have done it really well with the like-for-like,\u201d former teammate David Warner told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know they spoke about Spencer Johnson at times for Mitchell Starc. They do have that mix-and-match ready. I think (Richardson) will (play a big role going forward), he deserves it. <\/p>\n
\u201cComing back from injury, he deserves his opportunity and hopefully he can stay really fit. He\u2019ll be very well looked after.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richardson\u2019s role in the first innings was limited to just four overs on an MCG deck that no batter could beat. <\/p>\n
However, he was given the crucial role of entering the attack with England\u2019s tail up in the second innings before dismissing Brydon Carse and Joe Root to add to his international wicket tally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It wasn\u2019t in the fashion anyone could have reasonably expected, but the Poms have finally broken their red-ball…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376589,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-376588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=376588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/376589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=376588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=376588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=376588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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