A ‘pretty special feeling’ encapsulates England captain Ben Stokes’s reaction to their momentous Boxing Day Test win at the MCG, a victory that concludes a 15-year wait for a Test triumph in Australia. The team successfully navigated a demanding fourth-innings chase in difficult conditions, with Stokes admitting the final stretches were nerve-wracking. ’10 runs has never felt so far away, when I got out,’ he revealed, keen to avoid the delayed view from the dressing room. This win represents a significant turnaround from previous tours, bringing immense satisfaction to the squad. The jubilant scenes at the end, with the entire team emerging to celebrate, highlighted the years of effort culminating in this breakthrough. Stokes voiced the collective relief: ‘finally, finally we’ve won one.’ He discussed England’s aggressive strategy in the chase, a deliberate choice to counter Australia’s potent bowling. The foundation laid by openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who forged a key partnership, was critical to their success. Stokes emphasized the importance of rotating the strike and converting singles into twos, complementing boundary hitting. The tactical promotion of Brydon Carse to number three was also a talking point, aimed at mitigating risks with the new ball. Stokes acknowledged the move’s mixed outcome but felt it set the stage for Jacob Bethell’s impactful contribution. He praised Bethell’s courage and his ability to change the game’s momentum with his aggressive batting, particularly an early shot against Scott Boland. This significant victory, achieved by a squad with a mix of experience and youth, reinforces England’s pride and commitment to developing their cricketing prowess.
