AUS vs ENG: December 27, 2025, will forever hold a special place in England's cricketing memory. On a sunlit afternoon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,
England finally exorcised one of their longest-standing demons - winning a Test match in Australia for the first time in more than 15 years.
The victory ended a barren run stretching back to January 7, 2011, closing a chapter defined by heartbreak, heavy defeats and unfulfilled promise.
In between those two dates lay an agonising sequence of 18 winless Tests on Australian soil, a statistic that had loomed large over successive touring sides. That drought was finally broken in dramatic fashion during a frenetic two-day contest at the MCG, where Ben Stokes' England held their nerve to secure a four-wicket win in the fourth Test of the Ashes.
While Australia had already sealed the urn and continued to lead the five-match series 3-1, England's triumph carried significance far beyond the scoreboard. The tourists entered the match under intense scrutiny, criticised for their aggressive red-ball philosophy and surrounded by off-field controversies that threatened to overshadow their cricket. What followed, however, was a timely reminder of their resilience and character.
Chasing a modest but tricky target of 175, England showed rare composure in the final session of the second day of the Boxing Day Test. The pitch still had enough in it to keep Australia interested, but England's batters absorbed the pressure and took calculated risks to cross the line - sparking celebrations that felt almost cathartic.
The scale of the achievement becomes clearer when viewed through history. Only Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja from Australia's current squad had been part of a home defeat to England before this match. For England's touring party, the experience was entirely new - none had ever beaten Australia in a Test in their own backyard until now.
Ben Stokes' name also finds its way into the record books. The all-rounder became the first England men's captain since Andrew Strauss to oversee a Test victory in Australia, reinforcing his reputation as a leader who thrives in adversity.
Though the Ashes remain in Australian hands, England's long-awaited Melbourne win restored pride, belief and a sense of progress - proving that even the most stubborn droughts can be broken with courage and conviction.
