The Unplayable Podcast · Cricket Australia

Melbourne D1: CARNAGE! 20 wickets tumble on wild day

·19 min·1 clip

Scott Boland walked out to face the final over with 70,000 fans cheering, nearly caught at slip before hitting a boundary.

This episode analyzes the chaotic first day of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG, where 20 wickets fell. Hosts Josh Honofinger and Louis Cameron, cricket journalists, process the day's frantic events. They examine the pitch conditions, bowling performances, and batting collapses that defined the play. The curator left 10 millimeters of grass on the pitch, which Michael Neser noted would cause significant movement with the new ball. Only two batters, Harry Brook with 41 and Michael Neser with 35, passed 30 runs, while 11 players were dismissed for single figures. England's Josh Tongue took five wickets, including Steve Smith with a delivery that deviated 14 centimeters. Scott Boland faced a dramatic final over as a nightwatchman, edging a ball and hitting a boundary before stumps. England collapsed to 110 all out, their lowest Test total since being bowled out for 68 at the MCG in the last Ashes series. Australia lost their last four wickets for just nine runs after a Cameron Green run-out executed by Brydon Carse. Jai Richardson returned to Test cricket after 1,467 days, bowling four overs despite ongoing concerns about his throwing ability due to shoulder surgeries. Melissa Healy reported feeling the grass lift when she ran her hand over the pitch before play. The hosts calculate a wicket fell every 22.9 balls on this day of "total carnage." They note the contrasting batting approaches of Joe Root, who scored a 15-ball duck, and the aggressive Harry Brook, who hit two sixes. A Fox broadcast graphic showed the ball that bowled Steve Smith moved 11 centimeters from a four-meter length. The selection of pace bowler Josh Tongue, who missed the first two Tests, is seen as a masterstroke for these conditions. The possibility of a two-day Test finish is discussed, leaving holders of Day 3 and 4 tickets nervous. The tone is fast-paced, analytical, and conversational, mirroring the hectic day of cricket. The style blends technical dissection of play with lively storytelling about key moments. Cricket fans who enjoy deep technical analysis of pitch conditions and bowling tactics will love this episode. Listeners preferring episodes focused on high individual batting scores or longer narrative arcs might skip it.

As heard by us

A frantic Test-day debrief with sharp cricket detail.

Day one in Melbourne was a hard, busy Test day: 20 wickets, a 46-run Australia lead, and a scorecard that never sat still for long. Josh Honofinger and Louis Cameron keep the focus on the cricket, working through England's strong opening spell, the pitch, and the selection…

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Why you'd press play

You want the read on a 20-wicket day while it is still fresh.

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