The Unplayable Podcast · Cricket Australia

Melbourne D2: Young gun shows the way as England win historic two-dayer

·21 min·1 clip

England break a 5,468-day drought with a historic Test win in Australia, sparking wild celebrations.

This episode analyzes England's historic four-wicket victory in the second-day Test match at the MCG, ending a 5,468-day winless streak in Australia. Hosts Lou and Josh provide a detailed recap and implications for the Ashes series. They frame the discussion around the match's significance for England's veteran players and its familiar, chaotic nature for club cricketers. The hosts detail England's successful chase of 175, highlighting the pressure-relieving opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. They focus on the standout performance of 22-year-old Jacob Bethell, who scored a composed 46 but was curiously demoted to number four in the batting order. The analysis covers Australia's second-innings collapse, losing three wickets for six runs and later four for 13, with Steve Smith remaining unbeaten. England bowler Brydon Carse is noted for his critical spell of four for 34, while a hamstring injury to Gus Atkinson casts doubt on his availability for Sydney. A major topic is the pitch, described as having indentations, leftover grass, and a spongy character that produced the second two-day Test of this series. Steve Smith suggested the optimal batting method was to emulate Harry Brook's chaotic 41 off 34 balls from the first innings. Ben Stokes implied a double standard in pitch criticism, hinting that similar surfaces in Asia would provoke more scrutiny. The financial cost of a two-day Test is highlighted, with the Perth match reportedly costing Cricket Australia five million dollars and the MCG losing potential revenue from a large day-three crowd. The hosts find it remarkable that this Ashes series has featured two "reverse outright" results, where the team behind on the first innings won the match. They dissect a key moment where Travis Head's dismissal by a ball that violently nipped away seemed to trigger panic in Australia's middle order. A revealing statistic shows 17 plays and misses in the first 12 overs of England's chase, but only four in the next 20, as big shots into the LED boards allegedly softened the ball. Smith's observation that spin was the easiest style to face on this wicket is presented as a crucial insight for future team selection. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending immediate post-match reaction with deeper tactical and contextual discussion. The style is insider-focused, geared towards dedicated cricket fans familiar with team strategies and recent series history. Cricket enthusiasts who enjoy detailed technical breakdowns of Test match tactics and pitch conditions will love this episode. Listeners seeking a broad, narrative-driven story or those unfamiliar with the specific players and recent Ashes history might find it too niche.

As heard by us

A lively Ashes debrief that mixes scoreline drama with the awkward bill left behind.

Melbourne gets a sharp, slightly rueful read here: England's first win in Australia in almost 15 years and yet another two-day Ashes match give the conversation its edge.

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Why you'd press play

Want the Ashes result and the awkward questions it leaves behind?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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