Full Story Ashes Weekly: England bounce back in madcap Melbourne Test
Dec 29, 2025
Ali Martin, a seasoned cricket correspondent, teams up with Barney Ronay, a chief sports writer, and Geoff Lemon, a Guardian Australia journalist. They dive into England’s electrifying win at the MCG after nearly 15 years. The trio debates the legitimacy of the match as Test cricket, discusses the impact of pitch conditions on performance, and reflects on modern players' readiness for red-ball cricket. They also chat about Ben Duckett's viral nightlife escapade and the broader implications for both England and Australia moving forward.
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Drunk In Cinema Metaphor For Chaos
- Barney Ronay compared watching the fast Test to being drunk in a cinema, repeatedly waking and missing plot.
- He used the Total Recall memory to illustrate confusion and panic while following the match.
Win Resets England’s Tour Pressure
- England ending an 18-match winless run in Australia resets pressure and morale for the team.
- Ali Martin says the win is important even if the game was low-scoring and messy.
Result Felt Like A Lottery
- Geoff Lemon called the Melbourne Test a 'horrible test match' dominated by poor application and lack of skill.
- He argues the result felt like teams stumbling into a lottery rather than winning a proper Test.