Ashes Weekly England bounce back in madcap Melbourne Test – Ashes Weekly podcast
Dec 28, 2025
Geoff Lemon, a cricket writer for Guardian Australia, shares his insights on pitch conditions and the Australian perspective. Barney Ronay, the Guardian's chief sports writer, provides humorous yet candid commentary on the quality of play and Test cricket's future. Ali Martin, cricket correspondent, offers context on team preparation and selection. The discussion dives into England's surprising win in Melbourne, the implications of pitch conditions, and the need for improved coaching and player readiness as they face the future in Test cricket.
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Win Resets England's Tour Momentum
- England's win ended an 18-match drought in Australia and reset pressure on the team.
- The result matters for morale though the match quality was widely questioned.
Drunk Cinema Comparison For The Match
- Barney compared watching the frantic two-day Test to watching a film drunk and confused.
- The simile captured the panic and bewilderment of the day's rapid events.
Match Felt Un-True To Test Standards
- Many panellists felt the MCG match lacked true Testcraft and felt like a farce.
- They argued the pitch and poor application produced a result without much quality.