There is no day on the Australian sporting calendar quite like December 26. For all lovers of cricket, be they purists or part-timers, the Boxing Day Test Match is a pilgrimage. This year, the stakes are of another weight. After a resounding clinical passage through the first three matches, Australia already holds the urn, but for England – 4th Ashes Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is about much more than mere “dead rubber” pride—it’s about clinging on to an ideology.
With the series moving on to Melbourne’s hollowed turf, here is everything you need to know about this battle of old rivals.
Match Schedule & Venue
The MCG will host the 4th Test of the NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes Series.
Dates: December 26 – December 30, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. Local Time (AEDT)
UK Time: 23:30 PM (25th December)
IST: 5:00 AM
The MCG is also expected to welcome a bumper crowd on opening day, with early predictions that a pleasingly Melbourne-style summer mix of sunshine and intermittent changeable breezes may play into the hands of swing bowlers.
The Story So Far: Ups and Downs in the Series
Australia now has a 3-0 lead heading into the MCG. The hosts have been ruthless and Mitchell Starc (22 wickets) has led the way while Travis Head 379 runs has hammered the English attack.
But it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the Aussies. There is serious shuffle due to injury concerns. Captain Pat Cummins had been ruled out for the rest of the series with a back issue, ceding the reins to Steve Smith. The “GOAT” Nathan Lyon is also sidelined with a hamstring tear so young Todd Murphy will probably assume front-line spinner.
England, meanwhile, is in a reflective mood. While “Bazball” has provided dazzling moments of inspiration, most particularly through the likes of Joe Root and Zak Crawley (with both reacting to competition), consistency has been missing in unforgiving Australian conditions. Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes come under the microscope to see if they can temper their attacking style for a tough MCG pitch.
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Squads for the 4th Test
Australia
The Aussies have brought Jhye Richardson back in to bolster the pace options without their Test skipper and local hero Scott Boland will be out again to try replicate his famous 6/7 a few years ago.
Squad: Steve Smith (c), Alex Carey (wk), Scott Boland, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson Sean Abbott Brendan Doggett Cameron Green Josh Inglis Michael Neser Jake Weatherald Beau Webster.
England
England are seeking a spark and you sense they might opt for the fresh legs to try and rejuvenate an overworked bowling attack. Jofra Archer is the rabbit in England’s hat, with all eyes on him and whether he can find another gear on the MCG deck.
Squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse,Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks,Ollie Pope (wk), Matthew Potts,Joe Root Jamie Smith (wk)Josh Tongue Mark Wood
What to Look For: Matchups to Watch
Steve Smith’s Captaincy: Without Cummins, all the tinkers that Smith does with his tactics as captain will be under scrutiny. He adores the MCG, and his contest with England’s seamers will be the fulcrum of the Australian innings.
The Spin Vacuum: In the absence of Nathan Lyon, can Todd Murphy hold an end down and create some pressure to allow the quicks to rotate?
England’s opening pair: Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have demonstrated that they can score quickly, but somewhere between them a platform needs to be formed to safeguard a middle order that has been exposed early in the piece throughout this series.
The Boxing Day Test is not simply a match; it’s an occasion. With the Ashes secured by the hosts, the MCG will be a pressure cooker as England strive to stave off a whitewash and Australia attempt to entrench its era of supremacy.
