Tongue ends 27-year England drought with MCG five-wicket haul

Right-arm pacer Josh Tongue created history at the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, becoming the first England bowler this century to take a five-wicket haul in a men's Test at the venue.

For 27 years, the MCG had resisted England's bowlers. Legends had come and gone, spells had teased, but no Englishman had managed a five-wicket haul at the venue since 1998. Then Tongue arrived--right arm pumping, eyes locked on the pitch, bowling with purpose.

Tongue returned outstanding figures of 5-45 as Australia were bowled out for 152 in their first innings on the opening day of the fourth Test.

His performance ended a long wait for an England bowler to claim a five-for at the MCG. The last to achieve the feat were Darren Gough and Dean Headley in 1998.

The spell was the most successful of Tongue's Test career, bettering his previous best of 5/66 against Ireland at Lord's in 2023. His wickets came at key moments and played a major role in restricting Australia to a low total, despite the hosts having already retained the Ashes.

Tongue also finished the innings on a hat-trick after dismissing Michael Neser for 35 and Scott Boland for a duck with the final two balls of the Australian innings.

After the innings, Tongue remained characteristically grounded.

"I feel like anyone could have taken a five-fer today," he said, deflecting praise.

Tongue said the bowling group benefitted from clear plans and consistent execution.

"When I'm at my best, I'm bowling a fuller length and hitting the pitch hard," Tongue said. "Ben Stokes has spoken a lot about that, and if we put the ball in the same areas tomorrow, we can take early wickets."