The iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is racing towards a remarkably swift conclusion, with Australia's dramatic second-day collapse putting a two-day finish firmly on the cards. After 20 wickets fell on a chaotic opening day, the home side lost another six before lunch on Saturday, leaving the match and Cricket Australia's finances in a precarious position.
Chaotic session seals match's fate
The hosts slumped to 6 for 98 in their second innings during a disastrous first session on day two, managing to push their overall lead to just 140 runs. The top scorer was Travis Head, who made 46 before being dismissed just before the lunch break. His departure followed that of in-form wicketkeeper Alex Carey for four, caught brilliantly by a diving Harry Brook.
This leaves the under-pressure West Australian all-rounder Cam Green, unbeaten on six, and stand-in captain Steve Smith, 16 not out, with a monumental rescue mission after the break. The flurry of wickets means the prospect of the Test finishing inside two days is now a likely outcome, which would mark the second such truncated match of this Ashes series following the quick finish in Perth.
Financial and pitch concerns mount
Another two-day Test would deliver a heavy financial blow to Cricket Australia during its most lucrative home series. It is believed CA lost millions for each of the three days lost when the Perth Test wrapped up early in November. The shortfall would be even greater in Melbourne, given the monster crowd numbers the Boxing Day Test traditionally commands.
The MCG pitch itself has become a central character in the drama. It came under significant criticism on Friday for offering bowlers excessive movement and showed no signs of easing up for batters on Saturday. Marnus Labuschagne exemplified the struggle, copping two painful blows to the hand from balls that jumped sharply off a good length before he was eventually dismissed. In total, 26 wickets have fallen in just 100.1 overs of play.
Batting order under the microscope
The collapse has placed several Australian batting positions under intense scrutiny. Scott Boland, hero of the final over on Friday evening, was the first to fall on Saturday, caught behind off Gus Atkinson for six.
Jake Weatherald's Test career is now hanging by a thread after he was bowled by England captain Ben Stokes for five. He has now scored 146 runs at an average of 24.85 across his eight Test innings. Usman Khawaja, who regained his spot after a late call-up in Adelaide, will also face questions after he was caught hooking Josh Tongue to fine leg for a second-ball duck.
Labuschagne's dismissal was a tight catch by Joe Root at third slip, a decision confirmed by the third umpire to the batter's clear frustration. England's own fast-bowling stocks were also tested when Gus Atkinson limped off the field with a suspected left hamstring injury, though Australia's collapse may have spared them from a shortage.
With the match accelerating at a breakneck pace, batting time is clearly no longer the order of the day. All eyes are now on Smith and Green to see if they can somehow stem the tide and prolong a contest that is hurtling towards a historic, and costly, early finish.
