The Ashes 2025-26 intensifies with the fourth Test between Australia and England set for December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, where England trails 3-0 after defeats in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Captain Ben Stokes‘ side faces a must-win scenario to avoid a whitewash, with the MCG expected to host record crowds on a pitch curator Matt Page has prepared to favour balanced contests, similar to last year’s thriller. Two key changes signal England’s desperation: explosive pacer Jofra Archer, their standout performer with nine wickets this series, is ruled out for the tour due to a left-side strain sustained in Adelaide, while struggling Ollie Pope gets dropped after aggregating just 125 runs at 20.83 in six innings.
Ashes 2025-26: Ollie Pope and Jofra Archer left out of the Boxing Day Test Playing XI
England’s revamped XI drops Pope for rising star Jacob Bethell, who slots in at number three for his fifth Test cap despite limited first-class hundreds, bringing white-ball flair after captaining in T20Is. Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson returns to partner Brydon Carse up top, replacing Archer after missing Adelaide, with Will Jacks retained as a spin-bowling allrounder over Shoaib Bashir.
Stokes praised Archer’s “exceptional” impact and backed the new-look attack, emphasizing resilience amid off-field noise like Ben Duckett‘s ECB probe over a viral video. Bethell’s inclusion carries weight, with his recent Lions form and T20 prowess eyed to stabilize the top order against Australia’s likely changes, including Steve Smith captaining sans injured Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. Atkinson, fresh from strong county hauls, bolsters a pace-heavy unit on an MCG surface averaging competitive score, where pacers thrive early before batters dominate.
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Ashes 2025-26: High stakes at the iconic MCG venue
With Australia poised to clinch the urn early, England channels Bazball aggression to spark revival, leaning on Joe Root and Harry Brook‘s consistency amid the series’ batting collapses. The MCG’s Boxing Day spectacle, broadcast globally, promises fireworks, with Page’s pitch aiming for no draws like recent years’ thrillers. Stokes’ leadership remains pivotal, as England eyes upsets before the Sydney finale, testing youth like Bethell against Australia’s dominance. This reshuffle underscores tough calls in a desperate bid to salvage pride Down Under.
England’s playing XI for the Boxing Day Test:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue
