Ashes LIVE: Ben Stokes admits his pride after ‘difficult few days’ as England snap long wait to win a Test in Australia

Speaking to TNT Sports, Joe Root explained that he was disappointed that this victory did not have an impact on the series, but he was delighted that England were able to bounce back after what’s been a tough week.

Feels a lot better. It’s been what, 18 goes at it? Disappointed that it’s not to affect the series. But I think it’s very important for everything that’s been thrown at the group in the last little while to respond. And to find a way on that wicket, I think shows good cricket smarts in many ways.

But today we showed great bravery to play in that manner and with that conviction. So I’m very proud of the rest of the boys and hopefully we can build on it and use the momentum.

Root brought up a score of 15 runs off 38 deliveries before he was dismissed for lbw by Jhye Richardson. He admitted that he was gutted not to have helped England get over the line, but selflessly added the win means more.

I think when you’re out there, you know what the job is and you know what is required. For me, I was bitterly disappointed; I wanted to see us over the line and be there at the end with Brooky. But I wouldn’t change not out for a victory.

Despite the win, Graeme Swann was left frustrated by the tourists’ on day two of this Boxing Day Test, with the former England spinner claiming that Ben Stokes’ side ‘make you want to throw your hands in the air’ at times.

However, speaking to TNT Sports, he believes this major victory in Melbourne may be a huge boost that England need.

I’ve been so nervous watching that. This England team does your head in. They are so good on their day, and so bad when they are not. If this gives one or two players a kick for next time – to make sure we are more ruthless and we are fighting for the Ashes in Melbourne – then perhaps it’s not a wasted tour after all.

The captain added that he was particularly proud of Jacob Bethell, who arrived at the crease to amass England’s highest score of the day (40) with a composed and patient knock on a very fast wicket.

Beth played a crucial knock in tricky conditions and showed the class we see in him to go like that.

The partnerships we built in the chase were exceptional.

Pressed on how tough this tour has been personally for him, Stokes said he was proud of how he has handled the captaincy during this series.

Definitely. After the couple of days leading up to this Test, there was quite a lot thrown our way. We made sure we stayed focused on the task at hand, a lot of credit has to go to the players and the staff. A very proud captain here of the boys in the dressing room.

The way the cricket was played was short and sharp. It was very tricky. We looked to take a positive approach on everything, it was heavily favoured towards the bowlers.

The way we went out today was exactly the right way to chase it down, you can’t allow good bowlers to land it in dangerous areas. I thought we were courageous in the way we operated.

Josh Tongue, what an occasion for him. Five wickets on Boxing Day in front of a huge crowd. Absolutely awesome. Jacob Bethell, a crucial knock in tricky conditions. The partnerships they were able to build were exceptional.

England skipper Ben Stokes has hailed the Barmy Army (who are still singing by the way!) as he reflected on what’s been a tough tour.

It has been a tough tour up until now and we are obviously over the moon that we have been able to get the right result here.

It has not only been a tough tour for us as a team but also everything before us so to be stood here as part of a team that has managed to win a game in Australia is a pretty good feeling.

I hope it means a lot to the fans. The support we constantly get is very special. There is constant noise and the lads hear it, know it and feel it.

This means a hell of a lot to us as players and I’m sure there will be some sore heads for the fans tomorrow.

Reflecting on the match, Steve Smith told TNT Sports:

Tricky one. Obviously, a very quick game! Had we got 50 or 60 more across both innings, then we might have been there at the end. But credit to England, they came out today, bowled really well this morning and didn’t let us get away.

Then the way they started with the bat, they were very aggressive, got a few away and probably softened our ball a bit and it probably didn’t offer as much from that point.

The spicy pitch here at the MCG has been a major talking point around this fourth Ashes Test, and Smith offered his take on the wicket, claiming it favoured the bowlers too much…

It did a fair amount for the whole game. Just probably when the ball just softened after a few lusty blows from their top order, it went a little bit less, but without that, it was still going to offer plenty.

I think [it favoured the bowlers] a little bit too much. It was tricky, no one could really get in. When you see 36 wickets across two days, that’s probably too much.

It did more than they probably wanted to. If we drop it down to 8mm [of grass], that might be about right.

Josh Tongue wrote his name in the history books on Boxing Day, becoming the first Englishman to take a five-wicket haul during an Ashes Test at the MCG since Dean Headley in 1998.

He would go on to take another two wickets on Saturday, with the England bowler being awarded the player of the match award for his brilliance with the ball in hand.

Tongue told TNT Sports:

It’s what dreams are made of. I mean, waking up on Boxing Day there were a few nerves. But to get a five-for, it was a pretty special feeling.

The Barmy Army have been unbelievable these past four games.

A 15-month injury lay off between 2021 and 2022 due to a shoulder injury had left Tongue wondering if he would ever play cricket again.

But reflecting on his journey to today, the player-of-the-match said:

I was in a tough situation with my body and stuff and potentially retiring but I was glad I put in the hard work to get back playing cricket and now playing for England… It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

It is an amazing feeling that we have won this game for the fans. I can’t be happy enough to win a Boxing Day Test.

Joe Root also thanked the Barmy Army while speaking with TNT Sports for their support during the tour:

Very special occasion. We are so lucky with the support we get. Look at the amount of people that are here.

They do it everywhere. We are so lucky to have them. Really pleased they can enjoy this alongside us too.

Jacob Bethell impressed during his first match of the series. He brought up a score of 40 from 46 deliveries, which also included five fours, and Root was quick to also lump praise on the middle order batter…

Outstanding. The conviction he played with, the smarts that he had. Using the crease and making it difficult for the bowlers to hold length. Takes bravery and takes courage and it takes a lot of skills to execute as well as he did.

Speaking to TNT Sports, England batter Joe Root has reflected on the victory, paying credit to the tourists for finally getting a win Down Under.

Obviously, to lose the series is very disappointing. It was really important that we showed a lot of character for the rest of this series.

There has been a lot thrown at this team. The way we have responded these last two days, it has been excellent. I was a very fast-forward Test match with the surface we were presented with.

We showed a bit of bravery today in the way we approached things with the bat. That is why we have won the Test match. I have been on the wrong side of the result a lot here. The fact we managed to get across the line today is excellent and hopefully we can improve on this next week as well.

On coming in to bat in the second innings, Root added:

I was pretty confident by that point. Disappointed to get out at that stage. But that wasn’t to be, to win the game is the most important thing.

Really pleased and proud of all these lads. Quite a few of them on their first tour – to experience a win here is important.

The Barmy Army are going absolutely bonkers in Bay 13 here.

This victory means so much to them and the England team, who have delivered for their fans today.

It’s been another bonkers day of cricket, with Australia collapsing on Saturday morning, with England bowling the hosts out for 132.

Brydon Carse enjoyed an excellent day with the ball in hand, taking four wickets to dismiss all of Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head.

In came England, and sensing a chance to claim their first win of the series, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett both started well, amassing 37 and 34 runs respectively, before Jacob Bethell brought up a score of 40 before he was dismissed by Scott Boland.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for England. With the Bazballers needing less than 50 runs, Australia surged back into the game, with Jhye Richardson and Mitchell Starc dismissing both Joe Root and Ben Stokes, to make it a nervy finish.

Harry Brook and Jamie Smith would strike the winning runs, with the former clipping a four around the stumps to seal a four-wicket victory for England at the MCG, their first win in Australia since 2011.

England have finally snapped their 15-year wait to win an Ashes Test against Australia.

Harry Brook clips a ball around the wicket to hit the final runs of what’s been a totally bonkers Test match, with England sealing a four-wicket victory.

England need only one run to win the Boxing Day Test.

And Jamie Smith and Harry Brook are taking their time here to get this one…