Root, Stokes End Australia Hoodoo with First Test Win Down Under

England finally broke their long-standing drought on Australian soil as Joe Root and Ben Stokes tasted their first-ever Test victory in Australia, guiding the visitors to a remarkable four-wicket win in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The win ended England’s 15-year wait for a Test victory in Australia, their last coming in January 2011. Since then, England had gone winless in 18 consecutive Tests Down Under—a barren run that also haunted two of their modern greats.
For Root, the victory came after 17 Test matches in Australia without a win, a sequence that had seen him record 15 defeats and two draws—jointly the most Test losses by a player in a single country alongside Alastair Cook and James Anderson. Stokes, meanwhile, finally broke through in his 13th Test appearance in Australia.
The match itself was over in barely two days, with England chasing down a modest target of 175 to seal victory well before stumps on day two. It marked the first time in 94 years that a Test at the MCG finished inside two days, and only the second instance in 129 years of two Tests in a single Ashes series concluding within that time frame.
Reflecting on the win despite England already losing the series, Root said the result was a reward for the team’s resilience and character throughout the tour. “Losing the series is always disappointing, but we’ve shown our identity and courage. Today, that bravery paid off,” he said.
Across four innings, both teams faced just 852 deliveries at the MCG, underlining the extraordinary pace of the contest. The result not only restored pride for England but also lifted a psychological burden that had weighed heavily on Root and Stokes throughout their careers in Australia.