AUS vs ENG: Harry Brook breaks THIS World record in Ashes 2025-26 Boxing Day Test; surpassed Adam Gilchrist

The fourth Ashes 2025-26 test is being played at the MCG.

Australia and England (AUS vs ENG) locked horns in the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. The contest got underway at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26, 2025, widely recognized as the traditional Boxing Day Test.

Australia entered the test firmly in control, leading the five-match series 3-0 after comprehensive eight-wicket victories in the opening two tests in Perth and Brisbane, followed by an 82-run triumph in the third Test at Adelaide.

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss in the fourth Test and opted to bowl first on a lively green surface at the MCG. What followed was chaos with the ball from both teams. Australia’s top order crumbled as Travis Head (12), Jake Weatherald (10), Marnus Labuschagne (6), and skipper Steve Smith (9) were dismantled, with Josh Tongue claiming three wickets.

Usman Khawaja (29), Alex Carey (20), and Michael Neser (35) were the standout contributors for Australia as their first innings ended at 152 runs. Josh Tongue returned figures of 5/45, while Gus Atkinson chipped in with two wickets.

Just when England believed their reply would be straightforward, Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser had different ideas. The top four in England’s batting order—Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, and Joe Root—were dismissed for single-digit scores, with Root falling without scoring.

Harry Brook top-scored with 41, and Gus Atkinson added 28 as England were bundled out for 110 runs in their first innings. Michael Neser claimed 4/45, while Scott Boland picked up three wickets and Starc accounted for two.

Harry Brook becomes the fastest batter to reach 3000 test runs

On day 1 of the fourth Ashes test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, England’s star batsman Harry Brook accomplished a significant milestone. In terms of balls faced, Harry Brook became the fastest player in test cricket history to score 3,000 runs.

Brook came into the game with just seven runs needed to accomplish the milestone, and he did so in style. After facing just 3,468 balls in his 34th test match, the right-handed batsman reached 3,000 Test runs.

During his knock, Harry Brook broke the record previously held by Australia’s dashing keeper-batter Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist reached the 3000-run mark in Tests in 3,610 balls. Australia opener David Warner (4,047 balls), India’s Rishabh Pant (4,095 balls), and Virender Sehwag (4,129 balls) follow on the list.

Fastest to reach 3000 test runs (by balls faced):

3468 – Harry Brook

3610 – Adam Gilchrist

4047 – David Warner

4095 – Rishabh Pant

4129 – Virender Sehwag

This year, Brook has scored 753 runs in 10 tests and 17 innings at an average of 44.29, with a strike rate of over 82, including two centuries, four fifties, and a best score of 158.

Brook is the fifth-highest run scorer in the ongoing Ashes series with a strike rate of over 78 and 214 runs in seven innings at 30.57, including his greatest score of 52, his only fifty, at Perth during the first Test.

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