The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium (MCG) has turned into a statistical embarrassment for Australia, with the hosts registering one of their worst collective batting performances in more than a century of Test cricket. On a pitch that proved brutally difficult for batting, Australia managed scores of just 152 and 132 against England, producing their third-lowest match aggregate since 2000.
Across the two innings, Australia batted for just 79.5 overs, the fewest they have faced in a Test match since 1928 and the third-lowest in terms of balls faced since 1900. The numbers underline how thoroughly the surface exposed batting frailties in a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons from an Australian perspective.
Australia face just 479 balls against England in Boxing Day Test
Australia were dismissed having faced only 479 deliveries across both innings, a remarkable statistic given the venue and occasion. The hosts batted for 45.2 overs in the first innings and 34.3 overs in the second, offering little resistance as wickets fell in clusters.
Notably, the only time Australia have faced fewer balls in a Test match at the MCG came all the way back in 1904, also against England. That historic collapse saw Australia survive just 360 balls, and now – 121 years later – history has repeated itself at the same ground.
While Australia’s batting struggles will draw scrutiny, the pitch itself has become a major talking point. From early movement to unpredictable bounce, the surface offered minimal respite for batters, turning the contest into a survival test rather than a conventional Boxing Day spectacle.
The inability of Australia’s line-up to adapt, however, amplified the damage. Against a disciplined bowling attack, mistakes were ruthlessly punished, leaving the hosts unable to build partnerships or settle at the crease.
The last time Australia faced fewer deliveries in a Test match came in 1928 at The Gabba, when they lasted just 457 balls across two innings. That collapse has long stood as a benchmark of batting failure, but the 2025 Boxing Day Test now sits alarmingly close in the record books.
The figures place the MCG match among Australia’s worst since the early 20th century, a sobering comparison for a team accustomed to dominance at home.
Least balls faced by Australia in a Test match since 1900
- 360 balls vs England, Melbourne Cricket Stadium, 1904
- 457 balls vs England, The Gabba, 1928
- 464 balls vs England, The Oval, 1912
- 479 balls vs England, Melbourne Cricket Stadium, 2025
- 499 balls vs West Indies, Queen’s Park Oval, 1995
The recurrence of England in four of the five entries further adds to the historical sting for Australian fans.
