Ashes 2025-26: 'Was like watching a racing thriller film' - Former Indian spinner dissects two-day Boxing Day Test

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has likened the fourth Test of the 2025-26 Ashes between Australia and England to a 'racing thriller film'. The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground turned out to be a low-scoring affair which concluded within two full days.

Ashwin underscored how adapting to varying conditions is the essence of Test cricket. He also refused to speak ill of the pitch unlike other ex-cricketers who criticised the excessively bowling-friendly nature of it.

"Australia have produced Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon but New Zealand and England haven’t produced any great spinner yet. The beauty of Test cricket is to adapt to foreign conditions. I won’t criticize the MCG pitch either because it’s common for both teams. It was fun to watch. It was like watching a racing thriller film," shared Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin reflected that the recent Kolkata Test between India and South Africa played out similar to the MCG Test, yet drawing major criticism from several people. 

"But I feel double standards must be avoided. Let’s take for example how the Test finished at Eden Gardens recently. We ourselves said it. Having played cricket for several years, we criticize ourselves justly for pitches. But the other countrymen are not doing the same. They are talking highly about themselves and lowly about us," he added.

A record 20 wickets fell on the first day at MCG, followed by 16 on the subsequent one. No batter could get settled at the crease. The 20-run mark was passed by only 10 times across all innings throughout the match. Josh Tongue's match haul of seven wickets earned him the Player of the Match award. 

The series stands 3-1 in the name of Australia as they won the first three matches of the series. The fifth and final one will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 4. The series-opening clash in Perth had also concluded on Day 2.