BBL 2025-26: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars Match Prediction & Analysis

 

Test Match for the History Books! England Ends the "Australian Jinx" in a 2-Day Thriller! 🇦🇺🏴. WOW! — You are a cricket fan! As the Melbourne Test of 2025 breaks a decade-long drought for England, one of the shortest and most intense battles in Ashes history. 🔥 The Streak is Broken! England had never managed a win on Australia's shores for 12 years and 18 straight Test bouts. And today that streak came to an end in Melbourne! England officially equaled New Zealand's 18 consecutive Tests with 0 victories in Australia in 1987-2011, but now it is at last able to breathe a sigh as the "Australian Jinx" comes to an end. ⏱️ Short, Sharp And Deadly! But this was not yet a match; it was a whirl. In just 2 days, they are part of the elite and rarest list of short-lived test sessions in Australia which were completed this has been done now. It became the 4th shortest Ashes Test of all time (by balls bowled) with a running time of merely 852 balls. England managed to chase a goal of 175, with a blistering run rate of 5.50, the second highest in successful 150+ Ashes chases. 📉 Stats That Will Blow Your Mind:

Bowlers' Paradise: So many wickets, in just 2 days, crashing away — 36. Player of the Match Josh Tongue proved the hero with a dream comeback and a 5-wicket haul. No Fifties, No Problem: This was a lone Test match where no individual batter scored more than a 50. The last time this happened in an Ashes Test was back in 1981 at Birmingham. Steven Smith’s Captaincy Record: In The Ashes this match marks a first-ever Loss for Steven Smith as Captain. After a brilliant run of 7 wins and 1 draw. Player of the Match. Josh Tongue. 1st Inn:

1 (9)* 5-45 (11.2) 

2nd Inn:

2-44 (11.0). Top Performers. 1st Inns Aus. Michael Neser 35 (49). Josh Tongue 5-45 (11.2) 

ENG -1st Inns 

Harry Brook 41 (34) 

Michael Neser 4-45 (10.0) 

AUS -2nd Inns. Travis Head 46 (67) 

Brydon Carse 4-34 (11.0) 

ENG-2nd Inns 

Jacob Bethell 40 (46) 

Jhye Richardson 2-22 (5.2) 

   💬 What the Captains Said:

Steven Smith (AUS): “It was a quick game. Had we seen 50-60 more runs in both innings, we could have been there at the end."

Ben Stokes(Eng): "The way we batted was brilliant. Chasing it down showed bravery and courage.” Most Successive Tests without a Win in Australia: 18 - New Zealand (Dec 1987 - Dec 2011) 18 – England (Nov 2013 - Dec 2025)* STREAK ENDED TODAY 17 – West Indies (Nov 2000 - Jan 2024) 17 – Pakistan (Nov 1999 - present). Shortest Ashes Tests (by balls):

788 balls – Manchester, 1888 792 balls – Lord's, 1888 847 balls – Perth, 2025 852 balls – Melbourne, 2025* today 911 balls – Sydney, 1895 Australia Boxing Day Tests since 2011 Matches: Total matches: 15 Won: 10 Lost: 3 Draw: 2 (vs India in 2018 & 2020; vs England in 2025) Drawn: 2 🌏 To Australia, England and New Zealand. Whether you’re an Aussie with a bad sting of a rare home loss, an Englishman in celebration of a historic streak–breaker or a Kiwi observing how your ‘successive matches’ record is being shared – this match illustrated why Test Cricket continues to be the format of choice!