England captain Ben Stokes has described a "special feeling" after his team secured their first Ashes Test victory on Australian soil in 15 years, though the historic win was heavily overshadowed by a major controversy surrounding the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A Landmark Win Amidst Unideal Conditions
The victory, achieved in just two days, ensured England avoided a series whitewash, cutting Australia's lead to 3-1 with one match remaining. However, Stokes was quick to acknowledge the far-from-perfect circumstances of the win, played on a surface that heavily favoured bowlers.
"Yeah, we've got the win, but honestly, it's not what you want, really," Stokes told TNT Sports. "The conditions were heavily sided to one skill of the game, which is not ideal, and the game lasts less than two days."
He added that the challenge was to adapt to the confronting conditions, stating, "Chasing 170 was always going to be difficult, but I thought the way that we took the game on from the outset was the exact way that we needed to do that."
Financial Fallout and Widespread Criticism
The two-day finish has significant financial implications. Channel 7 estimates that Cricket Australia could lose approximately £12.4 million in broadcasting revenue and refunds for day three and four tickets. This match marked only the fourth two-day Test in Australian history, with two occurring in the past month alone.
The MCG pitch drew fierce criticism from pundits, with former England skipper Michael Vaughan branding it a "joke" on social media and accusing it of "selling the game short."
Stokes Reflects on a Hard-Fought Triumph
Despite the furore, Stokes expressed immense pride in his team's resilience, particularly given the intense scrutiny they faced before the match regarding a mid-series break in Noosa and questions over team culture.
"It's a special feeling," Stokes said. "Me and Joe [Root] have been on a few tours and it's not gone particularly well. But an amazing feeling." He praised the squad's focus, highlighting, "The way in which we were able to keep the focus on the most important thing, which was the cricket out there, was pretty exceptional."
The win on December 27, 2025, stands as England's first Ashes Test victory in Australia since their triumph at the MCG in the 2010/11 series.
