The Ashes 2025 LIVE: Australia vs England, fourth Test, Melbourne – cricket score, radio & highlights – BBC

Fourth Test, day one, Melbourne
England win toss and bowl
Tourists bring in Bethell and Atkinson for Pope and injured Archer
Australia hold unassailable 3-0 series lead
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by Mike Peter
Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
It makes a man. What a place to make your Ashes debut.
After a lean trot in the side, Ollie Pope comes out of the England side for the fourth Test in Melbourne.
In the 27-year-old's past seven Tests since making a century against India at Headingley in July, he averages 24.38.
He's replaced by Jacob Bethell, who makes his Ashes debut.
Meanwhile Jofra Archer, very much England's star man in this campaign, is also out of the team having been ruled out of the series with a side strain.
Gus Atkinson, who played in the first two Tests before seeing Josh Tongue take his place in Adelaide, comes back in.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue
Australia captain Steve Smith speaking at the toss: "Nice to be back. I would have [bowled]. A bit of grass on the wicket, we're playing four quicks.
"The batters are going to have to be on their game, put pressure on when they need to.
"Brendan Doggett misses out, we've got a good squad of bowlers, looking forward how to see how they get on. It was a tough decision."
England captain Ben Stokes:"We are going to have a bowl.
"Nice coverage of grass here, so we think it is going to be hard work with the ball this morning."
On Jacob Bethell starting for England: "That first 5 mins is the toughest. Then, once you get out there and play a game of cricket, all those nerves will go away.
"We are lucky to part in a sport like this, and we're all looking forward to it."
Ben Stokes has won the toss in Melbourne and is going to bowl under grey skies with a green wicket.
That's right, as has been the case for the last four Ashes series down under, we enter the famous Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with England having already lost the urn.
They're 3-0 down in the five-match series and can now only play for pride.
Still, who can resist the temptation of a Test at one of cricket's most iconic grounds?
Cricket Australia are expecting 100,000 to attend day one, with numerous loyal England fans in attendance to cheer of Ben Stokes' side.
Turkey sandwiches consumed?
Control of the remote successfully wrested from your uncle's hands?
Monopoly pieces hurled at cousin who refuses to accept the house rules?
That's all the Christmas evening traditions ticked off then.
But wait – there's one more, and it comes just once every four years!
Yes, it's time to stay up into the early hours watching a dead rubber in Melbourne!
Come, join us… you've got nothing planned for Boxing Day anyway.
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