England may have been battling against the tide for much of this Ashes series, but on a dramatic opening day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, their bowlers finally cracked the code. After weeks of frustration and hard lessons, England’s pace attack discovered that subtle adjustments — not wholesale changes — were the key to success.

Having already surrendered the Ashes in South Australia, England’s bowlers travelled from Adelaide to Melbourne with plenty to reflect on. The festive period offered time for honest conversations, deep analysis, and perhaps a degree of desperation. Somewhere between tactical clarity and survival instinct, a simple conclusion emerged: bowl fuller.

A Subtle Shift That Changed Everything

In the first three Tests of the series, England’s bowlers delivered the ball at an average length of 7.85 metres. Too often, that allowed Australia’s batters to leave comfortably or punish anything loose, helping the hosts surge into an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

At the MCG, England altered that approach. On day one, their average length shortened to 6.89 metres, a seemingly marginal change that had a dramatic impact. In front of 94,199 passionate Boxing Day spectators, Australia suffered a rare collapse, bowled out for 152 in testing but fair conditions.

Those small margins made all the difference. England’s bowlers began pitching the ball where wickets truly live — drawing batters forward, forcing decisions, and creating edges rather than hoping for mistakes.

“It’s not rocket science,” former England spinner Phil Tufnell said on Test Match Special. “England just bowled better, and they put it in good areas. The pitch wasn’t doing anything outrageous — it was just holding a little bit.”

Purpose Replaces Hope

This time, England’s attack bowled with intent instead of optimism. The fuller length tempted Australian batters into playing shots they might otherwise have left alone. Edges began to carry, batters became uncertain, and pressure steadily mounted.

According to CricViz, England’s average length of 6.89 metres was the second-fullest they have bowled in any Test innings since Brendon McCullum took over as head coach. It was a striking contrast to their scattergun efforts earlier in the series, particularly in Adelaide, where inconsistency yielded just one wicket from a fuller length.

Josh Tongue Leads the Charge

There was some early fortune. Travis Head dragged one on to Gus Atkinson, while Jake Weatherald was strangled down the leg side by Josh Tongue. But luck alone did not explain what followed.

Tongue’s skill and discipline soon took centre stage. He removed Marnus Labuschagne with a full delivery angled into the stumps, inducing a thick edge to slip. Moments later, he produced a beauty to Steve Smith, nipping the ball through the gate to bowl him — another chapter in Smith’s growing struggles against Tongue.

The Worcestershire seamer was relentless. Michael Neser fell to a nip-backer, and Scott Boland followed immediately, caught at second slip. In total, Tongue finished with five wickets, cementing his role as England’s standout bowler of the series.

CricViz data showed that Tongue claimed 5-21 from just 24 deliveries pitched in the “full” zone (between 3 and 6 metres). In the ball-tracking era, only one England seamer had previously achieved five wickets from a full length in a Test innings — Stuart Broad at Trent Bridge in 2015.

Rhythm Over Raw Pace

Notably, Tongue’s pace dropped slightly from an average of 86.7 mph in Adelaide to 85.3 mph in Melbourne. Rather than diminishing his threat, the adjustment enhanced it. This was less about raw speed and more about rhythm, control, and relentless pressure.

“It was a case of pressure,” Tufnell explained. “Good, constant pressure, and Australia couldn’t get away. England bowled how Australia did to them in Adelaide.”

For the first time this series, England’s supporters could applaud sustained discipline rather than wince at boundary balls flashing through gully.

“We have bowled too short all series until today,” Tufnell added. “But that was an excellent performance. Josh Tongue has been the pick, without doubt.”

A Rare Moment of Satisfaction

England’s bowlers had finally earned a moment to put their feet up — glasses perhaps more than half full — after a long and punishing tour. Even if their rest would prove short-lived, this was a day that validated persistence, adaptability, and faith in fundamentals.

In a series dominated by Australia, England’s bowlers showed that even small corrections can yield big rewards.