"The world famous Boxing Day Test awaits England's beaten cricketers and we are about to discover whether the mighty coliseum that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground becomes their arena of the unwell; whether pride can be salvaged or it is just another stepping stone for Australia in their pursuit of an Ashes whitewash. Last year a record 373,691 spectators passed through the turnstiles across five days as Australia overcame India in a slow-burn thriller."
"England lasted just seven sessions here four years ago, the match settled before lunch on day three when Scott Boland ran through them on debut like a bull down the streets of Pamplona. The statue that Mark Howard called for on commentary is yet to materialise but memories of England's gory innings defeat come flooding back when walking through Yarra Park to the ground."
"This time England are 3-0 down after seeing their challenge disintegrate in just 11 days and they are playing for a combination of pride, World Test Championship points and, as Rob Key and Brendon McCullum have both admitted in recent days, potentially jobs. Going by some of their post-match comments after the 82-run win in Adelaide, Australia's hunger for 5-0 is real. Achieving this would say even more about their resilience."
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground offers England a chance to salvage pride, World Test Championship points and potentially the reputations of coaching staff after losing the first three Ashes Tests. Last year the ground attracted a record 373,691 spectators across five days, and the fourth Test could again draw massive crowds if it goes the distance. England's memory of a crushing seven-session defeat at the MCG four years ago lingers, intensified by Scott Boland's debut performance. Australia remain motivated for a 5-0 series sweep after an 82-run win in Adelaide. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are out injured, and England's head coach faces pressure.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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