The 2010-11 Ashes: 4th Test - Day 1 (Boxing Day at the MCG, Melbourne)

Despite being the series' leading wicket-taker, Steven Finn was rested by England for the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test and replaced by Tim Bresnan. James Anderson was cleared to play after a slight side strain. Australia was unchanged, with Ricky Ponting also cleared to play despite a fractured little finger on his left hand.

Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bowl. Shane Watson was dropped twice without scoring off Anderson before Chris Tremlett claimed his wicket. Tremlett later had Ponting caught behind before Anderson got the vital wicket of Michael Hussey, who had achieved at least fifty in every innings of the series, in the last over before lunch. None of the Australian batsmen offered much resistance as they were bowled out for 98 before tea: their lowest Ashes total at the MCG.

All ten dismissals were catches behind the stumps, with Matt Prior becoming the fourth English wicket-keeper to take six catches in an innings; of the remaining catches, two were taken at slip and two at gully. Anderson and Tremlett took four wickets each while Bresnan took the remaining two. In reply, England's openers advanced to 157/0 at the end of the first day's play before both fell early the following morning. Australia reviewed a caught-behind appeal for Kevin Pietersen when on 49, which upheld Aleem Dar's not out verdict; however, Ponting continued to debate the decision with both umpires and was fined 40% of his match fee.

Pietersen was out soon after for 51 and was followed by Collingwood (8) and Bell (1). Matt Prior was then given out caught behind early in his innings; however, Dar called for the third umpire for a suspected no ball. This was confirmed and Prior continued to support Trott, eventually making 85 while Trott achieved his fifth Test century and eventually finished not out on 168 as England were bowled out for 513.

During the innings, Peter Siddle took a six-wicket haul, while bowler Ryan Harris fractured his ankle in his run-up, removing him for the rest of the series. By the time they began their second innings, Australia were in a worse situation than at Adelaide: needing to make 415 runs just to make England bat again, a man down (Ryan Harris being unable to bat after his ankle injury), and with more than half the match left to play. Australia got off to a quick start before Phillip Hughes was run out off Graeme Swann's bowling. Tim Bresnan then took three wickets – Shane Watson lbw, captain Ricky Ponting bowled and Michael Hussey caught for a duck – to leave Australia 104–4. Australia finished day 3 on 169/6, 246 runs behind. An 86-run partnership on the fourth morning between Haddin and Siddle delayed the inevitable, but after Siddle was caught in the deep off Swann, Bresnan dismissed Ben Hilfenhaus for a pair to seal the match. Australia were bowled out for 258 and England retained the Ashes, winning by an innings and 157 runs.

The losses at Adelaide and Melbourne mean that this is the first time that Australia have lost two Tests in a home series by an innings.