England survive MCG mayhem to break Ashes drought in Australia with fourth Test victory

• Fourth Test, day 2: Australia 152 & 132, lose to England, 110 & 178-6

• Tourists charge to four-wicket win inside two days at MCG

Stop press. Hold the back page. Drag out the dusty bunting and book three more nights in Noosa. England’s men have won a Test in Australia for the first time in nearly 15 years, chasing down 175 runs in Melbourne to win by four wickets and prevent an Ashes defeat from becoming a whitewash.

Granted it was not a live victory, England merely dragging the scoreline back to 3-1 and doing so courtesy of a two-day heist on a pitch that made batting a lottery. But given the ordeal of this tour, and that grim run of 18 Tests without a win on Australian soil, it was not insignificant either. Though robbed of three days’ play, their supporters could finally crack a smile.