England captain Ben Stokes has shed light on the surprising decision to promote Brydon Carse to the number three spot during the second innings of the Boxing Day Test. With England chasing a target against Australia, the visitors caught fans and analysts off guard by sending out Carse, who typically operates as a tailender at number nine or ten—in such a pivotal top-order position.
Why did Brydon Carse bat at no.3 in Boxing Day Test?
While the tactical gamble didn't yield a high individual score, as Carse was dismissed for just six runs, Stokes suggested the move served a broader purpose. By using Carse as a buffer, the team was able to protect Jacob Bethell, who had batted at three in the first innings. This adjustment paid off, as Bethell went on to contribute a crucial 40 runs, helping steer England to a historic four-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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We went with the idea of sending someone who's got talent with bat: Stokes
Reflecting on the strategy during the post-match press conference, Stokes explained that with both sides finding the conditions difficult, the management wanted an aggressor at the top. The goal was to find someone capable of a quick-fire 20 or 30 runs to shift the momentum, a role they felt Carse was well-equipped to handle in the heat of the chase.
"The top order from both teams were struggling to find a way to consistently score runs or feel any fluency. So, we went with the idea of sending someone who's got talent with the bat and a very good eye for hitting the ball (in)," Stokes said, as quoted by FOX Cricket.
"Even if he gets a quick 20 or 30, that's massive in a very small run chase. Unfortunately, it didn't quite come off for us, but even the 15 to 20 minutes that he spent out there made it a little bit easier for 'Beth' (Jacob Bethell) to come in and build the innings that he did," Stokes added.
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England have the last laugh in fourth Test against Australia
England set the tone for the match after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The decision was immediately vindicated by Josh Tongue, who delivered a historic performance by claiming 5/45, the first-ever five-wicket haul by an Englishman in a Boxing Day Test at the MCG. His clinical bowling helped dismantle the Australian lineup for just 152 runs in 45.2 overs, with Michael Neser (35) and Usman Khawaja (29) providing the only resistance. The advantage was short-lived, however, as England’s first innings collapsed in just 29.5 overs. Struggling with a combination of a treacherous pitch and an overly aggressive "Bazball" approach, the visitors were skittled for 110. Harry Brook’s brisk 41 and Gus Atkinson’s 28 were the lone highlights as Michael Neser (4/45) and Scott Boland (3/30) tore through the order, leaving England with a 42-run deficit.
Australia’s second innings further exposed the "venomous" nature of the surface, as they failed to build a substantial lead. Only Travis Head (46) and Steve Smith (24*) managed to cross the 20-run mark before the side was bundled out for 132. Brydon Carse (4/34) and captain Ben Stokes (3/24) led the charge with the ball, setting England a target of 175 runs for victory.
England's chase began with confidence, spearheaded by a solid opening stand between Zak Crawley (37) and Ben Duckett (34). The momentum continued through a 47-run partnership for the third wicket between Crawley and Jacob Bethell, who contributed a vital 40 runs. Despite a late scare where Australia reduced England from 112/2 to 165/6, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith remained composed to see out the remaining runs and secure a landmark four-wicket win.