England's beleaguered Ashes squad has sought a moment of festive cheer, donning Santa hats for a light-hearted Christmas Day training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This comes as the tourists face intense scrutiny following a series loss and controversial off-field behaviour, while a confident Australian team enjoys family time ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Festive Spirit Masks Mounting Pressure
The optional session on Thursday morning was England's most jovial of the tour, featuring a soccer kick-about on the hallowed MCG turf. Players were joined by their families, who are travelling at the expense of the England and Wales Cricket Board, for a relaxed run-around in a clear attempt to lift spirits.
Batsman Harry Brook even took a casual turn at batting while wearing a red and white Santa hat, a stark contrast to the pressure he faces after a string of poor performances with the bat. The mood was deliberately light, a world away from the storm of criticism the team has weathered since their mid-series trip to Noosa was likened to a "stag-do" and vision emerged of opener Ben Duckett appearing heavily intoxicated.
Australia's Relaxed Approach to Sealing History
Across the ground, Australia's players, who have already secured the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 series lead, enjoyed a low-key morning with their families. With the urn retained, the focus shifted to family and festivities before the serious business of pursuing a series whitewash resumes.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith, leading the side in Pat Cummins' absence, confirmed selection news, revealing that West Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has been dropped in favour of veteran Usman Khawaja. In a positive development for the hosts, fast bowler Jhye Richardson is on the brink of a remarkable comeback and could play his first Test in four years, adding a potent weapon to Australia's attack.
Smith expressed sympathy for his English counterparts, acknowledging the intense spotlight that follows a losing team. "When you're losing, the spotlight is always on you and things can get spoken about and get blown up pretty heavily," Smith said. He suggested the need for players to occasionally "get away from the game" during long tours.
Boxing Day Build-Up Amid Unseasonable Chill
As players from both sides gathered for separate Christmas lunches—with Smith joking about Travis Head's prowess with the prawns—attention began turning to the iconic Boxing Day Test. Despite England's series defeat, up to 20,000 travelling English fans are still expected to flock to the MCG, forming part of a potential sell-out crowd nearing 100,000 on the first day.
The Victorian capital is experiencing unseasonably cold weather, with players training in jumpers amid a top of just 17 degrees Celsius—a far cry from last year's scorching Boxing Day encounter. Australia now aims to complete its third Ashes whitewash in the past two decades, while England desperately searches for a face-saving victory in front of a massive global audience.
