That’s all you need from me for now.Stay tuned for all the analysis and reaction from Ali, Geoff, Barney, and the rest of the crew.I’ll hand you over to the first cut of the match report, filed as England fans celebrated in the Melbourne evening sunlight.See you in Sydney.Australia have questions of their own to answer, chiefly the status of Cameron Green.

He has long been Cricket Australia’s golden boy but the returns are diminishing despite his extraordinary all-round talent.He’s averaged just 18.66 with the bat in four Tests and 52.66 with the ball with his captains seemingly reluctant to put his body under much strain in the field.Beau Webster was unlucky to be dropped in the first place and he will be disappointed if he’s not offered an opportunity at the SCG.

Further up the order, Marnus Labuschagne entered the series on a hot streak but averages just 24.85, while Usman Khawaja’s 30.60 probably earns him a farewell Test on his home ground but little more thereafter.Attention now turns to the final Test of the series in Sydney.Presumably England will have to replace Gus Atkinson – the third pace bowler to break down this tour.

Jacob Bethell has cemented his place in the line-up, and any question marks over Ben Duckett can probably be deferred until the English spring,Brydon Carse wasn’t at his best in Melbourne, does he get a rest? And what about Will Jacks, the non-bowling number 8 who scored just five in the first innings?Ben Stokes has a satisfied smile as reflects on England’s first victory in Australia since the 2010/11 tour,These tours are tough so obviously we are over the moon that we managed to get on the right side of this, it’s a good feeling,It means a lot,We play for so many different things and the support of the Barmy Army, supporting us around the world, means a lot.

The guys out in the middle, it means a hell of lot to us as players, and we know there will be some pretty sore heads tomorrow.After the couple of days building up to the Test match there was quite a lot thrown our way and to be able to come out here, put in a performance like we did there on the that kind of tough surface and just make sure that we stayed focused on the task at hand and try to beat the Australian team which we managed to do.A lot of credit has to go to the players, staff, all the management to be able to make sure the focus was completely and utterly on the cricket so very proud of the guys here.I think way the cricket was played, short and sharp, it was very tricky.We looked to go out there and take the positive approach to everything and it was favoured towards the bowlers.

So the way we went about it today was exactly the right way of trying to chase that down.You can’t let good bowlers run up and just be constantly on a line and length.Chasing down 170 and the way that we did I think was fantastic.There was bravery, we were courageous in the way we operated and definitely it was the way to go about it.Steve Smith is magnanimous in defeat:Credit to England, they came out today and didn’t let us get away.

And the way they started with the bat, they were aggressive, got a few away and softened the ball so it didn’t offer as much from that point, so credit to them for the way they played,The England paceman also receives the Johnny Mullagh medal for his 5/45, 2/44, and 1*,It’s what dreams are making of, to get a five-for and my name on the honour’s board is a pretty special feeling,I have absolutely no idea who the player of the match should be,Josh Tongue for his seven wickets? Harry Brook for his 41 and 18*? Jacob Bethell for his 40?At 852 balls that is the third shortest completed Test ever played in Australia.

The second shortest was the opening Test in Perth.Here is England’s boy wonder Jacob Bethell after his stellar 40:Lovely to come in and make an impact and more importantly to win.93,000 yesterday, 90,000 today, it’s incredible and it’s nice to have it as a win.I think going on the first innings it was kind of identifying that the ball was doing a lot and I probably didn’t have enough conviction to go out there and try to put the bowlers off, but the second innings especially when you are chasing low totals, it was pretty clear that you had to go in there and try to get them off that length as quickly as possible.More from Root, on the Barmy Army:Just look at the people that are here, they travel to the other side of the world to support this team and they do it everywhere and we are lucky to have them.

Really pleased that they can enjoy this alongside us too.Very special and we are lucky with the support we get.And on Jacob Bethell:His use of the crease made it difficult for the bowlers to hold length and operate where they wanted to.But it takes courage and a lot of skill.Outstanding, that’s why he will have a bright future in international cricket.

After 15 defeats and two draws in Australia, Joe Root can finally celebrate a victory,Obviously to lose the series is disappointing but it was important that we showed a lot of character for the rest of the series,The way we’ve responded has been excellent,It was fast forward with the surface we were presented with but we adapted to it as much as we can and the way we approached things with the bat today got the Test match,Tip of the hat to the under-fire pair of Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell.

The former finally Bazballed England some momentum at the top of the order, then the latter batted superbly to top score with 40 and justify his controversial selection.A preposterous Boxing Day Test ends after just two days.Finally, England win a Test match in Australia.32.2 overs: England 178-6 (Brook 18, Smith 3) Target 175: The winning runs are leg-byes as Richardson strays onto Brook’s pads.

Nothing over the top about England’s celebrations as players from both teams make their way onto the outfield to shake hands.England’s players then break off to salute the Barmy Army.32nd over: England 174-6 (Brook 18, Smith 3) Target 175: Starc ends the over with a bouncer that Smith ducks under.Over to Harry Brook to seal England’s first Test victory in Australia in years.31.

5 over: England 174-6 (Brook 18, Smith 3) Target 175: Brook tries to reach the target with a scoop, but fails to connect.Then he gives himself room and drills a fierce drive that’s parried in the covers… off a no-ball! One run to win…31.4 over: England 172-6 (Brook 17, Smith 3) Target 175: Jamie Smith settles some of England’s growing nerves by calmly nudging his first ball off his pads for three.Brook then leans into a sumptuous whip off his toes for four! England are one shot from victory…Starc hits his line and length and Stokes is perilously close to offering a leading edge return catch in the bowler’s follow through.He perishes next ball though! Not a great delivery so Stokes throws the kitchen sink at it but can only send an edge at warp speed behind the stumps where Carey takes an excellent catch leaping high and claiming the mark arms stretched over his head.

England, what are you doing?31st over: England 165-5 (Brook 13, Stokes 2) Target 175: Brook defends Richardson from the crease then steps out of his ground only to clobber a drive straight to mid-on.The bowler then offers a juicy half-volley outside off but Brook tries to send it to Mars and mistimes his drive back to the same fielder.Is Richardson setting up the bouncer? Yes he is, but Brook is on it in a flash, rolling his wrists over the pull shot for four down to fine-leg.Brook (unsurprisingly) is in a hurry and charges down the pitch again, misses his shot, and is lucky not to lose his leg stump.Then, out of nowhere, Australia review for a catch behind.

Did Brook get an inside edge? No,That was a Hail Mary from Smith and Carey and it comes to nought,England require ten to win,30th over: England 161-5 (Brook 9, Stokes 2) Target 175: Brook gets off strike early, which allows Starc a concerted spell against one of his bunnies this series,Stokes defends assuredly, including against one superb inswinging yorker, and gets off the mark with a neat couple off his toes.

14 runs/5 wickets.With the match on the line skipper Smith recalls his strike bowler, Mitchell Starc, to the attack.29th over: England 158-5 (Brook 8, Stokes 0) Target 175: Ben Stokes digs out his first two deliveries as the crowd applauds the wholehearted Richardson.Can the England skipper be there to shepherd the final 17 runs required for victory?“Given the bounce has been demonstrably formidable already, why on earth did Cam Green not get a bowl?” wonders Gervase Greene.“He’s now a number 7 bat, and clearly the runs have not been sufficient to justify his spot.

Something different might - just might - have made a difference… no?”Richardson replaces Boland.He oversteps for a couple of no-balls, then he overpitches to allow Root to drive a couple down the ground.England are in cruise control squeaky bum time! Like Crawley earlier the serene set batter misses a straight one and perishes LBW.This one is less plumb with a review indicating umpire’s call on contact with leg stump, but Richardson celebrates nonetheless and the outcome of this match teeters back into the balance…28th over: England 154-4 (Root 13, Brook 8) Target 175: Brook dabs Neser behind point for a couple then lofts a half volley over mid-off for a swaggering four.The target is now just 21 away.

Today’s attendance is broadcast as 92,045,That is an awful lot,Cricket Australia will be cursing the two-day finish, knowing how many of those patrons would be willing to return on days three, four, and five,27th over: England 146-4 (Root 12, Brook 1) Target 175: Joe Root is playing his 18th Test in Australia and he has yet to celebrate a victory Down Under,The breaking of that drought inches closer as Brook misses a slog scoop but in the process distracts Carey standing up to the stumps, allowing the ball to scoot unopposed to the backstop fence for four.

Only 29 more runs required.Drinks: England require 34 runs.Australia need six wickets.One way or another this Test match has not long to go.26th over: England 141-4 (Root 12, Brook 0) Target 175: Neser continues, but he gifts England four byes, angling the ball down the legside that Carey – up to the stumps – cannot drag in.

Otherwise Root is happy to present the full face of his bat to anything straight and defuse some of the tension that rose in the previous over.25th over: England 137-4 (Root 12, Brook 0) Target 175: Harry Brook wanders out of his crease and is beaten on his outside edge first up.Then Boland pins him on his crease with an in-ducker.Brook advances again but can only find cover with a checked drive.Suddenly the MCG is a crucible of nervous energy.

Australia require six further wickets, England 38 runs,Gah! Jacob Bethell throws away the player of the match award but still walks off the MCG to a hearty round of applause,Tired of accumulation he stepped to leg and slashed a drive straight to Khawaja in the covers,Over to another Englishman to see the job through,24th over: England 136-3 (Bethell 40, Root 11) Target 175: Neser replaces Starc but England keep knocking the ball around, finding the gaps, running hard, chipping away at this run chase.

Whether the pitch has flattened, the ball has softened, or the bowlers are erring, the past hour or so has played out very differently to the manic action preceding it.23rd over: England 133-3 (Bethell 39, Root 9) Target 175: Hearts in mouths briefly as Bethell rocks back and ramps Boland just short of the fielder on the third boundary.Otherwise it’s more patient accumulation from England, reducing the runs required to 42.22nd over: England 127-3 (Bethell 38, Root 4) Target 175: Starc is into his eighth over and he continues his poorest innings of this series so far.Wide to Bethell, short to Root, England milk singles to bring the target within 50 runs.

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21st over: England 122-3 (Bethell 35, Root 2) Target 175: Bethell tucks Boland off his hip to get off strike, which brings Carey up to the stumps as Australia try to suffocate Joe Root as he stares down a pair.Dot, dot, dot, dot, runs! The veteran opens the face of his bat to turn a regulation forward push into a checked cover drive.One of England’s greatest is up and running.20th over: England 119-3 (Bethell 34, Root 0) Target 175: Bethell fails to put away a Starc long hop, then he’s a coat of paint away from a jaffa taking his off stump.The 22 year old responds by dancing down the pitch and crunching an off drive that just – only just – clears the diving Travis Head at mid-off