Twenty wickets tumble on frenzied first day at MCG as England trail by 46 runs

England were already beaten in the series and were facing questions over their preparation, training methods and drinking habits.

WIZARDS OF OZ: Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test (Robbie Stephenson/PA).

Chaos ruled in front of a record Ashes crowd as Australia got the better of the Boxing Day madness at the MCG.

Any sense that Australia’s unassailable 3-0 lead would transform Melbourne’s marquee fixture into a lame duck event was dispelled as 94,199 fans poured through the gates, the most this famous ground has ever seen and a new high for the sport’s most historic rivalry.