AUS vs ENG: Boxing Day Test starts, Josh Tong showed stars to Steve Smith during the day; VIDEO went viral

Josh Tongue Bowled to Steve Smith: The Boxing Day Test match of the Ashes Series 2025-26 has started at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and this match has created an atmosphere of excitement from the very initial overs. England invited Australia to bat first after winning the toss.

In the first session, England’s fast bowler Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first proved effective, and Josh Tongue in particular bowled brilliantly. He took 3 important wickets while conceding only 24 runs in 8 overs, the most brilliant wicket of which was that of Australian captain Steve Smith. The video of Steve Smith being dismissed is becoming increasingly viral. You also see Josh Tong’s brilliant ball, which sent Steve Smith to the pavilion.

WHAT A DELIVERY!

Steve Smith looks on puzzled after this peach from Josh Tongue.#Ashes , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/NpkEgGxOQR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2025

Steve Smith was so stunned by an excellent ball from Josh Tong that his middle stump was uprooted. Smith himself was surprised on this wicket, the expression on his face was as if he had seen stars during the day. Steve Smith was out after scoring only 9 runs in 31 balls. Before Smith, Josh Tongue also dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald, allowing England’s bowling to quickly dismantle Australia’s middle order.

Steve Smith’s record against Josh Tongue

Steve Smith’s record against Josh Tongue in Test cricket has been quite a struggle so far. In the matches between the two, Smith has faced difficulties in front of the tongue. Smith has faced a total of 69 balls so far against Tong in Test cricket, in which he has scored only 35 runs and has been out three times. This means that Steve Smith’s batting has always proved to be weak in front of Josh Tongue.

Also read: Ben Stokes has a big chance in the Boxing Day Test, he will enter this list only after scoring 70 runs.

Australia retained the Ashes series

Even before this test match, Australia had retained the Ashes series. In the five-match series, Australia has won the first three matches spectacularly and has taken an unassailable 3-0 lead. Now this is the last chance for England to save the reputation of the series. If England fails to win the remaining two matches, they will lose the series 5-0, which would be an embarrassing result for them.