England's batters once again fall flat on their faces in the face of tricky conditions at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test.

Can McCullum’s ‘horse-whispering’ still register against a rampant Australia hungry for a series whitewash? The world famous Boxing Day Test awaits England’s beaten cricketers and we are about to discover whether the mighty coliseum that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground becomes their arena of the unwell; whether pride can be salvaged or it is just another stepping stone for Australia in their pursuit of an Ashes whitewash. Last year a record 373,691 spectators passed through the turnstiles across five days as Australia overcame India in a slow-burn thriller. This fourth Ashes Test was tipped to top that remarkable figure potentially but that will hinge on it similarly going the distance. It also needs the locals to be energised still by a series that has already been won by their team – even if simply beating the old enemy is usually enough. Continue reading...

The Blaze seamer Grace Ballinger asks if it is time for domestic women's cricket to expand into the red-ball game.