Ashes 2025-26: England vice-captain Harry Brook etched his name into the record books during the Boxing Day Ashes Australia vs England Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, becoming the fastest batter to reach 3,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced.
Brook reached the milestone in England’s first innings of the fourth Ashes Australia vs England Test. Walking in with his side struggling at 16/4, the right-hander launched a brief counterattack, scoring 41 off just 34 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. As has often been the case in this series, his promising knock was cut short, this time by Scott Boland.
The 24-year-old has now scored 3,034 runs in 34 Tests at an impressive average of 54.17. His tally includes 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries across 57 innings, with a strike rate of over 86. Brook’s highest Test score remains a stunning 317.
Brook reached the 3,000-run mark in just 3,468 deliveries, the fastest ever in terms of balls faced. He is also the second-fastest England batter to the milestone in terms of innings, matching Denis Compton, who achieved the feat in 57 innings. The quickest overall to 3,000 Test runs remains Don Bradman, who did it in just 33 innings back in 1928.
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In 2025 so far, Brook has scored 753 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 44.29, with two centuries and four fifties. His best score this year is 158. On his Ashes debut tour of Australia, he has accumulated 214 runs in seven innings at an average of 30.57, with a top score of 52, which came in the first Australia vs England Test at Perth.
Despite England having already lost the Ashes 2025-26 series, Brook’s first Test tour of Australia has offered flashes of his immense potential.
Ashes 2025-26: Australia leads England by 46 runs in the Ashes 4th Test
Ashes 2025-26: Earlier in the match, England opted to bowl first and were rewarded with a brilliant five-wicket haul from Josh Tongue. The pacer finished with figures of 5/45 as Australia were bowled out for just 152 in the first innings. Tongue became the first England bowler in the 21st century to take a five-for at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, achieving the feat inside two sessions.
It was a fiery spell that showcased the aggression and intensity England fans had been waiting for, especially after years of disappointment in Australia. England has not won an Ashes Test Down Under since the 2010–11 series and had gone winless in their last 18 Tests there.
Darren Gough and Dean Headley were the last England bowlers to take a five-wicket haul at the MCG, doing so back in 1998.
England, however, could not fully capitalize and were bowled out for 110 in response. Brook top-scored for his side, while Gus Atkinson contributed 28 off 35 balls. Michael Neser picked up 4/45 and Scott Boland claimed 3/30 as Australia dominated the bowling.
At stumps, Australia reached 4/0, extending their lead to 46 runs.
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