England captain Ben Stokes was "over the moon" to lead England to their first Test victory in Australia for the first time since January 2011 in Melbourne. 

The tourists had lost the opening three matches of the series Down Under, but hit back with a four-wicket triumph in the fourth Test to ensure there would not be a whitewash. 

After bowling Australia out for 132, with Stokes ending with figures of 3-24, England were handed a target of 175 for victory, which they reached in fewer than 33 overs. 

Indeed, it was only the fifth time in Test history that a series had included multiple two-day finishes, and before this summer, there had only been two in history in Australia.

And Stokes believes that turning a hostile setting into the scene of a morale-boosting victory was something his side will look to harness heading into the fifth Test in Sydney. 

It's obviously been a tough tour up until now," Stokes said. "We're over the moon that we managed to get on the right side of the result.

"It's been not only a tough tour for us as a team out here but everything that's gone before us.

"To be stood here now and be part of a team that's managed to win a game in Australia for a long time is a pretty good feeling. I hope it means a lot [to the travelling supporters].

"We play for so many different things and the support that we constantly get from the Barmy Army and everyone who comes out here to support us.

"Whether it's in Australia or wherever around the world – it's special. There's just constant noise, constant chants. The guys out in the middle hear it, they feel it and they know it.

"It obviously means a lot to us as players that we've got this win, but I know how special we're feeling."

Jacob Bethell top-scores with 40 as we complete our first Test win in Australia since 2011.

The series may have gone, but that's a result to be proud of  pic.twitter.com/lkuzSY4Iar

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 27, 2025

The foundations were laid for England's memorable win by their bowlers, with Brydon Carse taking four wickets while day-one hero Josh Tongue chipped in with two of his own.

England's batters started their chase in a hurry as Zak Crawley (37) and Ben Duckett (34) put together 51 in 6.5 overs – the tourists' highest opening partnership of the series. 

Jacob Bethell top scored with 40, though his dismissal meant it was the first Test in Australia without an individual half-century since 1932, and just the fifth overall. 

But England got themselves over the line through Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, with Joe Root lauding his team for their adaptation and nerve at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"Clearly, it was a very fast-forward test match on the surface that we were presented with," Root told host broadcaster Fox Sports.

"But I think we adapted to it as much as we could and exploited it when we had the opportunities. 

"We showed a bit of bravery today in the way that we approached things with the bat, and it's why we won the test match."

For Stokes himself, alongside Root, this was a huge personal achievement, having been part of previously unsuccessful tours of Australia.

Indeed, the pair had never even won a Test Down Under until now, with Root ending his wait at the 18th attempt and Stokes tasting victory in his 13th game.

"After the couple of days building up to this match, there was quite a lot thrown our way," Stokes added.

"To be able to come out here and put a performance in like we did on the back of all that kind of stuff is very pleasing.

"We made sure we stay focused on the task at hand, which is to come out here to try and beat a very good Australian team, and we've managed to do that.

"A lot of credit has to go to the players, the staff and all the management to be able to make sure that the lads' focus was completely and utterly on the cricket."