Wickets continue to tumble in fast-paced MCG Test

The Boxing Day Test could become the second two-day match of the Ashes after Australia capitulated to 6-98 in their second innings on a bowler's paradise at the MCG.

After a record-breaking 20 wickets fell on day one, Australia's batsmen find themselves in deep trouble for the second time in 24 hours.

Starting the day at 0-4, Australia's top-order folded again, but extended their lead to 140 runs.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith (16*) and struggling allrounder Cameron Green (six*) will resume after lunch as they try to set England a tricky fourth-innings chase.

After Travis Head and Mitchell Starc stunned England in Perth to win the first Test of the series in two days, the MCG showpiece is set for a similar rapid-fire finish.

With 10mm of grass left on this pitch, batting has been treacherous for both sides, prompting criticism even from fast-bowling greats such as Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Across the first four sessions of this Test, the combined score is 26-364.

The wicket tally on Friday was the most on any day of a Test in Australia since 1951 when 22 fell between Australia and West Indies in Adelaide.

New opener Jake Weatherald and struggling No.3 Marnus Labuschagne failed again, placing further pressure on their positions.

But they will be given more leeway due to the highest score in this match so far from Travis Head, who made 46 in the second innings.

Head, England's nemesis after smashing centuries in Perth and Adelaide, was again flying and making batting look easy.

But Head copped a beauty from Brydon Carse about 20 minutes before lunch and was bowled.

Veteran Usman Khawaja (0) and wicketkeeper Alex Carey (four) also fell in a chaotic period before the break.

Weatherald, who replaced Sam Konstas as opener for the Ashes, is averaging just 20.85 from the first eight innings of his Test career.

The attacking left-hander, who came in at No.3 due to Scott Boland opening as a nightwatchman, left a ball from Ben Stokes that cannoned into the stumps.

Labuschagne ends a difficult 2025 after making just 271 runs at an average 20.84 from eight Tests.

The 31-year-old was dropped for the tour of the West Indies, but recalled for the Ashes on the back of strong Sheffield Shield form.

His superb catching has been a feature of the summer, but his returns with the bat have again not been up to scratch.

After top-scoring with 35 and taking four wickets on Boxing Day, Michael Neser predicted, due to his experience playing at the MCG in the Shield, the pitch could flatten out by day three.

But the teams are not likely to make it that far.