Australia v England Ashes second test: England collapse under Gabba lights

Scott Boland of Australia celebrates after dismissing Harry Brook during day three of the second 2025/26 Ashes Series test at The Gabba. Photo / Getty Images

Australia are on the brink of grabbing a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series after dominating a demoralised England on the third day of the day-night second test in Brisbane on Saturday.

The hosts batted England out of the game during the day session at the Gabba then took full advantage of the changed conditions under lights to reduce Ben Stokes’ men to 134-6 at stumps, still trailing by 43 runs.

After losing inside two days in Perth, England are staring down the barrel in the match and the series.

“We just wanted to put as many balls in the right area as we could. I think we bowled really well,” said seamer Scott Boland, who took 2-33 as England’s batting collapsed.

“They always play their shots and I feel like this kind of wicket, with some up and down, if we put as many balls in the right areas they’re going to give you some chances.”

When Australia resumed the day on 378-6 with a lead of 44, England would have been hoping to take the last four wickets quickly and not face too large a deficit.

But led by unlikely batting hero Mitchell Starc, Australia made 511 and kept England out on the field during the blisteringly hot day session.

At the close, Stokes and spinner Will Jacks were holding on grimly, both unbeaten on four runs apiece.

England batting coach Marcus Trescothick was adamant that they will not change their aggressive batting approach.

Just like in Perth and in the first innings in Brisbane, many of England’s batsmen fell driving to balls on the up, resulting in them either being caught behind or caught and bowled.

“We’re trying to play the way that we want to play,” he said.

“And we want to try and utilise that in the best possible fashion. It doesn’t mean we always get it right of course.”

Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got the visitors off to a rapid start to their second innings, taking them to 45-0 at dinner off just six overs.

But once the lights took full effect batting became increasingly difficult with extra movement off the pitch.

Duckett was first to go, somewhat unluckily when a ball from Boland kept low and hit the bottom of his bat before smashing into the stumps.

Ollie Pope made a scratchy 26, riding his luck on a number of occasions before trying to drive on the up and hitting a sharp return catch to Michael Neser.

England were 90-2, still trailing by 87 runs, and it only got worse from there.

Seven runs later Neser got his second return catch in almost identical fashion when Crawley played the same shot as Pope with the same result.

First-innings century-maker Joe Root steadied the ship with Harry Brook, but with the score on 121 Root played at a full and wide ball from Starc and got a big outside edge through to keeper Alex Carey.

England lost their fifth wicket in strange circumstances two runs later.

After Brook was given out caught behind off Boland, which was overturned on review, he nicked the very next ball, which was given not out, only for umpire Sharfuddoula to have to reverse his decision after an Australia review.

Keeper Jamie Smith got off the dreaded pair but was out soon after for four, caught behind off Starc.

Starc was the tormentor with bat and ball as Australia dominated the day from the first minute in front of an expectant crowd.

He frustrated the visitors when they were looking for quick wickets and his 77 was a record score by a number nine batsman at the Gabba.

Australia were eventually dismissed about 40 minutes before the break, but their lead was a big one.

Starc, who has taken 18 wickets in the first two Tests so far, enjoyed a 75-run partnership with Boland, who made his highest Test score of 21 not out.

The ninth-wicket pair kept England in the field under the blazing sun, which turned out to have ramifications for the flagging visitors as the day wore on.

-AFP

- AFP