England succumbed to another humiliating eight-wicket drubbing in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane to trail 2-0 in the five-match series, despite showing a bit more fight on day four at The Gabba.
Starting the day six down and still trailing Australia by 43 runs, the damage had already been done after a top-order collapse late on the third evening, but Ben Stokes (50) and Will Jacks (41) hung around to at least force the hosts to bat again.
The pair showed patience and discipline – something few England’s batters have demonstrated so far this series – to add 96 for the seventh wicket, batting out the entire first session to give the faintest hope to a remarkable comeback.
Will Jacks and Ben Stokes put on 96 together for the seventh wicket
With few demons evident in the pitch, against an old ball and a tiring Australian attack, Stokes and Jacks stretched England’s advantage to 47 until an inspired Steve Smith catch at slip triggered the tourists’ ultimate demise.
Diving low to his left at slip, Smith claimed a stunner to finally break the partnership and see the back of Jacks, with Michael Neser adding the crucial wicket of Stokes in his very next over, shortly after notching his 36th Test fifty.
Stokes got the faintest of edges behind to Alex Carey, who took another terrific catch stood up to the stumps, the England skipper throwing his head back in disappointment and flinging his bat in frustration as he trudged off with his side’s Ashes hope lying in tatters.
Ben Stokes cut a frustrated figure when finally dismissed after a battling fifty on day four of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane
Brendan Doggett (1-56) picked up Gus Atkinson (3), taking on the short ball, before Neser (5-42), playing in his third Test – and first for three years – would add the wicket of Brydon Carse (7) to end the innings and claim a maiden five-for on his home ground for Queensland.
Set 65 to win, Australia wasted little time in chasing down their target across the tea interval, romping home in 10 overs as things got a little spicy between Smith and Jofra Archer, in particular, under the lights late on.
Atkinson (2-37) dismissed Travis Head (22), chopping on to his stumps, adding Marnus Labuschagne (3) in his next over, nicking off to a rising delivery, to give England a smidge of positivity going into the next Test in Adelaide.
Those wickets brought Smith to the crease, who has revelled in telling the watching world that Archer has yet to get him out in Test cricket, despite a memorable battle at Lord’s in 2019 in which the Australian suffered a concussion after taking a blow during a fiery spell of fast bowling.
Jofra Archer and Steve Smith got into a fiery exchange late on day four as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes
Archer cranked up the pace again with his arrival, but Smith (23no off nine balls) met the challenge head on, hooking the England quick for a pair of fours and a six in the same over as the two got into a heated exchange out in the middle.
At one point, the stump microphone picked up Smith saying something along the lines of, “Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion,” and ultimately it would be he who would have the last laugh, smacking another six off Atkinson to see Australia to victory in style.
The two teams head for Adelaide next, the third Test starting on December 17, where it doesn’t get any easier for England as Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to return from injury.
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Stokes reflects on England’s defeat and how the side have not given up hope
England captain Ben Stokes, speaking to TNT Sports:
“When the game is on the line, teams are able to handle that pressure better than us.
“We are a great team when we are ahead, when we are behind and playing huge catch-up we are great but when the game is on the line we are not able to stand up to pressure. That is obvious as a captain.
“It is a mentality, a mindset. How you get yourself into a head space to make clear decisions is so important to be successful at this level.
“No one means to drop catches or not bowl where you are supposed to, but those things cannot happen at this level.”
England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking to 7Cricket:
“I actually felt like we overprepared, to be honest.
“We had five intense training days and sometimes when you are in the heat of the battle, the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh and make sure your top two inches are completely sound.
“I think the boys just need a few days off and we probably need to change up a few of the training methods.
“I am a horse racing man, and you wouldn’t just keep doing the same thing with your horse.
“We’ll let the dust settle on what has been on what has been a pretty intense couple of weeks and start playing our way back into the series.”
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
First Test (Perth): Australia beat England by eight wicketsSecond Test (day/night): Australia beat England by eight wicketsThird Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (11.30pm) – Adelaide OvalFourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket GroundFifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
