Cricket Dec 07, 2025

The Ashes: England suffer eight-wicket drubbing by Australia in Brisbane to trail 2-0 in series with three to play

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
The Ashes: England suffer eight-wicket drubbing by Australia in Brisbane to trail 2-0 in series with three to play

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.

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.

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) picked up 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.

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 pair got into a heated exchange out in the middle.

At one point, the stump mic picked up Smith saying 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.

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."

All times UK and Ireland

Tags:

cricket news id:13480435

Share this article

Related Posts

WBBL final: England trio shine as Hobart Hurricanes beat Perth Scorchers by eight wickets to clinch maiden title

WBBL final: England trio shine as Hobart Hurricanes beat Perth Scorchers by eight wickets to clinch maiden title

England trio Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Linsey Smith helped Hobart Hurricanes beat Perth Scorchers by eight wickets to clinch their first...

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

Joe Root told Your Site that England are taking inspiration from their Ashes fightback two years ago as they aim to stay in this winter's series as he...

The Ashes 2025/26: England hint at unchanged batting line-up for third Test as head coach Brendon McCullum brushes off questions over his job

The Ashes 2025/26: England hint at unchanged batting line-up for third Test as head coach Brendon McCullum brushes off questions over his job

England head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted at an unchanged batting line-up for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide while brushing off questions that...

The Ashes 2025/26: England to take mid-series break to Noosa ahead of must-win third Test in Adelaide

The Ashes 2025/26: England to take mid-series break to Noosa ahead of must-win third Test in Adelaide

England will have only three days of practice before their must-win third Ashes Test against Australia next week in Adelaide.Hopes of a first England...

The Ashes 2025/26: England hint at unchanged batting line-up for third Test as head coach Brendon McCullum brushes off questions over his job

The Ashes 2025/26: England hint at unchanged batting line-up for third Test as head coach Brendon McCullum brushes off questions over his job

England head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted at an unchanged batting line-up for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide while brushing off questions that...

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

Joe Root told Your Site that England are taking inspiration from their Ashes fightback two years ago as they aim to stay in this winter's series as he...