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

IPL squads 2026: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone among England players signed

IPL squads 2026: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone among England players signed

Here's how the Indian Premier League squads look for the 2026 season, with Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer among the 13 English players involved.Watch al...

South Africa dismissed for lowest-ever T20 total of 74 as India win series opener by 101 runs in Cuttack

South Africa dismissed for lowest-ever T20 total of 74 as India win series opener by 101 runs in Cuttack

South Africa were all out for their lowest-ever total in T20 cricket, scoring only 74 as India won the series opener by 101 runs on Tuesday.Hardik Pan...

James Anderson: Former England bowler to captain Lancashire in County Championship at age of 44 next season

James Anderson: Former England bowler to captain Lancashire in County Championship at age of 44 next season

Former England bowler Sir James Anderson has been named Lancashire's captain for next season's County Championship.The 43-year-old, England's all-time...

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...

IPL auction 2026: Australia's Cameron Green becomes most expensive overseas player in tournament's history

IPL auction 2026: Australia's Cameron Green becomes most expensive overseas player in tournament's history

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green has become the most expensive overseas player in IPL history after being picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for $2...

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Jacob Bethell's 71 was one of the few highlights for the Lions as England's second-string suffered a thumping innings defeat to Australia A in the uno...