Australia’s captain Steve Smith (L) celebrates with staff mate Jake Weatherald after hitting the profitable runs on day 4 of the second Ashes cricket Take a look at match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 7, 2025. — AFP
BRISBANE: Australia cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over England within the day-night second Ashes Take a look at in Brisbane on Sunday for an ominous 2-0 lead within the collection.
The hosts chased down the paltry goal of 65 in simply 10 overs, captain Steve Smith pulling Gus Atkinson for an enormous six over sq. leg for the profitable runs.
Though not as humiliating because the two-day loss within the first Take a look at at Perth, England had been comprehensively outplayed in each division.
“Great day. First two days were pretty even, game turned when we were able to extend to get the new ball under lights, that was crucial for us,” mentioned Smith, who clashed verbally with England bowler Jofra Archer as he helped Australia race to victory.
“It can be tricky with the pink ball, it changes really quickly and you have to adapt.”
For England it was extra distress.
Their batting, aside from Joe Root and Zak Crawley within the first innings and captain Ben Stokes and Will Jacks within the second, was simply as rash as in Perth.
They gave their wickets away with poor strokes on the bouncy Gabba floor.
In addition they bowled poorly, pitching too brief and losing the brand new pink ball, in stark distinction to an Australian assault lacking spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
To make issues worse England dropped 5 catches within the first innings, whereas Australia’s fielders caught every part that got here their method.
Josh Inglis’s sensible run-out of Stokes within the first innings modified the course of the match.
Australia at the moment are overwhelming favorite to retain the Ashes with matches in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to comply with.
“Obviously, very disappointing,” mentioned Stokes.
“I think a lot of it comes down to not being able to stand up to the pressure of this game, this format, when the game is on the line.”
England had been behind the sport as soon as they let Australia’s tail assist the house facet publish 511 on Saturday, an total lead of 177.
They then misplaced six second-innings wickets underneath lights to finish the third day 134-6, nonetheless 43 runs behind the Australian complete.
Whereas many anticipated England to give up meekly on Sunday, Stokes and all-rounder Jacks led a preventing rearguard motion to make sure Australia needed to bat a second time.
Stokes and Jacks defied the Australian tempo assault on a fiercely scorching day to edge their well past the preliminary deficit goal and start to set Australia one thing to chase.
Flicker of resistance
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick mentioned Saturday his batsmen wouldn’t change their aggressive method, regardless of a clatter of wickets from poor pictures.
England’s Ben Stokes appears to be like on throughout day 4 of the second Ashes cricket Take a look at match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 7, 2025. — AFP
However Stokes and Jacks had been affected person through the first session Sunday.
They left balls they did not must play and appeared glad to take their runs in singles relatively than expansive boundary pictures.
They scored simply 28 runs within the first hour and handed the 43-run deficit 96 minutes into the session, scoring solely 59 runs within the two hours.
The Australian bowlers, who ran rampant underneath lights on Saturday with the pink ball, had been much more ineffective on Sunday, regardless of the wicket starting to play some tips.
The English provided just one likelihood when Scott Boland squared up Stokes, who bought a thick edge over the slips cordon.
They continued to frustrate the Australians within the second session till simply earlier than the drinks break, Jacks bought an edge to Michael Neser and Smith snared a breath-taking catch at slip, diving full size to his left and catching it low to the bottom.
Neser struck once more within the subsequent over when Stokes nibbled at a ball exterior the off-stump and bought a tremendous edge to keeper Alex Carey to go away England 227-8, a lead of precisely 50.
Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Archer provided no actual resistance as Neser recorded career-best figures of 5-42 and Smith equalled Rahul Dravid on 210 outfield catches, three behind present record-holder Root.
Sixty-five was by no means going to be sufficient and though Australia misplaced Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne within the chase, Smith and Jake Weatherald guided the house facet to a straightforward win in fashion.
“They obviously had a really good partnership today, Jacks and Stokes, and you never know what can happen with Stokes still at the crease,” mentioned Smith.
