Cricket Dec 06, 2025

The Ashes: England stumble towards second Test defeat in Brisbane as top order subsides under lights at The Gabba

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
The Ashes: England stumble towards second Test defeat in Brisbane as top order subsides under lights at The Gabba

England stumbled towards a 2-0 series deficit as they closed day three of the second Ashes Test on 134-6 in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 43 runs.

Any faint England hopes rest on another memorable captain's contribution from Ben Stokes - four not out overnight - after England's top order again subsided under lights in the day-night Test at The Gabba.

With Australia resuming the third day on 378-6, 44 ahead on first innings, Mitchell Starc top-scored with 77 to continue his remarkable series and stretch the hosts' advantage to 177 when they were finally all out for 511 just as dusk arrived in Brisbane.

The game was set up perfectly for Australia, their wagging tail earning their bowlers the perfect twilight conditions to operate in with a brand-new pink ball - and they duly took advantage.

England's openers counter-punched briefly, with 45 scored in a six-over spell in the run up to tea, but Australia's seamers cashed in with six wickets in the final session.

Ben Duckett (15) was the first to depart, in the second over of the evening, bowled off the toe-end of his bat by one that kept low from Scott Boland (2-33).

Ollie Pope (26) added another 42 for the second wicket with Crawley (44) who, like with his first-innings 76, showed flashes of his best form before the pair departed in dismal fashion within four overs of each other.

Michael Neser (2-27) accounted for both caught and bowled as neither could resist driving on the up to the wrong length - Crawley, in particular, guilty of failing to learn the lesson from his partner's dismissal.

Joe Root (15) edged Starc (2-48) behind, while pick-of-the-bowlers in the second innings, Boland, was rewarded for a fine spell when Harry Brook (15) also nicked off.

Both edges went unnoticed on the field but were overturned by DRS, while Jamie Smith (4) also failed to detect his faint edge behind - his review failing - as Starc claimed an 18th wicket in his remarkable series thus far.

All times UK and Ireland

Tags:

cricket news id:13479973

Share this article

Related Posts

India and Pakistan win series ahead of T20 World Cup from February 7 -a tournament live in full on Sky Sports

India and Pakistan win series ahead of T20 World Cup from February 7 -a tournament live in full on Sky Sports

India and Pakistan are celebrating series victories ahead of the T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand and Australia respectively before February's big e...

Sussex to start 2026 County Championship with 12-point deduction after entering deal with ECB to combat financial issues

Sussex to start 2026 County Championship with 12-point deduction after entering deal with ECB to combat financial issues

Sussex will start the 2026 County Championship season with a 12-point deduction after entering an agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board t...

England in South Africa: Dates confirmed for three-Test series against world champions over Christmas and New Year

England in South Africa: Dates confirmed for three-Test series against world champions over Christmas and New Year

England will face world champions South Africa in a three-Test series over Christmas and New Year before three ODIs in early 2027, but a proposed T20...

Imran Khan: Legendary former cricketers call for 'humane' treatment of ex-Pakistan captain in jail

Imran Khan: Legendary former cricketers call for 'humane' treatment of ex-Pakistan captain in jail

Fourteen former international cricket captains including ex-England skippers Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton have issued a humanitarian appeal for Im...

Moeen Ali: Ex-England all-rounder joins Yorkshire for 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing retirement from county cricket

Moeen Ali: Ex-England all-rounder joins Yorkshire for 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing retirement from county cricket

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has joined Yorkshire for the 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing his decision to retire from county cricket.Moeen...

Sam Curran takes hat-trick as England beat Sri Lanka in first T20 international for 1-0 lead in three-match series

Sam Curran takes hat-trick as England beat Sri Lanka in first T20 international for 1-0 lead in three-match series

Sam Curran became the second England bowler to take a hat-trick in men's T20 internationals as his side beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs on DLS in a rain-red...