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

County Championship: Zak Crawley's struggles continue as Kent collapse in response to Northants

County Championship: Zak Crawley's struggles continue as Kent collapse in response to Northants

Zak Crawley made his third successive sub-30 County Championship score for Kent after Northamptonshire ran up a record 684 for two declared at Canterb...

Alice Capsey and Davina Perrin tipped to star in 2026 on Sky Sports Cricket podcast

Alice Capsey and Davina Perrin tipped to star in 2026 on Sky Sports Cricket podcast

Alice Capsey could hit unprecedented heights in women's cricket in 2026, having dialled in after "realising how much of a talent she is", according to...

County Championship: Craig Overton's career-best 141 helps Somerset to beat Essex in dominant win at Chelmsford

County Championship: Craig Overton's career-best 141 helps Somerset to beat Essex in dominant win at Chelmsford

Somerset closed out a dominant 10-wicket win over Essex at Chelmsford for a first Rothesay County Championship victory of the new campaign.After Craig...

County Championship: Ben McKinney puts himself in England frame with double century for Durham as Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope shine for Surrey

County Championship: Ben McKinney puts himself in England frame with double century for Durham as Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope shine for Surrey

Ben McKinney gave England's selectors a nudge with a quickfire 214 not out as Durham piled up 456-2 after losing the toss at Gloucestershire.A number...

Ben Stokes: England Test captain targets May return after 'lucky' escape when hit in the face by cricket ball in training

Ben Stokes: England Test captain targets May return after 'lucky' escape when hit in the face by cricket ball in training

Ben Stokes says he plans to return for two County Championship matches with Durham in May, after admitting he had a 'lucky' escape when hit in the fac...

'Ben Stokes needs to get back to batting the way he used to' - claims Nasser Hussain on this week's Sky Sports Cricket Podcast

'Ben Stokes needs to get back to batting the way he used to' - claims Nasser Hussain on this week's Sky Sports Cricket Podcast

Speaking on this week's edition of the Your Site Cricket Podcast, Nasser Hussain claims England Test captain Ben Stokes needs to "get back to batting...