Despite showing a bit more strength on the fourth day at The Gabba, England succumbed to another humiliating eight-wicket drubbing in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, leaving them trailing 2-0 in the five-match series.
Still trailing Australia by 43 runs after starting the sixth day, the damage had already been done with the top order collapsing late on the third night, but Ben Stokes (50) and Will Jacks (41) persevered to at least force the hosts to bat one more time.
The pair showed patience and discipline, something that England’s batsmen have so far shown little about in this series, but added 96 runs for the seventh wicket, killing off the first session and leaving a glimmer of hope for a remarkable comeback.
Will Jacks and Ben Stokes make 96 together for 7th wicket
With little of the Devil in sight on the pitch, against an old ball and a tiring Australian attack, Stokes and Jacks extended England’s advantage to 47 points, before an inspired Steve Smith’s slip catch precipitated the tourists’ final demise.
Smith dived low to his left at slip and nailed a stunner that finally broke the partnership and looked behind Jacks. Michael Nether added the decisive wicket of Stokes in the next over, shortly after scoring his 36th Test fifty.
Stokes gave Alex Carey a narrow lead, but the latter took another great catch and stood up against the stumps, the England captain throwing his head back in disappointment and tossing his bat in frustration as he plodded away, his team’s Ashes hopes in tatters.
Ben Stokes oozed frustration on day four of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane when he was ultimately dismissed after a contest of more than 50 points.
Brendan Doggett (1-56) picked up Gus Atkinson (3) for a short ball before Nether (5-42), playing his third Test in three years, added the wicket of Brydon Kearse (7) to end the innings and earn his first five-for on Queensland’s home soil.
Australia, who set a set 65 for victory, wasted little time chasing the target across the tee interval, and although things got a little dicey between Smith and Jofra Archer, especially under the lights in the closing stages, they ran away in the 10th over.
Atkinson (2-37) dismissed Travis Head (22) with a chop to the stumps and added Marnus Labuschagne (3) in the next over, starting to improve his form and giving England a bit of positivity ahead of the next Test in Adelaide.
Those wickets put Smith in a tight spot, but Smith was happy to tell the watching world that despite his memorable display at Lord’s in 2019, where Archer suffered a concussion after taking a hit during a hard fast bowling spell, Archer has yet to stamp himself out in Test cricket.
Jofra Archer and Steve Smith engaged in a fierce battle late on the fourth day as Australia led 2-0 in the Ashes.
Archer picked up the pace again on his arrival, but Smith (23 no off nine balls) met the challenge head on, hooking two of England’s quicks for four and six in the same over, and the pair engaged in a fierce exchange in mid-off.
At one point, the stump microphone picked up Smith saying things like “Bowle fast when nothing’s going on, champ”, but ultimately it would be Smith who would have the last laugh, smashing Atkinson for another six and seeing Australia win in style.
Both teams will next travel to Adelaide. The third Test starts on December 17, but it won’t be easy for England as Australian captain Pat Cummins is expected to return from injury.
England captain Ben Stokes told TNT Sports:
“When the game is on the line, teams can handle that pressure better than we can.
“We’re a great team when we’re leading, we’re a great team when we’re behind and trailing, but we can’t handle the pressure when the game is on the line, and that’s clear as captain.”
“It’s a mentality, a way of thinking. How you put yourself in your head to make clear decisions is very important to succeed at this level.”
“No one is going to drop a catch or not bowl it where it should be bowled, but things like that don’t happen at this level.”
England head coach Brendon McCullum told 7Cricket:
“Honestly, I felt like I overprepared.
“We had five days of intensive training, and sometimes the most important thing in the heat of a fight is to feel a little fresh and make sure the top two inches are completely sound.
“I think the players need a few days off and maybe some changes to their training methods.
“I love horse racing, but I can’t just keep doing the same thing with my horses.
“We’re going to wrap up what has been a very intense few weeks and get back to playing the series.”
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
always UK and Ireland
First Test (Perth): Australia beat England by eight wickets Second Test (day/night): Australia beat England by eight wickets Third Test: Wednesday 17 December – Sunday 21 December (11.30pm) – Adelaide Oval Fourth Test: Thursday 25 December – Monday 29 December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground Fifth Test: Sunday 4 January – Thursday 8 January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
