England's Ashes hopes are dwindling after an eight-wicket defeat by Australia in the second Test at the Gabba, putting them 2-0 down in the five-match series. The tourists finally showed some application with the bat on the fourth day of the pink-ball match, but still succumbed to their second crushing defeat of the tour.
Captain Ben Stokes dug in for a watchful 50 off 152 balls and was supported by Will Jacks, who made 41 from 92. Their partnership added 96 for the seventh wicket in 36.4 overs – England's longest partnership of the series. However, they were unable to recover from the loss of their last three wickets, which fell to Australian bowlers Nathan Neser and Gus Atkinson.
England have never come back from 2-0 down to win a series against Australia. The hosts will do so with the boost of captain Pat Cummins set to return from injury and off-spinner Nathan Lyon primed for a recall. Meanwhile, England's options for Adelaide are limited unless they dip into an England Lions team currently being hammered by Australia A.
The defeat has raised questions about England's attitude towards the series. If they had produced this kind of Test batting earlier, they might still be in the series. England finally showed some application with the bat on the fourth day, but it was too little, too late. The tourists are now facing a long and difficult road to recovery if they hope to retain the Ashes.
Stokes responded with a 148-ball half-century – his slowest in Tests since his career-defining knock to win the Headingley Ashes Test of 2019. His partnership with Jacks had the second-slowest run-rate of any England stand in excess of 50 since Stokes took over as captain.
The Australian bowlers were excellent, with Neser taking his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket and Atkinson producing a spell of 3-10 in just 5.2 overs. The game was all but up for the tourists once Jacks was sensationally caught by Steve Smith at first slip.
England's recent history in Australia is a concern, with their team not having won since 1986. They have now lost 17 matches without a win in the country and an eighth loss in 15 overall, dating back to September 2024. The tourists will do well to avoid becoming the worst-performing England team in Australia in modern times.
The hosts will face significant pressure in the remaining Tests, with Ashes holders Australia looking to retain the urn at the earliest opportunity. With captain Pat Cummins set to return from injury and off-spinner Nathan Lyon primed for a recall, Australia have all the ingredients to make it difficult for England to mount a comeback.
Captain Ben Stokes dug in for a watchful 50 off 152 balls and was supported by Will Jacks, who made 41 from 92. Their partnership added 96 for the seventh wicket in 36.4 overs – England's longest partnership of the series. However, they were unable to recover from the loss of their last three wickets, which fell to Australian bowlers Nathan Neser and Gus Atkinson.
England have never come back from 2-0 down to win a series against Australia. The hosts will do so with the boost of captain Pat Cummins set to return from injury and off-spinner Nathan Lyon primed for a recall. Meanwhile, England's options for Adelaide are limited unless they dip into an England Lions team currently being hammered by Australia A.
The defeat has raised questions about England's attitude towards the series. If they had produced this kind of Test batting earlier, they might still be in the series. England finally showed some application with the bat on the fourth day, but it was too little, too late. The tourists are now facing a long and difficult road to recovery if they hope to retain the Ashes.
Stokes responded with a 148-ball half-century – his slowest in Tests since his career-defining knock to win the Headingley Ashes Test of 2019. His partnership with Jacks had the second-slowest run-rate of any England stand in excess of 50 since Stokes took over as captain.
The Australian bowlers were excellent, with Neser taking his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket and Atkinson producing a spell of 3-10 in just 5.2 overs. The game was all but up for the tourists once Jacks was sensationally caught by Steve Smith at first slip.
England's recent history in Australia is a concern, with their team not having won since 1986. They have now lost 17 matches without a win in the country and an eighth loss in 15 overall, dating back to September 2024. The tourists will do well to avoid becoming the worst-performing England team in Australia in modern times.
The hosts will face significant pressure in the remaining Tests, with Ashes holders Australia looking to retain the urn at the earliest opportunity. With captain Pat Cummins set to return from injury and off-spinner Nathan Lyon primed for a recall, Australia have all the ingredients to make it difficult for England to mount a comeback.
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! They're really struggling here 
. I mean, 2-0 down in the series and they just can't seem to get back on track 
. Ben Stokes did his best with that half-century tho 
! But those Aussie bowlers were on fire 
! Nathan Neser's first five-wicket haul is insane 
! And Steve Smith catching Will Jacks was a big turning point in the game 
. I'm worried about England's chances now 
... but we'll see how they bounce back in Adelaide 
They're really making the most of their team's strengths and England just can't seem to get back in the game 
. Pat Cummins' return is definitely going to give Australia a boost though! 
They're gonna put some serious pressure on England and it's gonna be tough for them to come back 
. Nathan Neser and Gus Atkinson are looking like a deadly duo 
. And let's be real, Stokes' slowest half-century since 2019 is just another reminder of how far they've slipped behind in terms of Test batting skills 
. Australia's got all the momentum, and it's going to be tough for England to mount a comeback 
. They keep showing up half-hearted and expecting miracles. It's like they think the scoreboard will magically correct itself if they just "show some application" 
. Newsflash: Test cricket doesn't work that way 
. You gotta grind it out, take the tough decisions, and back it up with execution. Anything less is just spinning your wheels 
. Otherwise, they'll be stuck in this rut forever 
They need to step up their game ASAP or risk being humiliated 
2-0 down is a huge gap to bridge, especially with Pat Cummins returning from injury 
Nathan Lyon might be the key to Australia's success, but England's batsmen just can't seem to get it together 
Now it's all about how England can come back from this, and that's a tough one... 
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. It's gonna be a tough one for England to turn around this series 
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ben stokes is trying his best tho 
& nathan lyon is like the ultimate spin doctor 
i'm not sure if england can mount a comeback now 
and what's up with the names? Pat Cummins sounds like a superhero 
but I guess he's just an Aussie sports star. And who's Steve Smith... is he like a captain or something? 
. The question now is can they turn it around? Doubtful, but you never know. Maybe if they bring in some fresh faces from the England Lions team or something. But let's be real, Australia's got this in the bag 
. Bring it on! 