After overwhelming a demoralized England on the third day of the day-night second Test in Brisbane on Saturday, Australia is poised to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series.
Ben Stokes’ team was reduced to 134-6 at stumps, still behind by 43 runs, after the hosts batted England out of the game throughout the day session at the Gabba and made the most of the changed conditions under the lights.
After losing in two days in Perth, England is facing certain defeat in both the match and the series.
“We just wanted to put as many balls in the right area as we could. I think we bowled really well,” said seamer Scott Boland, who took 2-33 as England’s batting collapsed.
“They always play their shots and I feel like this kind of wicket, with some up and down, if we put as many balls in the right areas they’re going to give you some chances.”
England would have hoped to quickly grab the final four wickets and avoid a significant deficit when Australia resumed the day on 378-6 with a 44-run lead.
However, Australia reached 511 and held England off the field during the scorching day session thanks to the unlikely batting hero Mitchell Starc.
Stokes and spinner Will Jacks, both undefeated on four runs apiece, were holding on grimly at the end. Marcus Trescothick, the batting coach for England, insisted that they would not alter their aggressive batting strategy.
Similar to what happened in Perth and the first innings in Brisbane, a large number of England’s batters were either caught behind or bowled after falling while driving to deliveries on the up.
“We’re trying to play the way that we want to play,” he said. “And we want to try and utilise that in the best possible fashion. It doesn’t mean we always get it right of course.”
The visitors got off to a quick start in their second innings, reaching 45-0 at dinner off just six overs thanks to openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. However, batting became more challenging with more movement off the field once the lights came on.
Unfortunately, Duckett was the first to fall when Boland’s ball stayed low and struck the bottom of his bat before crashing into the stumps.
Before attempting to drive on the rise and making a crisp return catch to Michael Neser, Ollie Pope made a clumsy 26 by riding his luck several times. England was still behind by 87 runs at 90-2, and things only got worse from there.
Seven runs later, Crawley played the same shot as Pope and achieved the same outcome, giving Neser his second return catch in much the same way. Joe Root, who scored a century in the first innings, stabilized the situation with Harry Brook. However, with the score at 121, Root batted at a full and wide ball from Starc and got a heavy outside edge through to keeper Alex Carey.
Two runs later, England lost their fifth wicket under peculiar circumstances. Brook snatched the very next ball after being given out caught behind off Boland, which was overturned on appeal. However, umpire Sharfuddoula had to change his ruling following an Australia review.
Jamie Smith, the keeper, got off the dreaded pair but was quickly dismissed for four after being caught behind by Starc.
In front of eager fans, Australia dominated the day from the opening minute, and Starc was the tormentor with bat and ball. His score of 77 was a record for a number nine batsman at the Gabba, and he frustrated the visitors while they were searching for quick wickets.
About 40 minutes before halftime, Australia was finally eliminated, but they had a significant lead. Boland, who achieved his highest Test score of 21 not out, enjoyed a 75-run partnership with Starc, who has now claimed 18 wickets in the first two Tests.
As the day went on, the tired visitors suffered as a result of the ninth-wicket pair keeping England in the field under the scorching sun.
