Australia delivered a clinical performance to secure a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over England in the day-night second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday. With this win, the hosts have taken a formidable 2-0 lead in the prestigious five-match series.
Dominant Chase Seals the Deal
The target of 65 runs proved to be a mere formality for the Australian batters. They chased it down in just 10 overs, with captain Steve Smith finishing the match in style by hitting a powerful six over square leg off bowler Gus Atkinson. The chase was smooth despite the early losses of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
England's Struggles Across the Board
England's performance was outclassed in all three departments of the game. Their batting, barring a few individual efforts, failed to adapt to the bouncy Gabba surface. Only Joe Root and Zak Crawley showed promise in the first innings, while Ben Stokes and Will Jacks offered some resistance in the second.
The English bowling strategy, particularly their reliance on short-pitched deliveries and poor utilisation of the new pink ball, was ineffective. This was in stark contrast to Australia's disciplined attack, which succeeded even in the absence of key pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Fielding let England down catastrophically, with five dropped catches in the first innings. Australia, meanwhile, maintained a flawless catching record. A crucial moment came when wicketkeeper Josh Inglis effected a sharp run-out of the dangerous Ben Stokes in the first innings.
Final Day Resistance Fades Quickly
Starting day three at a precarious 134-6 in their second innings, England needed a miracle. Stokes and Jacks mounted a defensive partnership under intense heat, slowly erasing the deficit. They adopted an uncharacteristically cautious approach, focusing on singles and careful shot selection.
The pair added 59 runs in two hours, but the resistance was broken when Jacks edged to Michael Neser, with Smith taking a spectacular diving catch at slip. Stokes followed soon after, caught behind off Neser. The tail of Atkinson, Carse, and Archer was swiftly cleaned up.
Michael Neser was the star with the ball for Australia, achieving career-best figures of 5-42. Steve Smith, with his catch to dismiss Jacks, equalled the legendary Rahul Dravid's record of 210 outfield catches in Test cricket.
Path Forward in the Ashes Series
With this commanding position, Australia are now the clear favourites to retain the Ashes urn. The series moves to Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney for the remaining three Tests. England, after a two-day defeat in Perth and this loss in Brisbane, face a monumental task to stage a comeback. Their batting techniques and tactical decisions will need urgent revision if they are to challenge the dominant Australian side.
