England vs Australia: Latest Updates & Match Highlights

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🏏 England vs Australia Ashes Update: Australia Close In on 2-0 Series Lead in Brisbane

The historic rivalry between England and Australia has delivered another gripping chapter, with Australia dominating Day 3 of the Second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane and standing on the brink of a commanding 2-0 series lead. The pink-ball Day-Night Test has seen the hosts seize control, leaving England with a significant uphill battle on the final day.

England vs Australia: Second Test – Day 3 Summary (The Ashes, Brisbane)

As of the end of Day 3, England are reeling at 134/6, still trailing Australia by 43 runs in their second innings.

England vs Australia: Australia’s Commanding Position

• First Innings Lead: Australia, resuming at 378/6, stretched their first innings total to a mammoth 511 all out, securing a crucial 177-run lead.
• Mitchell Starc’s Heroics: The veteran pacer proved to be the unlikely batting hero, smashing a resilient 77—the highest score by a number nine batter at the Gabba. This effort, combined with an important 75-run partnership with Scott Boland (21*), frustrated England’s bowlers and consumed valuable time.
• Lights Out for England: Batting proved challenging for England under the floodlights. After a quick start, the top and middle order collapsed under pressure from the Australian seamers.

England’s Struggle

• Top Order Tumble: Openers Zak Crawley (44) and Ben Duckett (15) gave a brisk start, reaching 45-0 at the dinner break. However, once the lights came on and the ball began to move, the dismissals began.
• Key Wickets: Scott Boland (2-33) removed Duckett and Harry Brook (14), while Michael Neser claimed Ollie Pope (26) and Crawley. Crucially, Mitchell Starc removed the first-innings centurion, Joe Root (15), and Jamie Smith (4), leaving England’s tail exposed.
• Fighting Chance: All-rounder Ben Stokes (4*) and Will Jacks (17*) are the remaining recognised batters, holding on grimly at the close of play. England must find a way to wipe out the remaining deficit and set a challenging target for Australia to have any hope of salvaging the match.

England vs Australia: Series Context

Australia currently leads the five-match series 1-0, following a crushing victory in the First Test in Perth:

• First Test (Perth): Australia won by eight wickets inside two days, with Travis Head (123 off 83) and Mitchell Starc (Player of the Match) playing pivotal roles in the humbling defeat for England.
• Joe Root’s Milestone: A rare highlight for England came in their first innings of the Second Test, where captain Joe Root scored a magnificent 138 not out, his first Test century on Australian soil. Despite this stellar knock, England could only muster 334 in their first innings.

The final day promises a dramatic finish, with Australia needing just four wickets to secure a decisive 2-0 lead and put immense pressure on England’s ‘Bazball’ approach for the remainder of the series.

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The full scorecard for the ongoing Second Ashes Test at the Gabba provides a clear picture of Australia’s dominance, and Mitchell Starc’s performance has been truly phenomenal.

Here is a summary of the full scorecard up to the end of Day 3, followed by a look at Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking feats.

🏏 Second Test Full Scorecard (Day 3 Close)

England 2nd Innings – Fall of Wickets

⭐ Mitchell Starc’s Record Day

Mitchell Starc had an incredible day, not only contributing significantly with the bat but also taking two crucial wickets under the lights to break England’s back.

1. Test Runs Record for a Number Nine

With his brilliant innings of 77 runs (141 balls), Starc surpassed former England player Stuart Broad to become the player with the most Test runs while batting at number nine in the history of Test cricket.

2. Five Fifties in a Team Innings

Starc’s 77 was the fifth half-century for Australia in their first innings (following Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Alex Carey). This makes the Australian 1st innings of 511 only the fifth-highest Test total ever without an individual century! This highlights the collective effort in frustrating the English bowlers.

3. Batting and Bowling Domination

Starc’s overall series has been exceptional. His performance in the Second Test sees him become the first Australian since Mitchell Johnson in 2013 at the Gabba to score a half-century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test match.

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The latest updates between England and Australia are dominated by the Second Ashes Test Match (Men’s) in Brisbane, which is currently in progress.

As of the Tea Break on Day 4, England are showing fighting resistance, but Australia remains in a commanding position.

🏏 Second Ashes Test: Day 4 Update (The Gabba, Brisbane)

Match Situation (Post-Tea, Day 4):

• England: 193/6 in their second innings.
• England Lead: 16 runs (Australia will have to bat again).
• Series Score: Australia leads 1-0 in the five-match series.

Key Highlights from Day 4 (Morning & Afternoon Sessions)

England, resuming on a precarious 134/6 and still trailing by 43 runs, were expected to collapse quickly. However, the overnight batters put up a crucial partnership:

• Stokes and Jacks Fight Back: Captain Ben Stokes (36*) and all-rounder Will Jacks (25*) dug in for a long partnership, battling through the morning and lunch sessions to wipe out the 43-run deficit and push England into the lead.
• Deficit Wiped Out: England leveled the scores early in the day, ensuring Australia will need to bat again to win the match. This partnership has consumed valuable time and forced the Australian bowlers to toil.
• The Grind: Both Stokes and Jacks showed excellent discipline, defending resolutely against Australia’s formidable pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser, who are missing key bowlers Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon in this match.

England vs Australia: Dominance from Day 3

Australia established their dominant position on Day 3 largely due to the all-round brilliance of Mitchell Starc:

• Australia’s 1st Innings: Australia posted a huge total of 511 all out, led by Starc’s record-breaking 77 runs (the highest score by a number nine batter at The Gabba), securing a massive 177-run first-innings lead.
• England’s Collapse: In their second innings, England’s top order crumbled under the lights on Day 3, falling from a quick start to 134/6 at stumps.

England vs Australia: What’s Next?

Australia will be seeking the final four wickets quickly in the final session of Day 4 to restrict England’s lead as much as possible, as the pink ball under lights remains challenging for batters. England needs to hold on until the New Year Tests to try and get back into the series.

That was an incredibly dramatic post-tea session!

Australia has virtually secured victory in the Second Ashes Test on Day 4 in Brisbane, thanks to a swift bowling effort after the break and a quick start to their modest run chase.

Here are the latest updates from the post-tea session:

⚡ Post-Tea Session Summary (Day 4)

England’s Second Innings Collapse

England started the post-tea session at 193/6, leading by 16 runs, with Ben Stokes and Will Jacks batting resolutely.

• Wicket of Jacks: The partnership was broken when Will Jacks was dismissed for a fighting 41, caught brilliantly by Steve Smith at slip off the bowling of Michael Neser. This ended their crucial 90-run partnership.
• Stokes Departs: Captain Ben Stokes reached a well-deserved, gutsy 50 but was dismissed shortly after, caught behind off Michael Neser.
• Innings Ends Quickly: The tail-enders offered very little resistance, and England’s innings folded rapidly for 241 all out.
• Neser’s Five-For: Pacer Michael Neser was the star for Australia, picking up the final wickets to finish with an excellent 5/73 in the innings.

This left Australia needing only 65 runs to win the Test match and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Australia’s Run Chase

The Australian openers started the chase aggressively before the dinner break.

• Quick Start: Australia raced to 33/0 in just 5 overs before the dinner break was taken, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald showing intent.
• Consolation Wickets: In the short session immediately following dinner, England’s Gus Atkinson struck twice, removing Travis Head (22) and Marnus Labuschagne (3).
• Closing In: At the latest check (shortly after the dinner break), Australia is 42/2, needing just 23 runs to win the match.

📊 Latest Scoreboard (Match Result Imminent)

Australia is overwhelmingly favourite to wrap up the match shortly, likely before the next formal break.