England are in need of a fightback to wrestle back control in the second Ashes Test after Australia continued to swell their first-innings lead on day three at The Gabba.
In what was a gripping second day in Brisbane, England mostly toiled with the ball after half centuries from Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. The Australia skipper put on a big partnership with Cameron Green, only for Brydon Carse’s bowling and a stunning catch from Will Jacks to swing momentum once more.
Yet a counter-attacking half-century from Alex Carey left England needing to fight back again. While Michael Neser and Carey fell reasonably early, an excellent half-century from Mitchell Starc (77) has extended Australia’s advantage well beyond 100 with the tourists made to toil.
Follow all the latest updates, scores and analysis on day three at The Gabba below:
Ashes 2025/26: Australia v England - second Test, day three
- Day three of the second Ashes Test continues at the Gabba | Live on TNT Sports
- Australia continue to swell advantage as England toil in the heat
- Mitchell Starc (77) makes half-century to continue outstanding series
- Hosts closed day two 377-6 with a lead of 44 runs
- Joe Root (138*) helped England to 334 all out in first innings
Australia 496/9 (113), lead by 162
07:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Duckett and Zak Crawley share an exchange in the cordon having observed the lights coming on. An anxious stroke of the chin from Duckett, on a king pair, of course, after his first-baller in the first innings.
Drinks.
Starc is finally OUT for 77 and England close in 👊
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 6, 2025
Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/9HFbGGdwzU
Australia 495/9 (111), lead by 161
07:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleA single apiece to Australia’s last men standing as Will Jacks twirls in again. Jacks has bowled decently, finding good flight and drift at times, although neither batter is unduly concerned.
Australia 493/9 (111), lead by 159
07:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s 4-146 for Brydon Carse now, closing in on a five-for to...well, probably not savour, but a five-for nonetheless. Brendan Doggett is the new man, and off the mark with a couple after catapulting a short ball to long leg.
OUT! Mitchell Starc c Stokes b Carse 77, Australia 491/9 (110.2)
07:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleHeavens, he’s gone! Just about! Mitchell Starc finally makes an error, failing to time a slap from wide outside off stump and skewing it high in the air. Two England fielders almost get themselves in a horrible tangle but Ben Stokes, the larger of them, bashes Ben Duckett aside and clings on to the catch.
An outstanding knock from Mitchell Starc, though, continuing a sterling series. 13 fours in his 77 from 141 balls.
Australia 491/8 (110), lead by 157
07:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere is a bit of speculation about a declaration, curiously, with Steve Smith surely minded to just let these two plough on. Mitchell Starc has had a bit of treatment on his right elbow, and looks in slight discomfort as he strides through for the sole single of Will Jacks’s eighth over.
Australia 490/8 (109), lead by 156
07:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc lifts Gus Atkinson back over his head for four to move into the 70s. Gus Atkinson responds with a short ball that would have gone over the head of Yao Ming. A wide.
Four more for Starc, this time lofted over mid-on. Some shot, that, and the pose is held for the cameras. Starc’s begin to open up his arms. This is now the longest partnership of the series. A quick single allows Starc to keep the strike and move on to 76, with an errant throw striking him on the rump of the back.
Australia 480/8 (108), lead by 146
07:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleNathan Lyon has perched himself alongside Alex Carey down near the boundary as England’s off-spinner Will Jacks continues to whir away without success. Jacks does manage to beat the edge of Scott Boland as the Australia No 10 props forward outside off stump.
Australia 479/8 (107), lead by 145
07:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc now has more runs from No 9 than any other Test cricketer, going past Stuart Broad. He’s batted at No 8 a fair bit, too - he and Pat Cummins, when fit, really do deepen the Australian order.
The shadows continue to lengthen on the Gabba outfield.
Australia 478/8 (106), lead by 144
07:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleScotty Boland blocks back Will Jacks’s sixth over. A maiden.
Australia 478/8 (105), lead by 144
07:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe said earlier that Mitchell Starc is continuing to climb that list of top Test run-scorers without a ton, but he’s beginning to threaten to drop off it - two gorgeous drives through the covers move him on to 65. It’s getting ugly for England.
Here is how he went to 50:
How about that shot from Mitchell Starc to bring up 50!#Ashes | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/fq6JmqMUP1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2025
Australia 470/8 (104), lead by 136
07:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc brings up the 50 partnership with a little nurdle to leg. And how about that from Scott Boland - too wide and too full from Will Jacks, and driven with elan wide of mid-off for four.
Australia 465/8 (103), lead by 131
07:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe partnership is now 49 from 121 balls. Excellent work from these two.
Will Jacks will continue.
Australia 465/8 (102.2), lead by 131
06:57 , Harry Latham-CoyleStreaky runs, but runs all the same, for Scott Boland, chopping to the fine leg fence with an ill-conceived cut. Off the inside edge and very close to off peg. Every Australia batter has got to double figures, which is perhaps a sign of a true surface.
Australia 461/8 (102), lead by 127
06:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleA maiden from Will Jacks, helping to repair his figures somewhat after going for nine in his first yesterday. Mitchell Starc happy to play patiently.
Australia 461/8 (101), lead by 127
06:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc’s top score, by the way, is 99 - a figure he shares with wife Alyssa Healy. And the late Shane Warne, of course, who ended his career with the most Test runs without a hundred. Starc is now third on that list, with the ever-entertaining Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella splitting the Australians.
He’ll keep climbing with shots like that - a languid straight drive past Gus Atkinson. Atkinson had over-stepped, too. Starc goes to 56 with a single; Scott Boland is struck on the thigh pad with his 28th ball to remain on seven.
50! Australia 455/8 (100), lead by 121
06:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleHello! Turn and bounce from the heart of the pitch from Will Jacks. Nathan Lyon, watching on having been left out, perhaps shakes his head...
But there is 50 for Mitchell Starc, an agricultural heave through cow corner taking him to the milestone from 100 balls. An excellent hand, this.
Australia 450/8 (99), lead by 116
06:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleWill Jacks, perhaps slightly surprisingly, will continue after tea. How will Mitchell Starc approach him? He’s four runs away from a 12th Test century.
Second session...
06:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleThings aren’t going much better for England’s second-string on the other side of Brisbane, by the way - Australia A are 529/6 and counting against the Lions with Nathan McSweeney making a double hundred in that unofficial “Test”. A young English side were bowled out for 166 yesterday, with Jacob Bethell making 19. Shoaib Bashir has bowled 25 wicketless overs.
Back to the Gabba, with England in the slow cooker. Two quick wickets are surely a must to allow the openers to bed in before the gloom descends.
TEA! Australia 450/8 (99), lead by 116
06:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleAustralia make it through the first session still batting, then, which will please them greatly. They’ve played patiently to slowly swell the lead into something ever more imposing, successfully putting more overs into the England legs and creep towards the twilight zone. Mitchell Starc has played brilliantly, managing the situation superbly in partnership with Scott Boland to ensure that the hosts did not tumble in a heap after Michael Neser and Alex Carey fell earlier.
Ben Stokes has bowled very well, and Gus Atkinson’s burst with the second new ball was threatening, but a flat-looking surface might give them the best hope of fighting back into the Test. How tricky will it be later with the lights on, though?
TEA! Australia 450/8 (99), lead by 116
06:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle Australia 450/8 (99), lead by 116
06:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc calls for a fresh set of glove in the final over of the session - fascinating. Anyway, he survives it, slicing the last ball towards the extra cover fence to take Australia to 450.
Starc has 46 from 95 balls; Scott Boland has offered good support with seven from 27 balls. England’s toil goes on.
Australia 447/8 (98), lead by 113
06:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleA loose bit of cricket from Ollie Pope at short leg, hurling needlessly at the stumps after Mitchell Starc had patted the ball down to him on the bounce and giving away an overthrow.
Scott Boland negotiates the last delivery of the over. Brydon Carse will continue at the other end.
Australia 446/8 (97.1), lead by 112
05:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleHuzzah - Will Jacks is getting a bowl. One (pretty ugly) over yesterday from England’s spinner - what might he extract now just before the interval?
Australia 446/8 (97), lead by 112
05:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrydon Carse continues to stomp in. Scott Boland almost chops on as he chances a rare semi-attacking stroke to a shorter ball that perhaps just ends up closer to him than he first thought.
A maiden as Australia turn down a single from the last.
Australia 446/8 (96), lead by 112
05:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleScott Boland joins the fun, steering Ben Stokes through a gap in the gully rather nicely to pick up four. This partnership is only worth 25 but feels considerably more valuable given the context.
Make it 26 - Boland’s flick off the hip lands a couple of feet in front of Ben Duckett in the gully.
More! An elegant cover drive from Mitchell Starc to move him into the 40s.
Australia 437/8 (95), lead by 103
05:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc finally gets a shot away, lofting Brydon Carse off the back foot to the extra cover boundary.
Four more. The lead grows above 100 as Mitchell Starc goes to 38. He’s faced 83 balls - this really is some series he’s having.
Australia 429/8 (94), lead by 95
05:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Stokes searches for a yorker and finds that Mitchell Starc misses the full toss he instead delivers. There’s a cursory appeal for leg before wicket, but it was heading down by a distance, as a disappointed Stokes concludes as he turns back towards his mark.
Not far away! Stokes has been excellent in this session, and again finds something in the surface as Starc’s outside edge is beaten. Two singles from the over.
Australia 427/8 (93), lead by 93
05:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleA maiden from Brydon Carse, with Mitchell Starc safely ducking, prodding and swaying through a bumper barrage with Ollie Pope for close company at short leg. At least 22 overs now in all of the legs of the England seamers - Carse’s economy rate remains above six for the innings.
Australia 427/8 (92), lead by 93
05:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Stokes brings himself back and very nearly cleans up Mitchell Starc, the ball whispering in the ear of off stump as it just evades it. And a nick! Short of Joe Root at slip - that’s the second edge that’s fallen short in the last little while.
Scott Boland survives the single ball he is required to face. These two successfully dragging this innings out, taking us ever closer to the first break - and the twilight zone later.
Australia 426/8 (91), lead by 92
05:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleJust short! Brydon Carse draws a bit of a hack from Mitchell Starc with a sharp short ball, but it doesn’t carry to Jofra Archer at mid-off. Through for a single Starc trots - he has 28 and Scott Boland 1.
Australia 425/8 (90), lead by 91
05:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleScott Boland very nearly ends up perched on his stumps as he goes back to play a Jofra Archer lifter, Boland doing well to avoid overbalancing as he is pushed back. There appear to be few gremlins in the pitch - which should give England hope of making a good fist of the third innings.
There is a brief thought of a review after Archer hits Boland on the back thigh, with a slight suggestion of an inside edge. England choose not to send it upstairs - it missed the bat and was much too high for LBW.
Brydon Carse replaces Gus Atkinson.
Australia 425/8 (89), lead by 91
05:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleA fine bit of fielding from Jofra Archer at mid-off saves four after Gus Atkinson overpitches. Back-to-back maidens from Atkinson.
Archer earns himself a go at Scott Boland.
Australia 425/8 (88), lead by 91
05:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc carves Jofra Archer to the backward point boundary. A single takes him to a very useful 27.
Australia 420/8 (87.1), lead by 86
05:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlmost! Scott Boland fends one off his hip just wide of leg gully. He’s off the mark.
DRINKS!
05:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn even enough first hour, you’d say, with England striking twice but Australia calmly swelling their advantage towards 100.
Meanwhile, down in Christchurch, it seems the West Indies have pulled off a remarkable escape - Justin Greaves is 197 not out with the Windies 450/6 in the final few overs of day five. It looked for a while like they might have a hope of chasing the 531 they needed, but Kemar Roach has shown outstanding patience and technique to compile his first Test 50 and offer doughty support to Greaves against a New Zealand attack hit by a couple of injuries. A positive performance for the West Indies after a couple of bruising series against Australia and India.
Australia 419/8 (87), lead by 85
05:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleGus Atkinson goes to a variation, hoping to draw an error from Mitchell Starc with a slower ball four feet outside off stump. It is not forthcoming.
A short ball and a wide one trap Scott Boland down the non-striker’s end, meaning he’ll face the start of Jofra Archer’s next. A maiden, and time for drinks.
Australia 419/8 (86), lead by 85
05:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis new ball is starting to zip about, Jofra Archer jagging one over the top of middle stump to draw an almost appreciative “ooh” from a beaten Mitchell Starc. Again, a single from the penultimate ball is all that comes off of Archer’s 23rd over.
Australia 418/8 (85), lead by 84
04:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleWell well well. A genuine nick from Mitchell Starc to a Gus Atkinson ball at good pace and yet it doesn’t come close to carrying to Jamie Smith. Again signs that the pitch is starting to misbehave.
Atkinson has been good here, quick, threatening and accurate. He gets the speed gun up towards 89mph with a full outswinger that Scott Boland plays inside of.
Australia 417/8 (84), lead by 83
04:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc does take one from the penultimate ball of Jofra Archer’s over. Scott Boland leaves the last alone.
Australia 416/8 (83.2), lead by 82
04:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleGus Atkinson really had to work to earn that wicket - he’s bowled pretty well in this series without much luck. Now, can England extinguish the Australian innings while the lead is still in double figures? Scott Boland is the new man - and Mitchell Starc turns down a single, to reflect his lack of trust in the tailender.
OUT! Alex Carey c †Smith b Atkinson 63, Australia 416/8 (83)
04:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleGus Atkinson gets one to spring off a length, beating Mitchell Starc’s bat and very nearly Jamie Smith, too, the keeper thrusting up his right hand to snare it high above his head. Just a few signs that the surface may be starting to go up and down.
And Alex Carey falls! A first Ashes wicket for Gus Atkinson. A loose dismissal, really, thrashing without much foot movement outside off stump, and a thin edge ends up in the gloves of Jamie Smith. It’s the wicket England needed.
Australia 412/7 (82), A Carey 60, M Starc 18, J Archer 1-79 (21)
04:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlex Carey gets himself in a mess having been surprised by a short ball first up from Jofra Archer. Away off the top of the bat it loops but well short of the two slips and Zak Crawley in the gully. Very similar to his first ball last night, which Ben Duckett failed to grasp.
Much like Atkinson, Archer finds a little bit of away movement from the tall left-hander Starc. He errs in line, though, allowing Starc a clip off the hips that adds four to his tally. The lead is 78.
Australia 407/7 (81), A Carey 59, M Starc 14, G Atkinson 0-80 (19)
04:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Duckett has been moved out of the gully after shelling those two chances yesterday evening. No lavish movement on offer for Gus Atkinson, although he does manage to find appreciable nip to beat a timid Mitchell Starc push to close a tight over.
Jofra Archer, as anticipated, is brought on at the other end.
Australia 405/7 (80), A Carey 58, M Starc 13, B Stokes 3-101 (21)
04:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleFour from Ben Stokes’s latest set of six - and the new ball is due.
Gus Atkinson will have first use of it.
Australia 401/7 (79), A Carey 57, M Starc 10, B Carse 3-132 (20)
04:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleShort and wide from Brydon Carse and clapped through the covers by Mitchell Starc - a poor ball dealt with effectively, and it’s a no-ball, too. And again! Flayed this time over the top, but four more to extend Australia’s lead and bring up the 400.
The field spreads with Carse much too short this morning, and now given a bit more licence to go to the bouncer if he desires. He does not - that might be his last for a little bit.
Australia 392/7 (78), A Carey 57, M Starc 2, B Stokes 3-97 (20)
04:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleA good ball from Ben Stokes, that, angle in from around the wicket and then standing up off the steam to beat the outside edge of Mitchell Starc’s bat. The new ball is just a couple of overs away but Starc may not much mind a bit of purchase out of the pitch.
Australia 390/7 (77), A Carey 56, M Starc 1, B Carse 3-123 (19)
04:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleMitchell Starc is the new man, a useful No 9 in any circumstance. Brydon Carse drops short to Alex Carey, who niftily lifts the ball over the slip cordon with an angled bat for four.
A quick single gets Starc off the mark and draws a wild throw from Ben Stokes. Fine leg backs it up. Stokes is called into action soon after as Starc crunches a drive to his left, with the England skipper safely behind it. The lead is 56.
OUT! Michael Neser c †Smith b Stokes 16, Australia 383/7 (76)
04:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland strike! A bit of lift in the channel from Ben Stokes, a fairly loose, hard-handed drive from Michael Neser and a safe snag from Jamie Smith behind the stumps. A partnership of 54 is broken.
50! Australia 383/6 (75.2), A Carey 50, M Neser 16, B Stokes 2-95 (18.2)
04:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd there is Alex Carey’s half-century - a fine hand from the wicketkeeper-batter, made typically breezily from just 52 balls to lift Australia into a lead that now numbers 49.
Australia 382/6 (75), A Carey 49, M Neser 16, B Carse 3-116 (18)
04:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrydon Carse shares starter duties, with Carey tucking a single into the leg side. A short ball makes sure that Michael Neser is fully alert, with a calm bob beneath it suggesting he very much is. A flick to deep backward square leg gets him going for the day.
Carey pinches the strike as a cut takes him to 49.
Australia 379/6 (74), A Carey 47, M Neser 15, B Stokes 2-94 (17)
04:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe first run of the day is nudged just backward of point by Alex Carey, with Michael Neser through quickly for a sharp single to wake up the legs.
Four solid blocks from Neser see out the first over of the day.
Australia 378/6 (73), A Carey 46, M Neser 15, B Stokes 2-93 (17)
04:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Stokes has ball in hand having shaken off the cramp he was dealing with last night. A crucial passage, this.
Australia 378/6 (73), A Carey 46, M Neser 15
03:59 , Harry Latham-CoyleOut the two batters come on another scorching Brisbane day. A bit of a breeze blowing, it seems, which is welcome with the humidity high.
Day Three
03:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlex Carey played pretty well late last night, counter-punching effectively after being given a couple of lives. Michael Neser can bat, too - the seamer averages north of 40 in the County Championship after stints with Glamorgan and Hampshire. There’s Mitchell Starc to come, of course, as well...
Day Three
03:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight, here we go then - a potentially defining day for the Ashes, and the entire England regime. The pitch is starting to break up a bit and “plate”, creating a few cracks that will open up as the Test continues - but it remains a pleasant pitch for now. How far can Australia stretch their lead?
Joe Root denies Gabba fielding errors linked to Ashes preparation
03:45 , Jack Rathborn"We worked as hard as we could in the lead up to this," Root said when discussing the fielding errors on day two at The Gabba. "We had five days of prep and we did a huge amount of catching and making sure we utilised those two sessions under lights well.
"You could look at it like that [England could have played in Canberra] but you can't replicate that surface [at the Gabba], the bounce, the way the nicks come. It's never going to be exactly the same, it's never going to be perfect. All you can do is give yourself the best possible chance and I think we've done that.
"In the lead up to this game we've got used to conditions, we've got used to the heat, we got used to the surfaces. The nets were at 3mm [grass length], the same as the wicket. We faced our own bowlers, we've caught under lights, we've caught in daylight and tried to catch in twilight as well. Sometimes they don't stick and you're always looking for answers.
"Sometimes they just don't stick and you've got to keep applying yourself and wanting the ball so you're ready when that next opportunity comes."
Australia deny playing 'silly buggers' over Pat Cummins injury return
03:30 , Jack Rathborn"We weren't playing silly buggers with him not being in the squad and in the mix,” Chair of selectors George Bailey said.
“But I think once we got up here, saw his training, got as much of the background medical information as well, it became a live possibility," he said. "Then it was just working through the permutations of what would that look like in terms of the amount of overs, what would it look like going forward from that as well.
"I don't think we thought he was going to be as close, it really changed through the week. Then risk tolerance became the conversation around what could he take on. Yes, he could have played. There would have been some restrictions around the overs and then obviously just the permutations [around that]."
Australia v England, second Ashes Test, day two
03:15 , Jack Rathborn Marnus Labuschagne on Australia's chances in second Ashes Test
03:00 , Jack Rathborn"I would like to be a bit more resilient … getting out on the stroke of the changeover between day and night was not ideal," he said. "But you've just got to keep telling yourself as the batter, it's just one ball at a time. If you're thinking too far ahead, you start reading into a ball that might have bounced more off a crack or hit you. You've got to stay in the moment as much as you can.
"If you're bowling good balls in the channel at the Gabba, it's tough to score with the extra bounce. But it was a nice wicket. Obviously, it's a little bit cracky here and there, but the majority of the times the balls hit the wicket, it was really nice.
"The two guys at the top just grabbed that momentum of the game early, and we were almost able to piggyback their momentum, and continue to put pressure on.”
Will Jacks lauded over stunning catch in The Ashes
02:45 , Jack Rathborn"This is as good of a catch as I've ever seen," said former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special.
"Oh my word! It doesn't get any better than that, that's a piece of incredible movement from Jacks."
"Will Jacks, take a bow," said former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said on TNT Sports.
"That is an outstanding catch.
"It is exactly what we were talking about - the fielders getting behind the bowlers.
"He had to cover a huge amount of ground and he throws out a claw. It is an outstanding catch."
Joe Root on England's chances heading into day three
02:30 , Jack Rathborn"We've obviously got some more work to do tomorrow, but we're certainly well and truly in this game. More than anything we've got to come out with a huge amount of energy and positivity. We know our best cricket can turn a game very quickly, so we'll turn up tomorrow with that right attitude. We know that, if we're anywhere near our best, then very quickly this game can turn in our favour."
Cameron Ponsonby reviews thrilling day two in second Ashes Test at The Gabba
02:10 , Jack RathbornEngland's Mark Wood doubtful for third Test in Adelaide with knee injury
01:50 , Jack Rathborn"I think there's a chance there [for the third Test in Adelaide]," Wood told Australian broadcaster Channel 7.
“More realistically, it's probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that.
"I need to get out of this [brace] first to get moving around."
England suffer tough second day at The Gabba
01:30 , Jack Rathborn Nathan Lyon unclear on reasons behind being dropped for Ashes Test
01:10 , Jack Rathborn"I just hadn't had it in me to sit down with the coach [Andrew McDonald] and George [Bailey - selectors' chair] at the moment," he added.
"That will happen. I'm not the first player to miss a Test match and I won't be the last.
"But, yeah, I'm obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially at a venue like this."
Australia's Nathan Lyon 'filthy' and 'gutted' at being dropped in Brisbane for second Test
00:50 , Jack Rathborn"Absolutely filthy," Lyon told Australia's host broadcaster Seven Network when asked how he felt about being dropped.
"But yeah, I can't do anything about it, so I hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here."
Joe Root assesses day two at The Gabba
00:30 , Jack Rathborn"It's clear we weren't our best at that phase of the game," Root told TNT Sports.
"But the way that we dragged things back, by managing to take those wickets in a cluster, it shows what the nature of this game can be like, especially with the pink ball.
"It is different to a white ball. We get a lot of exposure to [floodlit cricket] in ODI cricket and T20 cricket, but it is slightly different. But you still back yourself. We practice really hard for the five days leading into it.
“We made sure we got our work done. Unfortunately, it's just one of those days where a few didn't quite stick to hand. We've got to make sure we stay confident, we stay up and, when we get those chances later on in the fixture, we're ready to take them.”
Nasser Hussain warns against writing England off in Ashes
00:12 , Jack Rathborn"You'd be foolish to call anything too soon in this Ashes series as it seems to switch so quickly from a poor position to a good position and back again. But if England lose this Test, it's a long way back,” Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports.
"We have not yet had Australia's Mitchell Starc bowling with a brand new pink ball at twilight in this Test, so England need to wrap up these four wickets early on tomorrow and get batting before Starc gets a new ball under lights.
"If England bat well second time around and get a lead of 200 and the pitch then does get uneven, batting last on it could be hard for Australia."
England criticised for dropped catches in second Test
Friday 5 December 2025 23:51 , Jack Rathborn"How often have an England team come to Australia and dropped catches?" Michael Vaughan told BBC Sport.
"I said months ago that England have a great chance, but the one thing we don't focus on in the UK - and they focus so much on it here in Australia - is catching and fielding.
"We have come here again and five catches have gone done. Two or three of them were goobers (simple chances) that have to be taken."
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
Friday 5 December 2025 23:32 , Jack RathbornAll times UK and Ireland
- First Test (Perth): Australia beat England by eight wickets
- Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 - Monday December 8 (4am) - The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Test: Wednesday December 17 - Sunday December 21 (11.30pm) - Adelaide Oval
- Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 - Monday December 29 (11.30pm) - Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 - Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) - Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood suffers Ashes injury setback with new timeline for return
Friday 5 December 2025 23:15 , Jack RathbornJosh Hazlewood’s hopes of playing a part in the 2025/26 Ashes series are hanging by a thread after he suffered another setback on his recovery.
"Josh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from recent hamstring injury," a Cricket Australia statement said.
"It is a low-grade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week."
Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood suffers new Ashes injury setback
Nasser Hussain gives verdict on England after day two
Friday 5 December 2025 22:53 , Jack Rathborn"England with the new ball: it's just a given that when you rock up to The Gabba, rock up to Australia, you don't get carried away with the bounce,” Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket’s Ashes Daily podcast.
"The same attack that was so brilliant in the first innings in Perth - with no [Mark] Wood - just ran up and said 'cut me'. I've never seen so many upper cuts and ramps in the first 15 overs of a new ball spell. It was incredible.
"There's nothing in between with this England side. They're either really poor or they show a bit of character and try and fight back towards the end of the day.
Michael Atherton gives verdict on 'awful' England
Friday 5 December 2025 22:35 , Jack Rathborn"[England] awful in the morning," Atherton said on Sky Sports Cricket's Ashes Daily Podcast. "They just bowled badly, it's as simple as that.
“Australia going along at six an over, England bowling short and wide, getting clattered to all parts.
“Brydon Carse had a particularly rough day. But I thought none of them were particularly good; [Jofra] Archer was the pick, and there was a drop off when you moved away from Archer and [Gus] Atkinson in combination.”
England feel sting of familiar Ashes pain on day of missed chances in Brisbane
Friday 5 December 2025 22:15 , Jack RathbornIt was good, it was bad, and then it was terrible.
England may only trail by 44, but it feels like more. Day two at the Gabba was chaos punctuated by erratic bowling and poor catching.
“That’s third-grade standard,” former Aussie great Mark Waugh said on Fox Sports of England’s bowling display. “Look at this pitch map. That’s all over the place.”
"I just saw Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie," said Stuart Broad on Channel Seven. "I said to them England have bowled more bad balls today than you did in your entire careers."
England feel sting of familiar Ashes pain on day of missed chances
Joe Root backs England to bounce back after costly ‘mistakes’
Friday 5 December 2025 22:00 , Jack RathbornJoe Root has insisted England’s Ashes campaign remains firmly on track, despite a series of dropped catches gifting Australia five extra lives and a crucial first-innings lead at the Gabba.
"We’re not perfect, we’re all human and we’re going to make mistakes. But it’s how we respond," Root stated.
"It’s about making sure we turn up with the right frame of mind, right attitude and knowing our best game of cricket is good enough to do very special things here. The wheels could have come off and at other times, probably on a tour where I was captain, they would have.
“But we know our best cricket and when we execute well we’re a very difficult side to play against. I don’t think we’re massively out of it at all."
Michael Vaughan bemoans 'jaded' England after day two at The Gabba
Friday 5 December 2025 13:54 , Jack Rathborn"I would have done things completely differently," Vaughan told BBC Sport. "What I saw today was a team completely jaded.
"These fielding drills - they're fantastic, but you know the ball is coming to you. In a game, you have no clue when it is coming to you and it is completely different.
"The art of taking chances is concentration. If you're not out there on a regular basis, and that chance comes, you have to be concentrating to take that opportunity. The only way you get good at that is by training the brain to do it."
Can England win this Test? Joe Root defiant after day two
Friday 5 December 2025 13:52 , Jack Rathborn"We have to show positivity tomorrow and we know our best cricket can turn a fixture really quickly,” said Joe Root.
“If we turn up with our best then this fixture can very quickly turn in our favour.
“Then our talent with the bat can go out there and express themselves in the right way to get a big score to leave them batting last on a tricky surface."