England’s openers weathered a tough day in the field and head into dinner with the score at 45-0, narrowing Australia’s lead to 132 runs in the second Ashes Test at Brisbane.
Zak Crawley is 26 not out off 23 balls and Ben Duckett sits on 13, as the duo navigates a tricky half-hour under the Gabba’s lights during the day-night fixture after Australia were dismissed for 511.
Duckett survived a key moment when Michael Neser dropped him at six, failing to hold a tough caught-and-bowled chance before later sending the next ball for four byes down the leg side.
Australia had built a 177-run lead after England’s first-innings 334, thwarting the visitors’ hopes of starting their innings in brighter daylight.
Mitchell Starc’s brisk 77 off 141 balls anchored Australia’s innings, pairing with tailender Scott Boland for a 75-run ninth-wicket stand at the Gabba — a record in that partnership. Starc finally fell while miscuing a slog; Brendan Doggett (13) and Boland then faced seven more overs before Doggett edged a Will Jacks spin delivery to end the innings.
Australia began the day at 378-6, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Neser aiming to extend the advantage. England captain Ben Stokes had Neser caught behind for 16, cutting short a 54-run stand with Carey in the morning session.
Carey added 33 more with Starc before being dismissed, prizing Gus Atkinson’s first Ashes wicket when he edged behind while attempting a cut.
England’s Brydon Carse finished with 4-132, though at a high economy rate, while Stokes conceded 113 runs across his spell.
Australia still leads the five-Test series 1-0 after securing an eight-wicket win in Perth.
Publication timestamp: December 06, 2025, 04:25 pm IST
