The Ashes 2025: England in tatters after dismal third day of second Test in Brisbane

England’s hopes of a second Test and the Ashes were shattered after a dismal and demoralizing third day in Brisbane.

On a Saturday that will have a long history of misery on a ground where England have not won since 1986, Australia tortured the visitors with the bat, then applied crushing pressure with the ball.

In the intense atmosphere of a Queensland night and the joy of a howling crowd at the Gabba, England were left in disarray at 134-6 – still 43 behind. Defeat within three days was only narrowly avoided.

Trailing for 177 in the first innings, England began their second innings with hope against the pink ball at dusk – by the dinner break the visitors were 45-0 ahead from six overs.

As usual, England lacked the ability to bat well for long enough and mistakes were inevitable.

Ben Duckett may have felt unlucky to be hit by a scuttler from Scott Boland, but Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley made clumsy moves to be caught and bowled by Michael Neser.

Even Joe Root was guilty of outpacing Mitchell Starc, Harry Brook tripped Boland and Jamie Smith was the first of countless England players to fall trying to drive Starc.

Ben Stokes has engineered unimaginable Ashes escapes in the past. This won’t be one of them, and his team is falling apart around him. The skipper remains unbeaten in four alongside himself and Will Jacks.

Australia were earlier ahead by 77 from Starc (the pace bowler who added runs to the stellar series with the ball), keeping England out for almost two sessions and rising to 511 runs.

It was a slow-roasting affair under the Brisbane sun, and England’s collapse that followed was entirely predictable.