Australia v England scores, results, start time, wickets, teams, how to watch
Australia cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes test on Sunday and took a 2-0 series lead after England succumbed to unlikely hero Michael Neser’s quick blitz on the fourth day.
Aided by a catching spell from home skipper Steve Smith, the 35-year-old Neser took 5-42 in his first test in three years, leaving the home side needing 65 runs to win the day-night match at the Gabba.
Gus Atkinson took two wickets, while opener Jake Weatherald (17 not out) and fourth batsman Smith (23 not out) mowed down the target after the lunch break, condemning England to a 15th defeat in their last 17 tests in Australia.
England seamer Jofra Archer had a heated argument with Smith in the middle but was eventually bowled over by the fiery skipper for two fours and a six.
Smith sealed the win in style by hitting Atkinson for six in the deep frame to trigger a huge roar from the home fans in the crowd of 27,888.
“Archer was obviously bowling quite fast and there was a short boundary behind me,” Smith said. “I thought I’d try to reach a few of them, especially since I heard the storm was coming so I wanted to get things done.
“What I said to Archer will stay on the court. It was a good joke. He’s a good competitor and he’s tough on you.”
England captain Ben Stokes described the test as “very disappointing”.
“There are many reasons why you couldn’t handle the pressure of this game,” Stokes said. “(We) need to think more mentally and fight more.”
With Adelaide coming and three games left in the series, Stokes will refuse to accept the jar is lost after a grueling 152-ball 50.
But it would take something extraordinary to win from here.
In almost 150 years of Test cricket, the only team to come back from 2-0 down to win the series: Don Bradman’s Australia at home Ashes in 1936/37.
In Brisbane, Stokes’ England showed fans little to suggest a Bradman-like effort on this tour.
Meanwhile, Australia may grow stronger.
With the determined but unspectacular trio of Scott Boland, Neser and Brendan Doggett supporting the outstanding Starc, the Brisbane attack was at best third-placed.
Champion pacer Pat Cummins and elite spinner Nathan Lyon are likely to return to Adelaide Oval through injury and non-selection respectively.
As it was, the duo wasn’t really needed.
Australia’s pacers completed their work late on the third day and England needed 44 more runs to bat again for the home team to continue at 134 for six.
Stokes and all-rounder Will Jacks deserved the credit as they batted through the entire first session and took England to over 200.
But as the overs continued, the Gabba wicket showed a more erratic bounce and Stokes doubled over in pain when Neser’s delivery caught an edge and hit his groin.
He cut a single from Doggett and rose to make his fifty, bringing the England fans to their feet to applaud.
It took Smith taking a stunning slip catch to turn the match in Australia’s favour, dismissing the Jacks for 41 and triggering the collapse of England’s batting.
When England’s number eight edged Neser, Smith leapt to his left for a one-handed screamer on the grass and finished the 96-run stand with his Stokes.
England were bowled out for 241, losing 4-17.
