Australia take on England in the 2nd Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, a day-night affair and the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series. Australia lead the series 1-0 after an 8-wicket win in the first Test at Perth.
Match details in brief:
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Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane, day-night Test with the pink ball
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Current series lead: Australia 1, England 0
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Australia’s last Test performance: won by 8 wickets after a 123-ball century by Travis Head
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England’s first Test collapse: bundled out twice for 172 and 164, undermined by seam bowling
Teams Overview and Form
Australia enter the 2nd Test in strong form. Their bowling is led by Mitchell Starc, the series’ top wicket-taker, while Travis Head remains their most dangerous batsman. England, despite some contributions from Ollie Pope, look fragile. Their batting failed in the first Test and their bowling lacked the penetration to defend modest totals.
England’s top run-scorer is Ollie Pope with 79 runs in the series so far. Their leading wicket-taker is Ben Stokes with 5 scalps. For Australia, Travis Head has 144 runs, and Starc leads the wickets with 10.
In the first Test at Perth, England posted 172 and 164. Australia’s chase featured a solid opening stand of 75 and a blistering 123 from Travis Head off 83 balls, sealing victory with 8 wickets in hand.
Probable Playing XI and Squads
Based on the latest squads and updates:
Australia likely XI: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis or Beau Webster, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald
England likely XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
Usman Khawaja is ruled out of the 2nd Test due to back spasms, likely cementing Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as openers.
Pitch Report and Conditions at The Gabba
The Gabba historically produces a true, pace and bounce track. It generally stays firm for the duration of a Test, offering rhythm for fast bowlers early on while remaining fair for batters later.
Recent history shows mixed results. In 2022, the pitch was rated below average after a Test ended inside two days due to excessive seam movement and variable bounce. The pink-ball day-night format means twilight and night sessions may offer more movement, making batting tricky. Batters may find comfort in daylight but face challenges under lights.
Key Players and Match Influencers
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Mitchell Starc (Australia): Leading wicket-taker with past success under night conditions
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Scott Boland (Australia): Seam-bowling threat on green or tacky tracks
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Travis Head (Australia): Key batter in form and confidence high
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Jofra Archer (England): Pace and bounce can trouble Australian batters under lights
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Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (England): England’s batting depends on their ability to handle tricky sessions
Historical Context and Head-to-Head
The Gabba is historically a fortress for Australia. England has struggled in Brisbane, with their last Test win there more than 30 years ago. Australians benefit from familiarity with bounce, home-grown quicks, and conditions under lights that suit their style of bowling. England’s vulnerability in the first Test gives Australia a psychological edge.
Match Scenarios and Predictions
Likely scenarios:
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Australia dominance: Starc and Boland exploit early seam and swing, giving Australia a first-innings lead and strong control of the game
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England resilience: If openers and top order build a good first-innings total, their pacers may exploit bounce and pressure Australia
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Balanced contest: Daylight may yield runs, night may yield wickets, potentially resulting in a seesaw match and even a draw
Predictions: Australia likely to win. Top batter: Travis Head for Australia or Ollie Pope for England. Top bowler: Scott Boland or Jofra Archer. Player of the match: Scott Boland. Team scores if batting first: Australia 265+, England 240+.
Streaming and Viewing
The match is expected to be available on official broadcasters and streaming platforms in respective regions. Apps by the home boards or their broadcast partners will stream live coverage. Ball-by-ball commentary is also expected via cricket score apps and websites.
Australia look well-placed to dominate at The Gabba. England will need discipline and resilience, especially under night conditions, to stay competitive.