Lead stretches to 44 runs with four wickets in hand
At stumps on day two of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, Australia reached 378-6, giving them a 44-run lead over England. Alex Carey is unbeaten on 46 alongside Michael Neser on 15, with four wickets still in hand and a strong platform built by contributions from all of Australia’s top seven.
Busy day: runs, wickets… and drops
It was a chaotic but gripping day’s play: 75.2 overs, seven wickets and 387 runs in total. England’s fielding, however, will be the main talking point, with five dropped catches likely to haunt them overnight and potentially prove decisive in the match – and the series.
England mix brave effort with poor tactics
England’s bowlers worked hard and showed real effort, but the tactics were inconsistent. At times they hit good areas, at others they reverted to bowling far too short, releasing pressure on Australia’s batters. The overall display veered between solid spells and outright poor passages of play.
New ball under lights: Australia’s looming weapon
Australia now have not just the scoreboard advantage but also the “newish” ball and the prospect of bowling under the Gabba lights on day three. That scenario is tailor-made for their attack and could tilt the contest even further their way if England’s top order falters again.
England already in ‘last-chance saloon’
Despite the grim outlook, there is still a route back into the Test for England if they can strike early, wrap up the tail cheaply and then bat with discipline. But after only four days of actual cricket in this 2025–26 Ashes series, they’ve stumbled into what feels like a last-chance saloon: another bad session, and the urn may be slipping away.
