The Ashes Tour of Australia 2025/26

England have made one chance for the Gabba with Will Jacks replacing Mark Wood who has a knee injury. Jacks is set to bat at No.8 & can provide a few overs of handy off-spin, he is similar in height to England's No.1 spinner Bashir. The fact that Wood only bowled 8 wicketless overs suggests that 4 pace bowlers should be enough providing the injury prone Stokes stays fit.

Australia will be forced to make at least one chance with Khawaja declare unfit having not recovered from a back spasm that prevented him from opening in either innings at the WACA. His Test match form has been in decline & with his 39th birthday approaching he may have played his last Test Match.

^^ Edit : Mark Wood bowled 11 overs in the match (8 in the 1st innings)
Wood is now wearing a knee brace & it will be pushing things for him to comeback for the Adelaide Test.

I missed the first test and have just started to watch the second test. But I'm noticing that Australia have the famous cheat Steve Smith as captain. Do they not remember the ball tampering of 2018, when Smith was crying his eyes out when he got caught.

England clearly not learning. I couldn't be more obvious that Starc is THE threat, Duckett 7 Pope both out for ducks, before Crawley & Root recovered, with the dismissal of Crawley Brook was in his usual carefree mood together with Root he had manoeuvred England into a decent position only to play a brainless shot off the bowling of Starc who had been held back to bowl in the difficult twilight period. Brook has masses of talent but it is not matched by his game awareness, totally brainless & this is from a man who has been elevated to vice captain on this Tour.

Us getting 300 isn't even likely in this one, and even if Root got a century, I don't think it would make things any easier for us, if the team can't back his contribution up, which they are clearly not doing at present, I can imagine that Australia will be batting us out of the game pretty easily and leaving us not only with a huge mountain to climb to even get back into this game and even back in this series.

I would think if we are 2 - 0 down after this - the inquest into this tour shambles had better start now.

Fucking stupid shot by Harry Brook to get dismissed by.

Speaking of stupidity, Ben Stokes run out and Will Jacks' dismissal just now. Jacks away with a bad shot only to repeat it next ball and lose his wicket.

Joe Root scored his first Test century in Australia! 40th century overall. Get in!

Rather Pathetic batting effort Root and Crawley aside
Another Toss Won and wasted really.
50 Run Partnership For 10th Wicket Certainly helps alot Archer has done well too.

Not a fan of this pink ball, day/night cricket. It's just too much of a lottery.

I can't understand why any country would agree to play in them.

With a limited amount to play tonight Smith's over using delaying tactics and the batsmen are told to go for quick runs before a declaration.