Australia increased their Ashes lead with a strong Day 4 win in the second Test at the Gabba. They now hold a 2-0 series advantage and are closer to winning the series.
England started the day under pressure, down by 43 runs with six wickets lost. A solid partnership between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks provided some hope, but it wasn’t enough to contend with a disciplined Australian attack.
The visitors were all out for 241, only managing a 64-run lead. Michael Neser stood out with the ball, taking his first Test five-wicket haul at a crucial time. Stokes battled hard for a half-century with Jacks assisting, but the momentum stayed with Australia.
Australia easily chased down the target of 65 runs. They lost only two wickets. This puts England in a tough spot with a 2-0 series deficit.
Day 4 Highlights
England started Day 4 at 134/6, facing the tough task of setting Australia a competitive target. The only bright spot was the steady partnership between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks at the end of Day 3, which briefly raised hopes of a comeback. Both batters carried that momentum into the new day, showing patience and determination as they aimed to rescue England from trouble.
Stokes, known for saving England from difficult situations in the past, looked strong throughout his innings. His calm presence and ability to handle pressure kept England afloat, while Jacks provided essential support at the other end. The Australian bowlers had to work hard for a breakthrough, as the partnership made it tough for them during most of the first session.
Stokes reached his 36th Test fifty in the 71st over, continuing to hold England together. However, the resistance came to an end in the 69th over when Will Jacks was dismissed by Michael Neser, with Steve Smith taking a brilliant catch at slip. The loss of Jacks broke the 96-run seventh-wicket partnership and changed the momentum sharply in Australia’s favor.
After that, England’s innings fell apart quickly. Stokes became Neser’s fourth wicket shortly after, ending England’s hopes of a significant recovery. Gus Atkinson fell in the very next over to Brendan Doggett, with Smith taking another sharp catch at mid-wicket. Neser completed his five-wicket haul in the 76th over by getting rid of Brydon Carse, wrapping up England’s innings at 241. They added 107 runs to their overnight score but only managed a 64-run lead.
The dismissal of Jacks proved to be the turning point of the morning, as England’s chances of extending the match into Day 5 faded fast.
Australia faced a target of just 65 runs and achieved it easily. Openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald came out aggressively, scoring freely against the new ball. Head, in particular, took on both bowlers from the start, making sure there were no early nerves in the chase.
Australia reached the target in under 10 overs, with captain Steve Smith finishing the chase with a six, securing a dominant win and extending their lead to 2–0 in the 2025–26 Ashes series.
The third Test of the series will start on 17 December in Adelaide.
Brief Scores – 2nd Ashes Test (04–08 Dec, Gabba)
England 1st Innings: 334
- Root 138*, Crawley 76 | Starc 6/75
Australia 1st Innings: 511
- Starc 77, Weatherald 72 | Carse 4/152
England 2nd Innings: 241
- Stokes 50, Crawley 44 | Neser 5/42
Australia 2nd Innings: 69/2
- Smith 23(9)*, Head 22(22) | Atkinson 2/37
