England's dream of regaining the Ashes in Australia is hanging by a thread after a catastrophic batting collapse on day three of the second Test at Brisbane's Gabba.
Top Order Wilt Under Lights
The tourists, facing a daunting first-innings deficit of 177, began their second dig at 6.10pm as the tricky day/night conditions took hold. What followed was abject viewing for England fans. From a relatively stable position of 90 for one, the innings disintegrated to 134 for six by the close, leaving Australia needing just four wickets to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
The procession of wickets saw Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith all depart in rapid succession. The dismissal of the dangerous Brook, caught behind off Scott Boland, was a pivotal moment, leaving captain Ben Stokes at the crease with a crestfallen expression as England's hopes evaporated.
Australia's Tail Wags Forcefully
England's misery was compounded by a morning session where Australia's lower order ruthlessly exposed their weary attack. The hosts' last three wickets added a demoralising 128 runs, stretching their first innings total to a formidable 511 in a marathon 118-over stint in the field.
Mitchell Starc, a constant thorn in England's side with the ball, delivered a brutal blow with the bat, top-scoring with a blistering 77 from number nine. His innings typified Australia's relentless resistance and left England's bowlers physically and mentally drained before they had even taken guard for their second innings.
An Uphill Battle to Save the Test
With only four wickets remaining and a lead of just 43 runs, England's task on day four is one of mere survival to force the match into a final day. The Gabba, a venue synonymous with English Ashes heartache over the decades, has once again proven to be a fortress for the Australians.
The scale of the challenge facing Stokes and the tail is monumental. Unless they can produce a miraculous rearguard action, Australia will secure victory and move to within one win of retaining the coveted urn, leaving England's tour on the brink of disaster after just two Tests.
