England battered as Australia take control in Brisbane Ashes
England battered as Australia take control in Brisbane Ashes
England's Ashes hopes falter on day three in Brisbane as Starc leads a dominant Australia while Stokes' captaincy comes under fire.
England's hopes in the second Test and the Ashes took a heavy dent on a dismal third day in Brisbane. Australia finished their innings on 378-6, leading by 44, and England were faced with the task of taking four quick wickets to stem the slide. The evening drifted into a testing phase for England's bowlers as Starc and Boland stitched together a crucial partnership, keeping the hosts in the ascendancy.
Mitchell Starc stole the spotlight with the bat for Australia, delivering what was described as his highest score in a home Test for nine years, and then tormenting England with left-arm swing on a surface that offered little to the bowlers. The Starc-Boland partnership lasted 27.2 overs, the longest of the series, as Australia capitalised on a docile pitch to shore up a substantial lead and set the tone for the day.
For England, captain Ben Stokes endured a challenging spell, bowling seven overs while Jofra Archer delivered five. Brydon Carse, meanwhile, took 4-152, highlighting England's pace resource issues on a track aiding batters. The day had an early twist as Neser edged Stokes and Carey fell to the second new ball, giving Gus Atkinson his first wicket of the series, but England could not translate pressure into breakthroughs.
As twilight settled, Australia pressed home their advantage with a deep batting lineup, and every man made a contribution. Doggett finally edged Jacks to slip to cap a day when England’s bowling failed to make a meaningful dent, leaving Australia with a commanding position heading into the later stages of the Test. The sense of struggle for England grew larger as Vaughan’s warning that England must show more fight rang with the crowd still simmering with expectation.
Reaction from former captain Michael Vaughan underscored the need for a reset and a display of resilience, while Australian fans savoured a day that reinforced their team’s momentum. With the series still open, the Brisbane outlook pointed toward a test of character for England and a challenge for their bowlers to stem the tide in the coming sessions.
