Australia Crush England by 8 Wickets to Go 2–0 Up in the Ashes

Brisbane: Australia closed out the 2nd Ashes Test with ruthless authority, beating England by eight wickets at the Gabba and tightening their grip on the series. They chased the small fourth-innings target of 65 in 10 overs, wrapping up the match well before tea and stretching their day-night dominance to another emphatic chapter. England walked away with more questions, while Australia left the ground with momentum and conviction.

Stokes and Jacks Fight Hard but Australia Break Through

England resumed on 134-6, still 43 runs behind, and carried one clear task into Day 4: stay alive for as long as possible. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks walked out with heavy responsibility and no margin for error. They absorbed pressure, blocked relentlessly, and kept Australia searching for answers. Their 96-run stand gave England their only period of stability in the Test.

Stokes dug in with trademark grit, and Jacks matched him, even when Australia packed the cordon and crowded the bat. Mitchell Starc went full and straight, while Michael Neser worked angles from the other end. 

Stokes and Jacks kept them out and dragged England ahead of Australia for the first time in the match. The partnership stretched the first session and spilled into the second, giving England faint hope of a defendable target. But the contest flipped in minutes.

Neser Strikes, England Collapsed Again

Australia needed one opening, and Neser provided it as he angled one across Jacks on 41, who pushed hard and dragged a sharp return catch into Steve Smith’s hands. The Gabba erupted because that one wicket cracked England’s solidity and opened their tail.

Once Jacks walked off, England’s innings fell apart. Stokes tried to fight on but ran out of partners. Neser hunted him, kept the ball on a nagging line, and forced a nick that Alex Carey snapped up. Stokes left for a hard-fought 50 that deserved more support than it received. 

England’s lower order folded quickly, surrendering their last four wickets for 17 runs. Neser completed a superb 5-42, a performance that silenced debates around his selection and gave Australia the perfect runway to finish the Test.

England were bowled out for 241, setting Australia a modest target of 65.

Head and Weatherald Seal the Win with Purpose

Australia approached the chase with zero interest in dragging the contest out. Travis Head cut, drove, and punched gaps with familiar aggression. Jake Weatherald supported him with calm footwork and early positivity. England’s bowlers searched for movement under the pink ball but found no pressure, no discipline, and no scoreboard cushion.

Head fell for a brisk 22, but the target sat too small to matter. Steve Smith joined Jake, who kept ticking the score along through singles and neat placements. Australia reached the finish line in 10 overs, completing a commanding win that underscored the gulf in execution between the teams.

Starc Claims Player of the Match with Bat and Ball

Mitchell Starc walked out of Brisbane with the Player of the Match medal after a performance that covered every phase of the Test. He grabbed eight wickets overall and hammered a vital 77 in the first innings that pushed Australia beyond 500. His control under lights created a constant threat, and his presence shaped England’s problems throughout the match.

Starc summed up Australia’s mood after the win and said that they stuck to their plans and kept the pressure on. Everyone contributed, and that made the difference.

England Pays Heavily for Day 2 Fielding Disaster

England’s defeat grew from key moments rather than one bad spell. They dropped chances on Day 2, five in total, that let Australia build a monster first-innings total. The eventual 511 on the board came from the combination of discipline from Australia and indiscipline from England.

Joe Root admitted the frustration after the match, saying, “We created enough chances but failed to take them. At this level, you pay for that.”

England’s inconsistency with the ball, frequent lapses in judgement with the bat, and their habit of losing clusters of wickets placed them in a position they could never escape.

Australia Take a 2–0 Lead and Tighten Their Hold on the Ashes

Australia now sit 2-0 up in the 5-Test series, carrying full control into the Adelaide Test. Their pink-ball record remains unmatched, while England enter the 3rd Ashes Test with a fragile top-order, a bowling attack searching for swing, and a strategy under heavy scrutiny.

Ben Stokes remained defiant but realistic: “We need more discipline and more intent. The opportunities are there. We must take them.”

Australia walked forward with confidence, while England walked away with problems that grow louder after every dismissal, every dropped chance, and every collapse.