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- AUS vs ENG Live Score, 2nd Ashes Test Day 4: England 241 all out; Australia need 65 runs to win Brisbane Test
AUS vs ENG Live Score, 2nd Ashes Test Day 4: England 241 all out; Australia need 65 runs to win Brisbane Test
Starc has now been central to the narrative of the series. After being voted Player of the Match in Australia’s eight-wicket victory in the opener at Perth — where he collected a 10-wicket haul — the left-arm quick has placed himself in contention for another award. Across the first two days, he dismantled England with six wickets in their first innings of 334 before producing a brutal 77, the highest score of Australia’s reply of 511.
His influence didn’t stop there. Under the pink ball on Saturday night, with swing on offer and England under pressure, Starc removed No.1-ranked Joe Root for 15 to put the visitors on the back foot. He struck again in his next over, dismissing Jamie Smith to leave England six down and still in serious deficit. His tally now stands at 18 wickets in the series.
Earlier, Australia’s batters had piled on the frustration for England, achieving a rare Test milestone: all eleven players reached double figures. Five of them — Jake Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65), stand-in captain Steve Smith (61), Alex Carey (63) and Starc — went on to score fifties, while the lower order added crucial runs. Starc’s 75-run partnership with No.10 Scott Boland set a new ninth-wicket record at the Gabba.
England’s bowling card reflected a long, punishing day. Brydon Carse finished with 4-152, skipper Ben Stokes collected 3-113, and Gus Atkinson bowled 28 overs for figures of 1-114. Jofra Archer claimed one wicket while Jacks, the only spinner in the match, removed the final Australian batter and finished with 1-34.
England had begun their second innings positively before losing both openers. Scott Boland struck twice, while Michael Neser chipped in with sharp return catches to dismiss Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley.
Australia now need just four wickets on Sunday to claim a 2-0 lead in the five-match series — and unless England produce something remarkable, that outcome appears a formality.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, Fuller and on off, Jacks drives it straight back to the bowler.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, FOUR! All class! Too full from Cameron, on the leg stump line. Will Jacks gets a bit across and flicks it neatly between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 UP FOR ENGLAND! The lead for them reads 23 runs.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, Straight onto the stumps, at 131 kph, on a tad fuller length. Will Jacks presses forward and bunts it down the strip.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, On a shortish length, outside off. Ben Stokes rises on the toes and punches it through extra cover for an easy single.
Cameron Green (3-1-6-0) to bowl from the other end.
- Ben Stokes 37 (115)
- Will Jacks 26 (69)
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Zips through the deck from a good length, onto the pads. Ben Stokes whips it behind square on the leg side for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Short of a good length, keeps rising up with the bounce, outside off. Stokes lifts his bat in the air to leave.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Speared in full and on middle and leg, Stokes drills it straight to mid on.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, On a back of a length, outside off. Will Jacks punches off the back foot to extra cover for a single.
Halt in play as Jacks is not happy with the condition of his bat. May have cracked up a bit. Matthew Potts runs in from the dugout and has a chat with Stokes in the meantime, and rushes back almost instantly. Jacks has his bat exchanged and we are good to continue.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Pitched full and just outside off, Jacks leans across and drives it straight to extra cover.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, From around the stumps, Starc hurls it full and around off. Jacks strides forward to drive to cover, but hits it off the inside half of the bat. The ball rolls to short mid-wicket.
Welcome back for the post-Tea session at the Gabba. The Aussies spread out to the field as the sun starts to dip and the shadows lengthen. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks walk to the crease to resume their partnership, which has been patient and resilient. Mitchell Starc will get us underway in the second session of the fourth day. 15-2-57-2 are his bowling figures so far. Jacks to face. Here we go...
... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ...
Australia bowled with good discipline and kept things tight, but batting became slightly easier as the pink ball softened in the daylight. Scott Boland was the pick of the quicks and the only real scare for England came late in the session when Ben Stokes edged just over Cameron Green at gully. It now sets up a fascinating post-Tea phase, with England aiming to push their lead without taking risks, as this is the last recognised pair, while Australia will push hard to break the stand and keep any chase manageable. Join us back at 6.40 am GMT for the action.
For the first time in this Ashes, England looked more focused on occupying the crease than trying to hit their way out of trouble. The situation demanded patience, with early wickets needing to be avoided, but it still required discipline and resilience, both of which were on display from Ben Stokes and Will Jacks. They made sure there was no further damage, and even though the scoring rate was not high, their 65-run stand wiped out the deficit and even carried England into the lead.
SESSION SUMMARY - 59 runs and 0 wickets in 24 overs! A hard-fought session for England as they finally managed, for the first time in this Ashes, to bat through an entire session without losing a wicket. It keeps them in the game, but one solid effort alone will not be enough, as they now need another big session to turn this slender 16-run lead into something more competitive, especially with fourth-innings batting unlikely to be easy.
- Ben Stokes 36 (112)
- Will Jacks 25 (66)
Marnus Labuschagne to Ben Stokes, Safely negotiated. Full and angling on the pads. Ben Stokes leans forward and flicks it straight to short mid-wicket. And that will be TEA on Day 4!
Marnus Labuschagne to Ben Stokes, Fuller one, on off, Stokes presses ahead and blocks it right under his bat.
Marnus Labuschagne to Ben Stokes, Pushed into the batter on a good length, from around the stumps. Ben Stokes presses forward and blocks it back to the bowler.
Marnus Labuschagne to Will Jacks, Just outside off, slightly short in length. Jacks stands tall and cuts it into the vacant backward point region for a single.
Marnus Labuschagne to Will Jacks, On a length, at the stumps. Blocked off the back foot.
Marnus Labuschagne to Will Jacks, Skids through from a good length, on the leg stump line. Will Jacks gets inside the line and tries to glance off the pads, but gets a thick inside edge. The ball rolls behind towards the deep fine leg region. They cross for two runs.
Marnus Labuschagne to roll his arms now. Australia trying to buy a wicket here. This will also be the last over before Tea.
- Ben Stokes 36 (109)
- Will Jacks 22 (63)
Travis Head to Ben Stokes, Drags the length back, around off. Stokes goes back and across and steers it into the point region. A very quick over from Head.
Travis Head to Ben Stokes, Nice flight on a fuller length, on off. Ben Stokes defends it right under his eyes.
Travis Head to Ben Stokes, Pitched full and on off. Ben Stokes leans on and smothers the spin.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Tossed up full and on off, Will Jacks strides across and drives it to long on for a single.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Flat and in front of the sticks, skidding through. Jacks does well to block that off the back foot.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Starts with a short ball, on off. Will Jacks goes back and punches it to mid on.
Well, we won't see Mitchell Starc, but Steve Smith brings in Travis Head into the attack here.
- Will Jacks 21 (60)
- Ben Stokes 36 (106)
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, Much full, around off and middle, Will Jacks flicks it all along the ground to deep square leg for a single.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, WIDE! Short and over the batter's head. Jacks first lines up to play the pull shot but aborts. Wide called for height.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, On the fuller length, just outside off. Ben Stokes carves it between mid off and cover for a single.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Full and straight, wide outside off. Stokes it happy to let that go.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, In-between length, just outside off. Ben Stokes shoulders arms.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, An attempted yorker, on off, Stokes shovels it out and hits it back to the bowler.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, Short and outside off, Jacks executes the back foot square cut for a single as the ball rolls to deep backward point.
Around 10 minutes to go to Tea. Will we see a short burst from Mitchell Starc before the break? Not yet, Cameron Green to continue.
- Ben Stokes 35 (102)
- Will Jacks 19 (58)
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Back of a length, outside off, Ben Stokes dabs it to the point region.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Lifts up from the pitch, on the pads. Will Jacks glances it to deep backward square leg for a single.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Fuller one, on off, Ben Stokes opens the face of his bat on the front foot and eases it through point for a single.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a hard length, on off, blocked off the back foot.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, EDGED, FOUR! Lucky, very lucky! A ripper of a delivery from Boland as this kicks off the crack on a good length, just around off. Ben Stokes walks into the shot and tries to work it across, but he is totally undone by the extra bounce as he gets squared up. The ball goes off the outside edge but flies over the leaping Cameron Green at gully. Green extends his right hand over his head, but still, the ball remains out of his grasp and races behind to the deep third fence.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Outside off on a length, Stokes leaves it on the front foot.
- Ben Stokes 30 (97)
- Will Jacks 18 (57)
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Short and wide, Stokes easily dabs it through backward point for a single. England lead by 2 runs!
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Slanted into the batter, full in length. Ben Stokes drags his bat in front of the pads to block it off the front foot.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Around off, on a good length. Stokes lets it pass.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, BEATEN! Just outside off, on a fuller length. Ben Stokes chases it on the front foot and looks to drive it through the of side, but the ball nips away and zips past the outside edge.
Cameron Green to Will Jacks, Short of a good length, on middle. Will Jacks waits back and pulls it wide of mid-wicket for a single. This brings up the 50-run partnership between Jacks and Stokes. ENGLAND ARE INTO THE LEAD NOW.
Starc, Player of the Match in the opening Test after a 10-wicket haul, continued his brilliant form. After taking six wickets in England’s first innings, he top-scored with 77 as Australia posted 511 for a commanding 177-run lead. Under lights, he returned to remove Joe Root for 15 and Jamie Smith soon after, lifting his series tally to 18 wickets.
Scott Boland and Michael Neser earlier took two wickets each in the night session, striking after England had reached 45 without loss at the break.
Australia’s first innings featured a rare achievement — all 11 batters reached double figures, with five scoring half-centuries.
England’s bowlers endured a taxing day, with Brydon Carse (4-152) leading the attack.
Australia now needs four more wickets on Sunday to secure a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Match Statistics
Venue
The Gabba, Brisbane
