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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, Speared full and on off, Jacks gets on the front foot and pushes it back to the bowler.
- Ben Stokes 29 (93)
- Will Jacks 17 (55)
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a length, lasering on the pads. Ben Stokes closes the bat's face early as he looks to flick, but gets a leading edge toward extra cover.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Nagging length, on top of off. Ben Stokes is solid in defence.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Uneven bounce as this one kicks off a length, on top of off. Ben Stokes gets on the back foot to defend. But the ball deflects off his willow's handle and rolls to the leg side.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Outside off and short, watchfully left alone by Stokes.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, SCORES LEVEL! On a back of a length, outside off, Jacks dabs it off the back foot towards cover-point for a quick single.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Full and on off. Will Jacks drives it straight down the ground. Boland sticks out his right hand and deflects the ball towards Stokes. It rolls off the non-striker's boot and goes past the stumps.
- Ben Stokes 29 (89)
- Will Jacks 16 (53)
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Stokes arches back to leave this harmlessly short delivery, which is bowled outside off.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Short of a length, on off, Ben Stokes gets a bit squared up and dabs it on the bounce to gully with soft hands.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Around off, short, Stokes taps it off the back foot to cover.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Extra bounce from a hard length, angling into the batter. Ben Stokes defends it off the toe end of the bat and the ball deflects off his right shot to the off side.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, BEATEN! Lands it on a good length, and gets the ball straighten up from around off. Ben Stokes plays a loose shot off the back foot, trying to cut it square on the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Cameron Green to Ben Stokes, Kicks up a bit from a good length, just outside off. Ben Stokes does well to fend it off the back foot to point.
Finally, Cameron Green to bowl for the first time in this innings.
- Will Jacks 16 (53)
- Ben Stokes 29 (83)
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Fractionally full, on off, Jacks leans forward and works it to short extra cover. MAIDEN from Boland.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Around off on a length. Jacks stands tall to block that down the strip.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Straighter, fuller, on off. Will Jacks presses forward and drives it to mid on.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Full, on the fifth stump line, Will Jacks strides across and taps it to cover-point.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Short of a length, on top of off. Will Jacks gets on the toes and blocks it back to the bowler.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, BEATEN! Touch full and around the off pole. It lands and then straightens off the pitch. Jacks is sucked into the defensive push on the front foot, but gets beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.
- Will Jacks 16 (47)
- Ben Stokes 29 (83)
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Another one banged short, on middle. Easy pull for Jacks towards deep backward square leg. A single taken.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Almost halfway into the pitch, outside off. Ben Stokes rides the bounce and cuts it through cover-point for an easy single. England trail by only 2 runs now.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Short and on the leg stump, Stokes ducks underneath it.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Digs in a short ball, on middle and leg. Will Jacks with a measured pull shot towards long on. Gets a single.
Brendan Doggett has an issue with his left boot. He signals to the dugout and asks for a replacement. We are good to go again.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short but miles down leg, Will Jacks misses to pull it away. A good grab from Carey behind the stumps as he dives low to his left to gather it.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Shorter delivery, angling into the batter. Ben Stokes controls the pull shot towards deep backward square leg for a single.
- Will Jacks 14 (44)
- Ben Stokes 27 (80)
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Fractionally fuller and on off, Will Jacks forces it out to short cover.
Scott Boland to Will Jacks, Just outside off at 132.8 kph, on a hard length. Jacks lets this harmless delivery go.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a back of a length, around off, tapped off the back foot to cover-point for a single.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Poor ball and it gets the treatment! Angled onto the pads, on a hard length. Ben Stokes uses his wrists and the pace of the bowler to flick it off the inner half of the bat. The ball races away to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary. England now trail by just 6 runs.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, A skiddy delivery, on a length, on off. Ben Stokes solidly defends it off the back foot to cover.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Nips in a touch from a good length, on middle and leg. Ben Stokes stands tall and bunts it down the pitch.
Still no sign of Cameron Green. Scott Boland (13-3-35-2) comes back into the attack now. Also, Ben Stokes has a change of bats.
- Ben Stokes 22 (76)
- Will Jacks 14 (42)
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Good running! Short and outside off. Ben Stokes shuffles leg side of the ball and flat bats it through the vacant mid off region. With no one stationed there, Brendan Doggett sprints after it and cuts it off before the ropes. The batters cross each other thrice in the meantime. England's deficit now reads 10 runs.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Kicks up from a shorter length, on middle. Ben Stokes rides the bounce and dabs it down the pitch from the splice of the bat.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, BEAUTY! From around the stumps, Brendan bashes the surface hard, and angles the ball into the batter. Ben Stokes withdraws his bat across the line as the ball keeps following him.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Similar length, angling across the batter. Stokes arches back and leaves it alone.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Goes into the pitch, short and on top of middle. Ben Stokes leans back and drops his wrists to make the leave.
The physio comes in for the mandatory concussion check. Looks like Will Jacks needs to replace his helmet here. All set to continue now.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short again, on the bodyline of the batter. Will Jacks shapes up for a pull once again, but the ball keeps climbing on the battter and deflects off the top edge and pins him on the helmet. It then ricochets behind to deep fine leg. They cross. It is a No Ball as well, as Doggett has overstepped.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short and going down leg, Jacks lines up for a pull shot, but misses to connect.
DRINKS BREAK. So far, so good from England. Will Jacks and Ben Stokes have played according to the situation and have displayed immense patience at the crease. The bowling from the Aussies hasn't been that ordinary at all, but these two have negotiated it with good defensive technique. Runs haven't flowed at a quick rate, as England need to save wickets as well as get into the lead. The pitch has shown a bit of wear and tear, with the odd one rearing up and keeping low, but apart from that, it still appears to be a decent batting wicket. Australia have tried the short ball ploy since the last couple of overs by spreading the field, but they still haven't got that breakthrough. With England trailing by only 15 runs, Australia will aim to break this partnership before the Tea break and in fact, even get two more as batting in the fourth innings is not going to be easy on a deteriorated pitch.
- Ben Stokes 19 (71)
- Will Jacks 13 (40)
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Michael Neser is asking a few tough questions here! This is on a hard length and on off, nips back in again. Ben Stokes tries to play it from the crease but gets an inside edge onto his thigh pad. The ball pops up and falls to the off side. A bit more airtime and Alex Carey would have had the chance to gobble it up.
Starc became just the third cricketer to achieve this historic feat. He joined Dilruwan Perera and Jason Holder. Perera was the first player to score 50+ and pick a fifer in a day-night Test. He achieved this feat during the Dubai Test against Pakistan in 2017.
After him, West Indies all-rounder Holder joined the elite list. Holder achieved the feat during the Bridgetown Test against Sri Lanka in 2018.
For the record, Starc has the most runs as a number nine batter in Tests. The Australian ace player has notched up 1,408 runs in 64 Tests and 77 innings at an average of 22.34, with eight fifties and a best score of 99.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Short of a length and on off, Ben Stokes dabs it down towards point.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc-top scored for the Australians with 77, a new record for a number nine batsman at the Gabba.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Hits the length hard and around off, jags it back in firmly but not enough. Ben Stokes makes a well-judged leave.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Pitched up and on off, Ben Stokes drives it away towards mid off.
Akram was reacting to Starc surpassing his tally of 414 wickets during the Brisbane Test against England on Thursday, becoming the leading left-arm pace bowler of all time.
"Congratulations to Starc on passing my tally of wickets," Akram told AFP, saying that the 35-year-old's passion and commitment helped set him apart.
"Starc has shown a great amount of dedication and focus in these times of too much cricket, having T20 leagues with big money coming your way.
"He did play T20 leagues but then decided to play more Tests and left the shorter format because he wanted to be remembered as one of the best in the world in the history of the game.
"Ten years down the line, if anyone decides to have an all-time Test team, then Starc will be named in that team for sure."
Despite trumping Akram, Starc described the Pakistan great as the "pinnacle".
"Wasim's still a far better bowler than I am," Starc said on Thursday.
Akram dismissed the debate over who is the greatest.
"It is difficult to compare both of us because we are from different eras," he said. "People say that I played on placid tracks and he played on bouncy Aussie tracks, so that was different.
"But nowadays batters have a different mindset and they play aggressive shots even on good balls, so that makes wicket-taking a more difficult art."
Akram said he believed Starc's passion could take him further.
"He is 35 and his pace is still there and passion remains at its peak. He has been incredible as a fast bowler and is enjoying fast bowling, so can go on and on."
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
