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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.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Good length and on middle and off, Ben Stokes gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.
Archer was pictured arriving at the Gabba in Brisbane with the pillow for day three on Saturday when Australia resumed at 378-6 in reply to England's first innings 334.
He presumably thought Australia's last four wickets would fall quickly and he could have a nap.
Instead, the hosts piled on another 133 runs before being dismissed for 511, with Archer consigned to hours in the field rather than any shut-eye.
"Sorry, but that's a shocking look," Australia great Matthew Hayden said on commentary for Australia's Channel Seven.
"If I was a batsman, I tell you what I would be doing, I would be digging in ... Forever.
"You would be looking over that and saying, 'you will never sleep on that, not any part of this day are you going to see that, not even in the night'."
Ricky Ponting spotted Archer and his pillow as he was arriving and asked England opener Ben Duckett what was going on.
"I couldn't believe it, I was walking straight towards him," Ponting told the same network.
"He gives me a bit of a glance and Ben Duckett was 10 metres behind him.
"I said, 'What is going on here?' He said, 'Don't even ask me, I don't want to talk about it'.".
The Guardian newspaper called the image "an awkward symbol of England's Ashes nightmare".
"Bowler's creature comforts emblematic of a touring side seen as paying the price for taking a laid-back approach," it added.
England were crushed in the first Test at Perth by eight wickets inside two days and were staring at another defeat Sunday in Brisbane.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Fuller and on middle, Ben Stokes steps forward and taps it to short cover.
- Will Jacks 13 (40)
- Ben Stokes 19 (65)
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short and down the leg side again. However, Will Jacks, this time, leaves it alone.
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.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, A slight shout for caught behind, but turned down! Brendan Doggett bowls a good bouncer around leg. Will Jacks looks to pull it away but misses as the ball just goes over his bat to the keeper.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Goes fuller and on middle, angling it in, Ben Stokes looks to drive but gets an inside edge through square leg for a run.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and on the sixth stump line, Ben Stokes leaves it alone.
The field comes up for Stokes. One slip and a gully in place.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short of a length and on middle, Will Jacks rolls his wrists and pulls it along the ground towards deep square leg for a single. England trail by 16 runs now.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Loose shot! Brendan Doggett bangs this into the pitch but way down the leg side. Will Jacks has a go at it and looks to hook it away but misses.
- Ben Stokes 18 (63)
- Will Jacks 12 (36)
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Pitched up and on middle and leg, Ben Stokes drills it towards mid on.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Goes full and on off, angling in, Ben Stokes blocks it out.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Nearly! Hard length and on middle, angling in sharply. Will Jacks looks to clip it away, but gets cramped up a bit. It goes off the inside edge and flies past short leg towards fine leg. A single taken.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Hits the length hard on off, jags back in with extra bounce. Will Jacks manages to ride it well and keeps it out to the off side despite losing his bottom hand.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Short of a length and just around off, takes off a bit, Will Jacks leaves it alone.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Good length and on off, nips back in a bit. Will Jacks stays back to play at it but gets an inside edge on the bounce to Travis Head at short leg.
Cameron Green was seen loosening up. May get a spell pretty soon. He has been underutilised in this series so far. But for now, Neser will continue. 9-0-31-2 so far are his bowling figures.
- Ben Stokes 18 (61)
- Will Jacks 11 (32)
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Pitched up and on off, angling away, Ben Stokes gets forward but only to let it go to the keeper.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Bangs in a good bouncer at around 137 clicks, on middle, Ben Stokes sways away from it.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Full again and on off, Ben Stokes drives it firmly but once again straight to mid off.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Goes fuller and around off, Ben Stokes drills it away but fails to beat mid off.
Brendan Doggett to Will Jacks, Short of a length and angling into the leg side, takes off sharply. Will Jacks gets a bit surprised by it. He loses his bottom hand but nudges it towards fine leg for a run.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and on leg, Ben Stokes flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
- Will Jacks 10 (31)
- Ben Stokes 17 (56)
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, BEATEN! Lands this on a good length and around off, shapes away a bit. Will Jacks has a poke at it but gets beaten by the extra bounce.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Short of a length and around off, Ben Stokes steers it through backward point for a run.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Ouch! Good length and on off, once again hits the crack and jags back in sharply. Ben Stokes stays back to play at it but gets an inside edge around his box. Looks in a bit of pain.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and just around off, Ben Stokes leaves it alone.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Full again and on middle, angling in, Will Jacks glances it off the inner half of the bat towards fine leg for a single.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Fuller and on off, Will Jacks strides out and knocks it towards mid off.
- Ben Stokes 16 (53)
- Will Jacks 9 (28)
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Another full delivery, outside off, angling further away, Ben Stokes offers no shot at it.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Full again and on off, Ben Stokes keeps it out to the off side.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Fine shot! Overpitched delivery and around off, Ben Stokes leans onto his drive nicely and creams it through extra cover for a boundary. England trail by 22 runs now.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Close! Pitched up and on the fourth stump line, Ben Stokes lets it go and gets lucky that the ball does not move inwards and goes past the stumps.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and on middle, Ben Stokes stays back and pats it down to the leg side.
Brendan Doggett to Ben Stokes, Fuller in length and on off, angling away, Ben Stokes gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.
Double change from Australia. Brendan Doggett (6-2-19-0) replaces Mitchell Starc.
- Ben Stokes 12 (47)
- Will Jacks 9 (28)
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Short and just outside off, Ben Stokes cuts it away to deep point for a run. England trail by 26 runs now.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and on off, Ben Stokes dabs it down towards point.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Much fuller and on off, Ben Stokes drives it away to mid off.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Oh..superb bowling! This is on a hard length and on off, hits one of the cracks and nips away a bit. Ben Stokes prods forward to block but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Michael Neser to Ben Stokes, Play and a miss! Short of a length and outside off, gets some extra bounce. Ben Stokes sees this as a scoring opportunity and goes for the cut but fails to connect. Alex Carey does well to collect it standing up to the stumps.
Michael Neser to Will Jacks, Good length and on off, Will Jacks stays back and steers it to the right of gully for a single. 150 up for England!
Decent first thirty minutes for England. Will Jacks and Stokes have batted nicely against the opening bursts of Starc and Boland and have added 15 runs to their overnight score, shrinking the deficit below 30 runs. Here's the first bowling change of the day for Australia. Michael Neser (7-0-27-2) replaces Scott Boland.
- Will Jacks 8 (27)
- Ben Stokes 11 (42)
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Overpitched and around leg, Will Jacks flicks it through mid-wicket for another run. Jacks wants the second, but Stokes turns it down.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Full again but angling into the pads, Ben Stokes clips it through mid-wicket for a run.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Excellent bowling! Fuller this time, on off, shaping in sharply, Ben Stokes stays back in his crease and just about manages to keep it out.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Absolute beauty! Mitchell Starc lands this on a good length and in that channel outside off, threatens to angle in but hits the deck and shapes away. Ben Stokes gets squared up trying to defend as the ball zips past the outside edge.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Pitched up and around off, Will Jacks this time goes after it and drives it through cover-point for a single. England trail by 30 runs now.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Fuller in length but way outside off, angling further away, Will Jacks leaves it alone.
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
