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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.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Good length on middle and off, going across the batter. Will Jacks defends it off his front foot.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Full and wide of off, Will Jacks pushes this to point for no run.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, Good length wide of off, Will Jacks leaves it all alone.
Final over of the day coming up then.
- Ben Stokes 4 (24)
- Will Jacks 4 (3)
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Full and just outside off, the skipper defends it towards cover.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a length, outside off, Ben shoulders arms and that is a decent take by Alex Carey standing upto the stumps.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Full, around off, Stokes pushes this through the covers. There is no one in that position and the bowler himself goes after the ball, before Travis Head comes up from somewhere. Two runs taken.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Hard length on middle and off, Ben Stokes dead bats it towards cover.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Good length on middle and off, Ben Stokes once again blocks.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Back of a length on middle and off, Ben defends this off the back foot.
Is that another? Alex Carey has taken a blinder but Jacks has not been given out. Did that hit the pad? Australia take the review. The first replay seems to indicate the thigh. Yes. UltraEdge confirms.
- Will Jacks 4 (3)
- Ben Stokes 2 (18)
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, AUSTRALIA LOSE ANOTHER REVIEW. One suspects that the situation of the game is probably getting the better of their emotions. Excellent decision from Adrian Holdstock nevertheless. This was on a shortish length, around leg stump and Jacks looked to tuck it fine. The ball hit something, lobbed in the air and the keeper, Alex Carey, dived brilliantly to his left to pouch that. He immediately went up but the umpire was as calm as a cucumber. Smith went in for the review and the first replay seemed to indicate that the bat came down after the ball passed it. UltraEdge shows the spike when the ball is near the hip and the onfield decision stays as it is. 5 runs and a wicket from the over, Mitchell Starc's bowling figures read 11-1-48-2, but his current spell records 5-1-12-2.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, FOUR! BEAUTY! That is some way to get rid of the pressure. Overpitched, outside off, Jacks leans and drives this gloriously through the covers to get off the mark in style.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, On a length, around off, angling away, Will Jacks stays in his crease and plays it with an open bat face towards cover.
Will we see a nightwatchman? Just 13 minutes left on the clock for the day. Nope. Will Jacks strides out to the middle at number 8, replacing Jamie Smith.
Mitchell Starc to Jamie Smith, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Starc-attack once again and it is Jamie Smith who falls prey to the legend. Starc steams in from over the wicket and bowls it full and wide of off, shaping it away from the right-hander. Jamie Smith threw his bat at it and was looking to go for the expansive drive through cover. Gets late to drive it and ends up with an outside edge that's taken cleanly by Alex Carey behind the stumps. Jamie Smith, to everyone's surprise, sends this upstairs. UltraEdge confirms the on-field decision with a spike as the ball is next to the bat of Smith. Jamie Smith departs on 4(11). England still trail by 49.
Mitchell Starc to Jamie Smith, Full and wide outside off, Jamie Smith leaves it all alone.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Back of a length around middle and off, Ben Stokes flicks this through mid-wicket for one.
- Jamie Smith 4 (9)
- Ben Stokes 1 (17)
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, Full and outside off, jammed towards cover.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, On a length, outside off, pushed towards point.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, Around off, patted into the off side.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, PEACH! Scott Boland is bowling like a bowling machine right now. Hitting the nagging length on most occasions and getting the ball to nip back in on the batter. Jamie Smith prods in front and looks to block but the ball beats him on the inside and whiskers over middle and leg.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, FOUR! A sensational stroke against the run of play from Jamie Smith. Pitched up, around middle and off, Jamie Smith gets right on top of the bounce on this occassion and drives this past the bowler. Boland tries to stop it with his left boot but the ball zooms past him to the long off fence.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, Good length wide of off, Jamie Smith jams this around silly point.
We are into extended time already, but have just 21 minutes for 13 overs. Plenty of overs left pending tonight as well.
- Ben Stokes 1 (17)
- Jamie Smith 0 (3)
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Full, outside off, the skipper comes forward and gently opens the face of the bat at the last moment. The ball rolls past gully but Cameron Green puts in a full-length dive to his left to stop the ball. Back-to-back maidens from Australia.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Full and just outside off, Stokes offers a stoic defense.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Full and outside off, the tempter, Ben Stokes shoulders arms.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Even quicker this time, at 144.7 kph. Starc bowls it short and wide of off, Ben Stokes leaves it all alone.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Starc steams in and bowls at 143,5 kph, on a length wide of off, Ben Stokes doesn't offer any stroke on this.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, On a length, wide of off, Ben Stokes leaves it.
- Jamie Smith 0 (3)
- Ben Stokes 1 (11)
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, Around off, pushed towards cover. Phew. How long an over was that? Scott Boland's bowling figures read 8-2-27-2, with his current spell showing 3-2-6-1.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, On a length, outside off, nipping back in, Smith shoulders arms and the ball goes over the stumps.
Scott Boland to Jamie Smith, Massive pressure on the umpire again! Huge appeal for LBW, lots of extended shouts but umpire Sharfuddoula remains calm. Shakes his head. This was on a length, which nipped back in and Smith decided to counter the movement by walking down the track. He missed and was hit on the pads. Smith had a chat with a few people regarding the review but then, the bowler himself said that it was too high. Ball Tracking shows it to be missing leg stump. Excellent decision from the umpire amidst all the drama and a good call from Australia not to review.
Jamie Smith walks in next, at number 7, replacing Harry Brook.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Another noise and this time there is bat on ball! Full and just outside off, almost a carbon copy of the previous ball. Once again, Brook forces himself to play at that one and misses, generating another noise. This time, the umpire does not raise his finger and Steve Smith immediately signals for the review. Sure enough, this time the bat is away from the pad while the ball which is close to the outside edge and it is picked by UltraEdge with a spike! The umpire's decision is reversed for the second time in a row and Boland has his second. Brook departs for 15 and from 90/1, England are 123/5! The deficit reads 54 runs.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, HARRY BROOK REVERSES CAUGHT BEHIND DECISION! Superb nut from Boland though. On a length, outside off, Brook came half forward to defend and there was a noise as the ball went past the bat. There was half an appeal from the Aussies and the umpire raised his finger. But Brook reviewed straightaway and the first replay showed that the bat was miles from the ball, with the noise coming because of the willow hitting the pad. The decision gets reversed and Brook survives.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Good length on off, Harry Brook rolls this back to the bowler.
- Ben Stokes 1 (11)
- Harry Brook 15 (18)
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, Back of a length around off, Ben Stokes punts this back to the bowler. Ben looks determined to go long.
Mitchell Starc to Ben Stokes, On a length around off, Ben Stokes blocks this well off his front foot.
Mitchell Starc to Harry Brook, Full and on off, Harry Brook drives this to extra cover for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Harry Brook, Good length around off, Harry Brook gives it a good look and leaves it.
Mitchell Starc to Harry Brook, Now that makes a lot of sense. Good length, going across the batter, Harry Brook leaves it all alone.
Mitchell Starc to Harry Brook, Full and wide outside off, Harry Brook chases this wide outside off and swings at it. Gets beaten on the outside. This was too wide outside off and Brook would've been better off leaving this.
- Ben Stokes 1 (9)
- Harry Brook 14 (14)
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, A maiden from Scott Boland as he bowls a length ball on off and Ben Stokes dead bats it.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Back of a length around off, Ben prods in front to block but bails out as the ball shoots on him. Dabs this gently towards point.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a length around middle and off, Ben Stokes stays deep inside the crease and keeps it out.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Good length wide of off, Ben Stokes initially looks to leave it but ends up blocking this around cover.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, Hard length on off, Ben Stokes dead bats it.
Scott Boland to Ben Stokes, On a length around off, Ben gets right behind the line of it and blocks it under his eyeline.
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
