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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 Zak Crawley, Landed just outside off, Crawley pushes it towards cover.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Full, outside off, 132.8 kph, Zak Crawley pushes it towards mid on.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, On a length again, a bit too straight, 130.5 kph, Root clips this through square leg for a single.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, The keeper is upto the stumps now. On a length, outside off, Joe Root hangs back and pushes it towards point.
- Joe Root 4 (11)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, outside off, Joe swivels and pulls it all along the ground towards deep backward square leg for a single.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Back of a length, around off, Root rises with the bounce and dabs it towards point.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, outside off, Joe Root arches away from the line.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, On a length, around off, pushed towards cover.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Full, outside off, driven towards cover.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, around off, kept out.
- Joe Root 3 (5)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length on the pads, Joe Root milks this through square leg for a single to close a successful over for the Aussies. 3 runs and a wicket for Michael Neser.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Back of a length, wide outside off, Joe Root watches it all along and leaves it.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length, going down the leg, Joe Root flicks this through backward square leg and takes two.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Back of a length on middle and off, nipping back into the batter. Joe Root blocks this off his back foot.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length on off, Joe Root defends this off his front foot.
The centurion of the first innings, Joe Root, walks in next, at number 4, replacing Ollie Pope.
Michael Neser has been given the ball. 3-0-14-0 so far.
Michael Neser to Ollie Pope, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Michael Vaughan predicted this just an over ago. He felt that given the way Pope was batting, he won't be surprised if there is a wicket around the corner. And the wicket does come. Reckless cricket from Pope. Full, outside off, Ollie Pope looks to hammer this straight back down the ground. However, neither can he keep the ball along the ground, nor can he get enough elevation to clear the bowler. It goes straight back to Neser who does not make a mistake this time, having dropped Duckett earlier. The 42-run stand is broken and Pope departs for a frenetic 26, which mostly came through risky shots. England are 90/2 and trail by 87 runs.
Another boundary? Or a good save? Scott Boland has put in a decent effort at the square leg fence but the effort has been referred upstairs. Called a good effort.
- Ollie Pope 26 (31)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, Excellent effort from Scott Boland at deep square leg. Overpitched, around middle and leg, Ollie whips this through square leg. The ball races away and so does Boland. Gets to the ball, puts in a dive and pushes the ball away. But at the same time, he also touches the ropes. Hence, the third umpire is called into question. After a couple of looks, it does appear that Boland first pushed the ball away and then touched the ropes. The effort is recognized and three runs are added to the total. 12 from the over!
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, EDGED, FOUR! Australia getting some taste of their own luck. The ball was evading the fielders when they were batting and now, the same luck is going towards England. Full and wide outside off, Pope throws his bat hard at it and gets a thick outside edge. Flies over a leaping second slip to the deep third fence.
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, A miscalculated leave from Pope but he survives. On a length around leg, Ollie Pope shuffles inside the line of it and offers no stroke as this appeared to be going down leg. The ball tickles the outside of Pope's front pad and goes back to the keeper.
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, FOUR, JUST OVER! And it might be problems for Josh Inglis too. Full and wide outside off, Ollie Pope goes hard on the drive and hits it aerially over cover. Is not in total control and hence, the ball kind of skews away. Inglis leaps full stretch at cover but the ball goes over him. Inglis then lands awkwardly on his right shoulder and gets up very gingerly, holding his right shoulder. He is definitely feeling some pain but is continuing for now.
Brendan Doggett to Zak Crawley, Good length, going down leg. Zak Crawley misses out on the flick and gets it brushed off the pads toward short fine leg for a leg bye.
Brendan Doggett to Zak Crawley, Hard length around off, Zak Crawley rides the bounce and pushes this to mid on for no run.
One more for Starc in this spell? 3-0-11-0 so far. It might sound odd but batting for that long has actually taken some gas off him. He is bowling with pace but the accuracy is missing. Might be better off with some rest and come around after an hour or so, in the dying moments of the day. Smith feels the same way and brings back Brendan Doggett. 2-1-1-0 so far. It will be challenging for him to maintain the rhythm that he had generated at the start of the session.
- Ollie Pope 15 (27)
- Zak Crawley 42 (51)
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Good length on middle and off, Ollie Pope blocks this well.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, On a length around middle and off, Zak Crawley flicks this towards the right of Michael Neser at mid on. Neser puts in a dive, gets a bit of hand to it and takes the sting out of it. Just a single taken.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length, wide of off, Zak Crawley strides out in front and leaves it all alone.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Full and wide outside off, Zak Crawley drives this on the up to cover. There were runs for the taking had Zak beaten the fielder on either side.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length around off, Zak Crawley looks to pounch this off his front foot but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Back of a length around off, Zak Crawley blocks this around silly point.
Good observation by Michael Vaughan on air. He says that the best way to play Starc with the pink ball is to watch the seam position. If he is going for the outswinger, he uses the scrambled seam. Conversely, if he is looking to swing the ball back in, he uses the conventional seam position. These two batters seem to be doing just that. 27 runs have come in the last 5 overs and after a slow start to his innings, Pope is gelling well along too.
- Ollie Pope 15 (26)
- Zak Crawley 41 (46)
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, On a length, wide outside off, Ollie Pope leaves it all alone.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, On a length around middle and off, Ollie Pope pushes this straight to cover.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Full and wide of off, Ollie Pope goes for the big booming drive through cover but gets beaten by pace. He was significantly late on getting the bat down.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Full and wide outside off, Zak Crawley accepts the width on offer and drives this towards Jake Weatherald's left at deep point for one.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Good length on off, Zak Crawley leans low and keeps it out. Zak is looking good.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Full and on off, Zak Crawley blocks this off his front foot.
- Ollie Pope 15 (23)
- Zak Crawley 40 (43)
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Good length around off, Ollie Pope looks rock solid in striding out in front and blocking it.
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, FOUR! AWESOME! Overpitched by Boland and punished. Outside off, Ollie Pope comes forward and drives it right back to where it came from. Down the ground, to the right of mid off.
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, The cracks are opening up a bit more with each passing moment. Good length wide of off, Ollie Pope leaves it but even this keeps rising from a good length.
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Good length around off, Ollie Pope solidly blocks this one.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length around off, Zak Crawley pushes this gently in front of Michael Neser at mid on and sets off for a quick single. Neser charges on the ball and throws it underarm on the dive but misses at the non-striker's end. Zak makes his ground by then.
Got to feel for Brendan Doggett. He set the tone after Dinner and got the ball moving. He was just getting into some rhythm but unfortunately for him, his skipper felt that with the movement that he was getting, Starc could do some damage to the opposition. Might do more damage to Doggett instead.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length on middle and off, Zak Crawley defends this off his front foot.
- Ollie Pope 11 (19)
- Zak Crawley 39 (41)
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Starc is searching for the toes, goes for a yorker and almost outfoxes Pope here. Ollie Pope was equally up for it as he blocks this around mid-wicket. Good cricket all around.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, That must have hit a crack or something. Good length around off, shoots a lot at the batter. Ollie Pope had already decided to leave it and that turns out to be a really good decision with what the ball did after landing.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, On a length around the pads, Zak Crawley flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Good length around middle and off, Zak Crawley pumps this straight back to the bowler.
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
