Australia v England Ashes report, reaction and clips as tourists hammered at the Gabba, Ben Stokes says his team can't handle 'pressure'

A recap of our live coverage and reaction as England go 2-0 down in the 2025/26 Ashes, after an eight-wicket loss in Brisbane. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks rallied in the opening session of Day 4 before a lower-order collapse left Australia needing 65 to win. Steve Smith spearheaded a routine chase, including a fiery exchange with Jofra Archer. Watch the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

England v Australia Ashes highlights: Stokes' troops fall 2-0 behind in series

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England hammered in Brisbane to go 2-0 down as Stokes questions team's mentality

Ashes 2025

Exclusive: Cummins wary England have 'nothing to lose', expects 'tense' third Test

A rally with the bat from Ben Stokes and Will Jacks was in vain as Australia breezed to an eight-wicket victory in Brisbane to go 2-0 up in the Ashes.

England started Day 4 with a huge mountain to climb but Stokes and Jacks were dogged in their seventh-wicket partnership as they dragged the tourists to parity and beyond in a wicketless first session.

It took a moment of magic to break the 96-run partnership as Jacks edged to Steve Smith at slip, who dived to his left to take the one-handed catch.

From there, England crumbled. Stokes nicked off to Alex Carey, who took a sharp catch up to the stumps, before Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse quickly followed suit.

Local lad Michael Neser was the architect of England’s distraction, taking a five-wicket haul, and was backed up by the reliable hands of Smith, who took three grabs to move joint-second on the all-time catches list, three behind Joe Root.

It left Australia just 65 runs to win the second Test, and Travis Head and Jake Weatherald wasted no time, racing to 33-0 at dinner.

Atkinson and Jofra Archer were fiery with the ball, as the former dismissed Head and Marnus Labuschagne to give England some consolation.

Archer, meanwhile, consistently clocked speeds of over 90mph, which agitated Smith, who exchanged heated words before smashing 15 runs off an over to take Australia to the brink of victory.

Smith sealed the deal in the next over, hooking Atkinson for six to finish the chase with ease.

England will now have to come back from 2-0 down to regain the Ashes for the first time in 11 years - a tall order considering they have not won a single Test Down Under in 14 years.

Highlights: Stokes' troops fall 2-0 behind in series

England v Australia Ashes highlights: Stokes' troops fall 2-0 behind in series

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McCullum: 'If anything, we trained too much'

Now let's bring you Brendon McCullum's thoughts immediately after the defeat:

"We had five to 10 training sessions leading into this game," McCullum told BBC Test Match Special.

"Sometimes there is a tendency to overdo things to make up for it.

"If anything, we trained too much."

Watch: Prior blasts lack of England leaders

'You need four, five or six - not one' - Prior blasts lack of England leaders

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'I don't think the Ashes needs it' - Finn and Prior on day-night Tests

Steven Finn on whether the Ashes needs a day-night Test: "I'm not a fan of the format.

"I don't think the Ashes needs it, first and foremost, and I think the disparity between the first two sessions and the final one is a too pot luck.

"You have to manufacture the game and what Australia did because of their experience of playing pink ball games is they manufactured the situations to make sure the conditions were more in their favour, and they made the most of it.

Matt Prior: "I agree. I don't think the series needs it, we have 90,000 peoople flying over from England anyway to watch.

"You don't want to have Test cricket where there's the opportunity for a bit of luck, where the lights come on and the whole situation changes.

"You want the best team to win over five days. I'm not saying that's why England lost, that's not an excuse at all but I think the Ashes is traditional. It should be day cricket, red ball, the best team wins over five days."

Watch: England 'not able to stand up to pressure' of Ashes Test

Here is Stokes's reaction in full. Fair to say he is fuming.

England were 'not able to stand up to pressure' of Ashes Test - Stokes

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Stokes wants teammates to 'ooze off' Joe Root's 'incredible mindset'

More from Stokes on Root's attitude. We will be bringing you plenty of player and pundit reaction:

"Rooty getting 100 is a good start! He's a great example for the group. You look at the scrutiny he was under - it's impossible to miss stuff like that.

"After that game in Perth, he came and sat next to me as I got back from my press conference. He apologised to me - I said you don't ever need to do that - and he said 'I'm gonna get the big one next game for you'.

"That to me is the incredible mindset and mentality that I think everyone in that dressing room can ooze off.

"The belief he has in himself to go and do that when he's under the most scrutiny he ever will be in his career, to go and do what he did this week... a lot of guys, myself included, can take a lot from that."

Watch: Smith and Archer in fiery exchange

Definitely worth keeping an eye on this battle in Adelaide. England may be 2-0 down but the gloves are off.

'Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion' - Smith and Archer in fiery exchange

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Stokes: "When the game is on the line, we are not able to stand up to that pressure"

Ben Stokes speaking to TNT Sports: "When the game is on the line, teams are able to handle that pressure better than us.

"We are a great team when we are ahead and when we are behind and we need to play this huge amount of catch-up, but when the game is on the line, we are not able to stand up to that pressure.

"That is something for me as a captain that is becoming quite obvious."

Watch: Smith smashes six to seal second Ashes Test victory

The moment that put Australia 2-0 up in the series. Is there any way back for England?

Smith smashes six to seal second Ashes Test victory

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Stokes: "Very disappointing, in particular because of the ability of the players we have"

England captain Ben Stokes speaking on TNT Sports: "A lot of it to me comes down to not being able to stand up to the pressure of this game, this format.

"When the game is on the line, in small passages, we've been able to bring the game under a bit of control and then we've let it slip away.

"We've done it again this week, and it is very, very disappointing, in particular because of the ability of the players we have in that dressing room.

"We need to think a bit harder and a little bit deeper about those moments and what we're taking mentally into those and overall show a bit more fight when it's needed."

Smith: 'Good competitor' Archer motivated him to score quickly

Australia captain Steve Smith speaking to TNT Sports: "That stays on the field. Good banter. He's a good competitor, comes hard at you. Good fun."

As a reminder, Smith and Archer exchanged heated words after a 90mph plus barrage from the England quick.

We will be bringing you that clip shortly.

Australia beat England by eight wickets

Australia have completed a routine chase to beat England by eight wickets and go 2-0 up in the Ashes in Brisbane.

Ben Stokes and Will Jacks rallied at the start of the day to avoid an innings defeat, but the wickets tumbled, setting Australia a target of 65.

Australia went hard at the chase, as Steve Smith sent a message to Jofra Archer, with bat and words, to complete a routine win.

All over! Australia beat England by eight wickets

Well that's added some spice to this session. Definitely a big talking point heading into Adelaide.

Weatherald then drives for four and Australia are one shot away. He has three balls to finish it off in this Atkinson over.

Smith to finish it. And he hooks for six! Once again, England are annihilated at the Gabbatoir.

Australia 57-2 (Smith 16, Weatherald 12) Overs: 9

Australia require 8 runs to win

Smith is happy to take on Archer's pace as he bludgeons him for four through midwicket.

Archer has never dismissed Smith in Test cricket. The two exchange words, and it gets pretty heated after Smith nicks for four.

Smith then hooks over fine leg for six! Archer is not happy.

"Bowl fast when there's nothing on the line" is what Smith allegedly said that lit the fire.

Watch: Rare bright moment for England as Atkinson sees off Head

Rare bright moment for England as Atkinson sees off Head

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Australia 42-2 (Smith 1, Weatherald 12) Overs: 8

Australia require 23 runs to win

Smith gets off the mark straight away with a back-foot punch for one. Halfhearted appeal for caught behind as Atkinson beats Weatherald's outside edge.

This is outstanding from Atkinson but too little too late.

Wicket! Labuschagne c Smith b Atkinson (3) Australia 41-2

Atkinson gets one to spit up from the cracks in the surface and is clips Labuschagne's glove on its way to Jamie Smith!

In comes Steve Smith, black strips under his eyes. Maybe, just maybe...

Australia 41-1 (Labuschagne 3, Weatherald 12) Overs: 7

Australia require 24 runs to win

Archer is up to 150kph now. He's certainly had Weatherald's number this series, but the opener is weathering the storm.

He darts one into Weatherald's foot, but it's not given. Stokes sends it upstairs, but it is comfortably drifting down leg.

Matt Prior was not happy that it has taken Archer this long in the Test to reach these speeds.

'That winds me up' - Prior blasts England as Archer bowls 93mph with Test all-but over

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Australia 38-1 (Labuschagne 1, Weatherald 11) Overs: 6

Australia require 27 runs to win

Marnus Labuschagne is now in the middle. A bit at stake for him personally as he looks to consolidate his number three spot.

He gets a single to end the over, but needs a bit of treatment after getting caught on the glove.

Wicket! Head b Atkinson (22) Australia 37-1

Australia require 28 runs to win

Head picks up where he left off, flicking for a couple as Atkinson immediately drifts onto his pads.

But soon he chops on! Atkinson gets a consolation and England have a breakthrough

Australia 33-0 (Head 19, Weatherald 10) Overs: 5

Well then, what can England do to salvage some pride in what should be a short and sweet final session?

Here come the players for the final session at the Gabba. Atkinson will continue. Australia 32 runs away from going 2-0 up.

Australia on cusp of victory at dinner

Australia are closing in on victory in the second Test and a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, requiring just 32 more runs to win at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Superb one-handed Smith catch ends dogged Jacks innings

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England were in need of something special on day four, and they did the first part of their job well, making it through the first session without losing a wicket, as Ben Stokes and Will Jacks played a dogged and defiant hand, going against the usual Bazball approach.

Stokes and Jacks put on 96 runs to get England into the lead and prompt dreams of a remarkable comeback as the second session unfolded.

Watch: England SURGE into lead as Stokes and Jacks reach 50 partnership

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But an outrageous catch from Steve Smith accounted for Jacks, before Alex Carey took a great grab standing up to the stumps to remove Stokes for 50. And England final two wickets fell in quick succession, leaving Australia needing just 65 runs to win.

Stokes gone for 50 as Neser and Carey take the big one

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Jofra Archer has bowled serious heat under the lights going into the dinner break, but with Australia facing such a modest target it was never likely that they were going to struggle, and they require just 32 more to win in the final session to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Dinner: Australia 33-0 (Head 19, Weatherald 10) Overs: 5

Australia require 32 runs

Archer steams in for his third over. He’s bowling with the pace and quality that shows why England should really be kicking themselves that they didn’t give their bowlers a chance in this final innings. They have the tools to actually hurt Australia, but the series is all-but lost before it’s even really begun.

That will be the end of the session, with Australia closing in on victory.

Attention will begin to turn towards the third Test, and if England are to make changes to their side, then they will be interested by the display from Jacob Bethell for the Lions today, who hit a decent 71 against Australia A in what looks to be a losing cause. Asa Tribe also excelled in the second innings for the Lions, scoring a terrific hundred.

Australia 29-0 (Head 17, Weatherald 8) Overs: 4

Australia require 36 runs

Head is lining up Atkinson here and whips him majestically over backward square for a superb six. Alastair Cook on commentary is gushing with his praise of that shot.

Head follows it up with a glorious back-foot shot through the covers. The runs are being whittled down at a rapid rate, with Australia racing towards the winning post.

Australia 19-0 (Head 7, Weatherald 8) Overs: 3

Australia require 46 runs

Archer wangs down an absolute rocket, 150kph in Australian speeds, that’s up in the mid-90s, and it catches the inside edge, whizzing away past the stumps and away for four byes.

He beats Weatherald all ends up with an absolute ripper next up that Smith does well to take above his head. Brutal bowling in what is likely a lost cause.

Archer turns the opener inside out with another express delivery, catching the shoulder of the bat, with the ball dropping short of gully.

You know what I said about England needing everything to go their way? Yeah, things like that need to drop right.

There aren’t many positives to take right now for England, but that is a brilliant over from Archer. It’s a shame it’s in such a hopeless situation.

Australia 15-0 (Head 7, Weatherald 4) Overs: 2

Australia require 50 runs

Atkinson get his line and length a bit wrong in the first over as he strives for the magic ball and Travis Head needs no invitation to have an attack in this situation. He carves him away beautifully for four, and you get the sense that this game is going to come to its conclusion in quick time.

A swing and a miss ends the over. England need everything to go their way, every waft to catch the edge.

Australia 6-0 (Head 1, Weatherald 1) Overs: 1

Australia require 59 runs

It’s Jofra Archer who takes the new ball, with England needing a miracle. He hits decent pace right from the off, hitting 90mph with his first delivery, but will be searching for wickets and misses his line, sending the ball fizzing away for four byes.

Archer’s pace is lightning, but England need wickets quickly, and Australia’s openers make it through, knocking six off the diminutive target.

Australia require 65 to win in Brisbane

Australia have a very modest target and it’s Neser who got the key wickets on this fourth day. He’s been speaking during the changeover:

"It feels good, I’m sure I’ll cherish this one. I love the Gabba, the fans here, this is my home, but the Ashes is such an event for Australia and to get a five-fer is special. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, having my family here.

"(The key was) consistency. I know this pitch can go flat for a while, so all I was thinking was hitting the top of off, keep it real simple and every now and then the ball would do something. I was fortunate enough I found the edges a couple of times there."

WICKET and ALL OUT! England 241-10 Overs: 75.2

Brydon Carse, c Smith b Neser, 7 (10)

England lead by 64 runs

Michael Neser picks up a five-wicket haul as Carse fends the ball to Smith at first slip. It’s just reward for excellent bowling from him in this match.

That is the end of England’s innings, which offered hope for a brief while, but has left Australia needing just 65 runs to win this second Test.

England 241-9 (Carse 7, Archer 5) Overs: 75

England lead by 64 runs

Carse has a swing and the ball catches him on the helmet. It’ll mean a slight pause as he is checked for concussion.

It gives us a chance to think about the terrific pieces of fielding that gave Australia the scalps of Jacks and Stokes that they were searching for. The doom and gloom over tactics, Bazball and preparation will continue no doubt, but it is fielding that has really separated these two teams in this match. England dropped too many chances, Australia have taken theirs – be it Carey standing up to the stumps, Smith clinging on to a blinder at slip or Inglis superbly running out Stokes in that first innings.

Archer swipes the ball away to the rope with a fizzing pull shot.

England 234-9 (Carse 6, Archer 0) Overs: 74

England lead by 57 runs

Three runs come from Neser’s over courtesy of a big heave from Carse into the leg side. England do not have enough runs to give themselves a chance with the ball, and given this is the final pair it’s probably worth having a go.

WICKET! England 231-9 (Carse 3, Archer 0) Overs: 73

Gus Atkinson, c Smith b Doggett, 3 (13)

England are really staring down the barrel now, after what had been a decent day up to a few minutes ago.

Atkinson takes on the pull against Doggett, can’t control it, and Smith takes the catch.

WICKET! England 227-8 (Atkinson 2, Carse 2) Overs: 72

Ben Stokes, c †Carey b Neser, 50 (152)

Stokes gone for 50 as Neser and Carey take the big one

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Stokes flips his bat up in frustration as he walks from the field, his defiant innings coming to an end.

It’s the impressive Neser who gets him finding the edge, with Carey taking the catch stood up to the wicket. It’s brilliant from both of them, and are those England’s hopes in this match going down the drain?

The lead is fifty, but England’s captain is gone.

FIFTY! England 226-7 (Stokes 50, Atkinson 1) Overs: 71

England lead by 49 runs

Ben Stokes knocks the first ball of Doggett’s over away for a single and that brings up his fifty. It’s the second slowest half-century of his career. The slowest was the start of his most iconic Test innings…

Atkinson gets off the mark. It’s been mentioned once or twice on this tour that he has a Test century to his name, and England need contributions from their lower order here.

WICKET! England 224-7 (Stokes 49, Atkinson 0) Overs: 70

Will Jacks c Smith b Neser 41 (92)

Superb one-handed Smith catch ends dogged Jacks innings

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Steve Smith has just taken a blinder at first slip to remove Will Jacks. It was Neser who drew the edge, but there was a lot of work for Smith to do, as he dived to his left and clung on to the ball low down. The umpires check it’s a fair catch, and it certainly is. What a stunning grab!

Gus Atkinson is the new batter and Australia go up as he’s struck on the pad. It’s a huge appeal and Smith reviews, but there was an inside edge on that and Australia lose their final review.

It’s a wicket maiden for Neser, who has played a big role in this match.

England 224-6 (Jacks 41, Stokes 49) Overs: 69

England lead by 47 runs

Doggett continues to plug away, bowling low eighties and no longer sticking with the short-ball tactic. Three runs come from the over as England’s seventh-wicket pair keep on ticking things over.

England 221-6 (Jacks 40, Stokes 47) Overs: 68

England lead by 44 runs

Ouch, ouch. The crowd are loving this as a ball from Neser hits Stokes amidships and he collapses to the ground. The stump mic picked up some choice words from the England captain as he folded in on himself there… and the replay shows it was a direct hit, prompting continued merriment in the Gabba stands. The host broadcaster runs through all angles of the replay, bringing in the slow-mo and even a zoomed-in version. It’s a tad voyeuristic.

Stokes takes his time to recover his composure before the Neser over continues.

England 220-6 (Jacks 39, Stokes 47) Overs: 67

England lead by 43 runs

Doggett continues to bump it in and Stokes shows how well he’s seeing it, standing tall and cutting it away for a couple. He ducks away from another bouncer to end the over.

England 214-6 (Jacks 36, Stokes 44) Overs: 66

England lead by 37 runs

Starc’s mini-spell is over, with Australia saving him for when the light fades. It’s a good way of using their main strike bowler (and something that England, unfortunately, didn’t do very well on day two). Neser comes into the attack and three singles come from the over.

England 211-6 (Jacks 35, Stokes 42) Overs: 65

England lead by 34 runs

Doggett comes back into the attack, and Australia immediately set the field up for a short-ball barrage. This is how Smith used Doggett before the break, and he immediately goes back to the bumper approach against Jacks. The England man lets the first one go, but has a swipe at the second, looking to play it down but finding only fresh air.

Ooh, hang on, is that a drop? I think it is, technically, with a clip going straight at Travis Head at short leg. It’s an astonishingly difficult chance and has cracked him on the wrist too, hurting the Aussie.

England 209-6 (Jacks 34, Stokes 42) Overs: 64

England lead by 32 runs

Jacks opens his arms and lashes one into the covers, with the ball dropping short of the fielder. That wasn’t really a chance, but was slightly more attacking intent than we saw in the first session.

Starc rushes Stokes and the ball loops up, looking for a second like it’s going to be a caught-and-bowled chance. It lands a long way short of the bowler on his follow-through.

The story of the day so far

Bazball has taken a back seat in Brisbane, with England playing sedate and steady cricket, trying to eke out the sort of lead that could give them a sniff with the ball in the fourth innings.

The tourists resumed on day four with the score at 134/6, still 43 runs behind, but played sensible and steady cricket in a first session that resembled traditional Test cricket.

Ben Stokes and Will Jacks bedded in on the Brisbane surface and successfully achieved the first task of the day, steadily working off the first-innings deficit, building a useful partnership and inching England into a lead.

Watch: England SURGE into lead as Stokes and Jacks reach 50 partnership

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Just 59 runs were scored through the first session in a batting effort that was exactly what the situation called for from England’s seventh-wicket pair, prompting praise from Steven Finn at the tea interval:

"At the beginning of the day we were speculating about what had to happen for England to feel as if they could have a good day, and we’ve just watched it transpire."

Australia’s pace attack have bowled tight, not offering England many free runs, but will be keen to break this stand before England build themselves into a position where they could have a chance with the ball.

England 206-6 (Jacks 32, Stokes 41) Overs: 63

England lead by 29 runs

Green loops an unthreatening bouncer over Stokes and it’s called wide, giving one extra delivery in the over. England’s steady, solid approach continues.

England 203-6 (Jacks 32, Stokes 39) Overs: 62

England lead by 26 runs

Starc gets one to lift on Jacks, who defends it down onto his boot and the ball squirts away to the side. That wasn’t in control and it peps up the Aussie fielders.

England 201-6 (Jacks 31, Stokes 38) Overs: 61

England lead by 24 runs

Green gets his length wrong and Jacks dispatches him to the rope through midwicket. That’s a lovely shot and it brings up the 200 for England. There’s still a lot of work to do, but Jacks has played nicely, showing why he got his place in the XI for this Test.

England 195-6 (Jacks 26, Stokes 37) Overs: 60

England lead by 18 runs

Starc takes the ball at the start of this second session with Australia still well in control of this match but keen to end this partnership before anything truly dangerous can build for England.

Jacks feels something go in his bat and needs a replacement so we have a pause just two deliveries after the interval.

Prior and Finn react to the first session

That was decent from England in the first session, and there’s a hint of confidence as Matt Prior credits the performances of Stokes and Jacks so far today:

"Incredible start. Again, Ben Stokes, the leader, over my dead body, he set his stall out from the off.

"I’m so impressed with Will Jacks as well. Hasn’t played Test cricket in years, to walk out in that situation, ably supporting Ben Stokes, that’s exactly what England needed."

And here’s how Steven Finn saw the session:

"It was stoic wasn’t it. At the beginning of the day we were speculating about what had to happen for England to feel as if they could have a good day, and we’ve just watched it transpire.

"They were dogged in their defence, they were determined, they had a clear gameplan. They weren’t just sitting ducks though – I thought when the Australian bowlers missed, they did capitalise and were able to keep the scoreboard moving. But they respected what was being sent down to them, which was some quality bowling.

"It's what Test cricket is, adjusting and adapting to the conditions and situations that are in front of you. And I think, right from the beginning of today, that’s what we saw, clearly in much better batting conditions than it was last night, I think it’s important to recognise that."

England lead by 16 after solid first session

There are a lot of ‘has-beens’ who will have enjoyed that session of traditional Test cricket, with England bedding in and steadily working their way through two hours of sensible batting. It’s precisely what the situation called for too, with England’s hopes in this series hanging by a thread, as they stare down the barrel of defeat in this second Test.

Stokes and Jacks will resume after the tea break (‘lunch’ if we’re thinking in typical Test terms), with England leading by 16 runs with four wickets in hand.

There’s a lot of work left to do, with England a long way behind in this game and still needing something special to leave Australia with a challenging fourth innings target. But this pair have done the first part of their job well.

Watch: England SURGE into lead as Stokes and Jacks reach 50 partnership

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England 193-6 (Jacks 25, Stokes 36) Overs: 59

England lead by 16 runs

Smith rolls the dice again, with Marnus Labuschagne given a go with the ball to try and burgle a wicket before the interval.

A leg-side delivery is flicked away for two runs and Stokes sees out the end of the over. The England fans stand to applaud a first session that has gone as well as could be hoped.

England 190-6 (Jacks 22, Stokes 36) Overs: 58

England lead by 13 runs

Australia try something before the break, giving Travis Head a go with his tweakers. The cameras pick out Nathan Lyon in the stands – he’ll be taking this well, I’m sure.

Head races through his over, one single comes from it. There’s a shot of Jacks chatting to Stokes while the England captain kneels in a stretch, and the cropping makes it look a lot like Crawley and Duckett, the little and large show.

England 189-6 (Jacks 21, Stokes 36) Overs: 57

England lead by 12 runs

Green has bowled pretty nicely in this mini spell, but England remain steady. Four runs come from the over, including a wide that balloons over the head of Jacks and is well-taken by Carey.

England 185-6 (Jacks 19, Stokes 35) Overs: 56

England lead by 8 runs

Oof, that’s the first big scare of the day for England. Boland, who has been excellent throughout the session, turns Stokes inside out and the ball flies off the top edge and just out of the reach of Green at gully. The ball runs away for four runs, but that is a moral victory for the bowler for sure, and a reminder that there are a few little bits to work with in this Gabba surface (as Ben Duckett found out to his misfortune yesterday).

England 179-6 (Jacks 18, Stokes 30) Overs: 55

England lead by 2 runs

The Barmy Army stand to applaud as a single from Jacks brings up two milestones – the 50-run partnership for this pair and a lead for England.

Cameron Green beats Stokes again with a delivery in the channel.

England 177-6 (Jacks 17, Stokes 29) Overs: 54

Jacks rocks back and tucks away a single to bring the scores level. That’s the first job of the day done for this England pair, now on to the next step, building a lead that gives the bowlers at least a glimmer of a chance.

Boland gets one to zip back in to Stokes and it cracks off the handle of the bat and down into the leg side. He follows it up with another probing delivery. This is really nice bowling and Stokes nods in appreciation as he gets squared up off the last ball of the over.

England 176-6 (Jacks 16, Stokes 29) Overs: 53

Time for a bit of Cameron Green, who is given a bowl for the first time today. Stokes has a prod at one that darts parts the outside edge.

It’s another maiden, with England content to sit in during this first session and give themselves a chance. There’s so much time left in this Test, there is no rush at this stage, even if they do want to bowl under lights.

England 176-6 (Jacks 16, Stokes 29) Overs: 52

It’s a maiden for Boland as Australia’s all-pace attack plug away in the Brisbane heat.

England 176-6 (Jacks 16, Stokes 29) Overs: 51

Doggett continues to dig it in, and Jacks continues to play at it, but he’s looking to ride the bounce and keep his shots down. Four singles come from the over, with England looking relatively comfortable so far in decent batting conditions against a softening, old ball.

England 172-6 (Jacks 14, Stokes 27) Overs: 50

Boland comes back into the attack for his second spell of the day. He drifts one onto the pads and Stokes flicks it away for four.

England are inching towards that first target of the day, overhauling the first-innings deficit. They trail by five runs at the end of the over.

England 167-6 (Jacks 14, Stokes 22) Overs: 49

Doggett resumes with his short-pitched ploy to Jacks after drinks and the England all-rounder has a swing at a couple. The second of those cracks straight off the badge on the helmet and Jacks will need a replacement and a concussion check, which is protocol in this situation. Doggett overstepped there, so will have an extra delivery to bowl in the over – and he keeps on plugging away with the short-ball tactic.

Stokes finishes the over with an odd swipe at a bouncer, almost a tennis serve of a shot. He signals to the balcony mid-run that he’ll need a replacement bat.

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Prior: England must ditch 'carefree, laissez-faire' attitude to batting

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England 162-6 (Jacks 13, Stokes 19) Overs: 48

Neser continues and it’s another good over, a maiden in fact. This has been old-fashioned Test cricket this morning, and the players head for a drink with England trailing by 15 runs.

England 162-6 (Jacks 13, Stokes 19) Overs: 47

On the whole it’s been a rather safe and solid start to the day from this England pair, with very little happening with the pink ball, so Steve Smith decides to try something different to Will Jacks, dropping the field back and tempting him with some short-pitched stuff. He has a swing at one, and his captain immediately comes down for a chat. Jacks leaves the next bumper alone.

England 160-6 (Jacks 12, Stokes 18) Overs: 46

Neser is looking good here and has Jacks worried as an inside edge squirts away behind square. Carey is still coming up to the stumps pretty frequently when Jacks is on strike, looking to keep him back in his crease and allowing Neser to keep things tight.

England 159-6 (Jacks 11, Stokes 18) Overs: 45

A light spattering of boos ring out from the crowd as Stokes steps away with Doggett well into his run-up. The seats at the Gabba always make it look like a pretty packed house, and while it’s certainly not full, there’s a reasonable number in today.

England 157-6 (Jacks 10, Stokes 17) Overs: 44

Neser suddenly has England hopping about. An in-ducker squirts off a thick edge of Jacks’ bat and runs away for a single, before Ben Stokes edges into his own midriff… that’s a sore one.

England’s seventh-wicket pair survive, though, and two more singles are added as the solid start to the day continues.

England 155-6 (Jacks 9, Stokes 16) Overs: 43

Doggett gets his first over of the day, and Stokes leaves one that comes back in and fizzes a little too close to the top of off stump for comfort.

But the England captain’s eyes light up later in the over as Doggett drops one in the slot and Stokes creams it through the covers for four.

England still trail by 22, but this is now the longest partnership of this England innings (which says a lot, but at least it’s slightly encouraging).

England 151-6 (Jacks 9, Stokes 12) Overs: 42

Neser was excellent yesterday and he comes into the attack for the first time today, with Carey coming up behind the stumps again. Stokes plays and misses at one early in the over, and another nipper flashes past the outside edge. It’s a decent over, two singles come from it.

England 149-6 (Jacks 8, Stokes 11) Overs: 41

Starc hangs one out there and Will Jacks plays one of the first attacking shots of the day. It yields just one run, but is a sign that England aren’t just going to sit in today, they’ll take shots on when the ball’s there to be hit.

There’s a slightly nervy moment at the end of the over as Jacks thinks about coming back for a second run, which would have been extremely tight, and the crowd gives an excitable jeer as he nips back into his ground.

England 146-6 (Jacks 6, Stokes 10) Overs: 40

Australia look to angle it across Ben Stokes, and they keep the England captain on his toes as Carey comes up to the stumps for the last ball of the over. Boland slides it down leg and it runs away to the boundary – it’s given as byes as Stokes misses with his attempted flick. That’s not a great delivery in any circumstances, but particularly poor with the keeper stood up.

England 142-6 (Jacks 6, Stokes 10) Overs: 39

The field is spread, there is a low hum from the stands and England knock two singles off Starc’s over. What is this?! It seems an awful lot like Test cricket.

The physio comes out at the end of the over and tapes Jacks’ hands.

England 140-6 (Jacks 5, Stokes 9) Overs: 38

Alex Carey, who has been outstanding in this Test, stands up to the stumps again off Boland to start the over, giving Jacks something to think about. One single comes from the over and England have made a steady start to the day.

England 139-6 (Jacks 4, Stokes 9) Overs: 37

Unsurprisingly, it is Mitchell Starc who takes the ball from the other end to start the day. His foot slips in his delivery stride and he gives the pitch a bit of a stare – this is his 33rd over of the Test, and not his best either. One slides on to the pads and Stokes flicks it away to the boundary.

England 135-6 (Jacks 4, Stokes 5) Overs: 36

Here we go. As the Barmy Army run through their rendition of Jerusalem under Brisbane’s afternoon sun, Scott Boland runs in with the first over of the day.

A Ben Stokes single is the only run to come from it as England look to bed in.

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What would a miracle look like?

You don't need me to tell you the likeliest outcome today, but England's route to a miraculous comeback was mapped out pretty succinctly by Marcus Trescothick yesterday, when he spoke to TNT Sports after the day's play:

"Yes, we're behind but we've got to come out and try to find a position where we can get a partnership going with the last few wickets and get a total on the board that we can maybe have a little dart at. The guys are disappointed but we're trying to remain focused on how we can win."

Welcome back

It's not over until the fat lady sings, but she's completed her warm-ups and is out on the stage in Brisbane.

England are staring down the barrel of a pretty disastrous defeat in this second Test after a third day where everything seemed to go wrong for England.

They resume today on 134/6, still 43 runs behind. It’s Ben Stokes and Will Jacks who will stride out to the middle, and while the England captain isn't a stranger to pulling off cricketing miracles, this scenario feels like it needs another Stokes special to even give England a sniff of a chance.

If you've set your alarm for a 4am start, then let's dream together of a comeback.

Highlights: England collapse as dominant Australia close in on victory in second Test

Video credit: TNT Sports

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Thoughts?