Australia v England Ashes report, clips and reaction - Ben Stokes' tourists on brink of bruising defeat after Day 3 in second Test at the Gabba
ByTNT UK
Updated 06/12/2025 at 12:15 GMT
England's hopes of turning the second Ashes Test around are in disarray after Australia's seamers dismantled their top order, having piled on the runs with the bat in the daytime. The tourists close on 134-6, still 43 runs behind, and will need a miracle to avoid a bruising defeat tomorrow. Watch the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Australia innings finally ends on 511 with Doggett edge
Video credit: TNT Sports
England's Ashes hopes in disarray
England’s hopes of fighting back in the second Ashes Test are in tatters after Australia’s quicks reduced the tourists to 134-6, still 43 runs behind at the Gabba.
Australia began the day with a slim lead and four wickets in hand, and Ben Stokes would have hoped to mop up the tail and bat in the Brisbane sun.
But, despite eventually removing overnight batters Michael Neser and Alex Carey for 16 and 63 respectively, Mitchell Starc showed his prowess with the bat to guide Australia to tea.
He top-scored with 77 including a 75-run partnership with fellow pacer Scott Boland, who also rallied with tailender Brendan Doggett to give Australia a 177-run lead at the innings break.
England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett not only survived the six-over blitz under the lights, but went on the attack, reaching 45-0 at dinner.
But things went downhill rapidly after that. Boland bowled Duckett with one that kept low before Ollie Pope and Crawley both got caught-and-bowled by Neser having made good starts.
After a brief rally from Joe Root and Harry Brook, both were caught behind as Starc and Boland returned to the attack to strike the killer blow.
Jamie Smith followed in the same manner soon after, but Stokes was resolute in the middle as he and Will Jacks stopped the rot and made sure it was only six wickets lost at stumps.
England will be hoping Stokes can channel the heroics he has shown in his career to dig themselves out of this very deep hole on Day 4, which you can watch live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 03:30 GMT.
Trescothick: "We've got to stick to our principles"
Marcus Trescothick speaking to TNT Sports: "Obviously it's not quite operating as we need to at the moment. They've been better than us today and dominated and put us under a lot of pressure.
"Yes, we're behind but we've got to come out tomorrow 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.
"As coaches we discuss with them about what we're trying to do and the principle of our style of play. You get it right sometimes and we really dominate, and at times we don't get it right and play bad shots. We'll look back on it every innings and discuss with batters what we're trying to do, and work out how to make it better for next time. We've got to stick to our principles."
Starc and Boland dazzle under the lights as England crumble
Despite a strong platform going into the dinner break, England struggled to cope with the pink ball as Australia's seamers exploited the cracks in the pitch.
Duckett was the first to fall, and probably the unluckiest, as Boland managed to get one to keep low which the left-hander edged onto the stumps.
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Watch: Duckett castled as Boland breaks through
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pope and Crawley were more impatient and pushed aggressively at good balls meaning they could not capitalise on their starts.
Pope had survived a couple scares before chipping the ball back to Neser, before Crawley did the exact same not long after.
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Watch: Crawley gifts wicket away as England stutter
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Just when Root and Brook, England's top two batters, looked to consolidate, Australia bit back with their top two bowlers. First, Root was guilty of flashing a drive, which was given on review.
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Watch: Key wicket of Root taken by sensational Starc
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Brook survived one DRS review, before falling to another the next ball, as Boland found his spot to torment England's middle order.
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England on the rocks as Brook caught on next ball after surviving DRS
Video credit: TNT Sports
And to add insult to injury, Smith joined the party of wafting outside off, nicking behind to hand Starc his second wicket of the innings.
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Disaster for England as Smith is third in a row caught behind
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England will hope they find some better batting conditions in the daytime tomorrow and Stokes looked more disciplined than anyone else but the big picture remains that they are six wickets down and still trail Australia.
Unless he and Jacks can produce some heroics, which isn't beyond the England skipper, the tourists are staring down the barrel of going 2-0 down.
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Stumps: England 134-6 (Jacks 4, Stokes 4) Overs: 35
England trail by 43 runs
This should be the last over of the day. Fittingly, it is Starc to bowl.
Six balls for Jacks to survive. And he does so. Australia's day through-and-through.
England will return tomorrow but have their work cut out to even avoid an innings defeat.
England 134-6 (Jacks 4, Stokes 4) Overs: 34
Stokes is rallying. He is determined to see out the day and fends off another Boland over.
This is how you bat under the lights at the Gabba.
England 132-6 (Jacks 4, Stokes 2) Overs: 33
Surely we will get a fourth day though? You would have to be a dedicated fan to wake up early and watch it.
Jacks gets four to reduce the deficit to 45.
But he gloves the next ball down leg to Carey! The umpire is unmoved and Australia review.
Thigh pad, not bat in the end and it is a good decision in the end.
Wicket! Smith c Carey b Starc (4) England 128-6
Smith flashes a drive and it's given! Smith chats with Stokes before reviewing. Never a good sign...
And there is a clear spike. Smith is a goner.
England 127-5 (Smith 4, Stokes 1) Overs: 32
Boland finally errs on his length and Smith drives back down the ground to get off the pair. The next ball cuts him inside out and just sails over the stumps.
Boland is all over Smith here.
England 123-5 (Smith 0, Stokes 1) Overs: 31
Starc's tail is up. Can he bag the knockout wicket of Stokes?
The England skipper is playing like a classical Test batter here and blocks out the first five balls.
He then tries to guide the ball past Green at gully, but the tall all-rounder sticks out a hand to keep the pressure up.
England 123-5 (Smith 0, Stokes 1) Overs: 30
For all the criticism of England's poor shot selection, Brook could do little about that one. Fantastic from Boland.
Jamie Smith is the third batter in who is looking to avoid a pair and nearly gets trapped lbw first ball, but height is an issue.
Now the question is whether England can avoid an innings defeat.
Wicket! Brook c Carey b Boland (15). England 123-5
But Boland goes up again on the very next ball and this time it isn't given! Australia will review this time.
And there is a clear spike when the bat passes the ball! Brook survives one appeal, but the second one is terminal.
Brook survives caught behind scare
Boland tempts Brook to a push outside off and the finger goes up for and edge.
Brook immediately reviews. England cannot lose this wicket.
Turns out, there is a chasm between bat and ball. Not the best call.
Watch: Key wicket of Root taken by sensational Starc
Watch: Key wicket of Root taken by sensational Starc
Video credit: TNT Sports
England 123-4 (Brook 15, Stokes 1) Overs: 29
Brook follows Root's example of flashing a drive outside off and just about misses.
Starc looks rejuvenated and is now clocking over 90mph but Stokes is resolute.
England 122-4 (Brook 14, Stokes 1) Overs: 28
Nathan Lyon, relegated to water carrier, has a chat with Starc by the boundary as he sips some pickle juice. England's hopes of a famous win at the Gabba are in disarray.
Boland fires in another maiden.
England 122-4 (Brook 14, Stokes 1) Overs: 27
That shut me up about Starc looking jaded. It's another case of an England player dismissed fishing outside off.
Stokes survives the rest of the over and keeps strike with a single off the final ball.
Wicket! Root c Carey b Starc (15). England 121-4
HUGE appeal from Australia for caught behind as Root flashes at a drive. It's given not-out but Australia immediately send it upstairs.
And there is a spike on Snicko! Root has to go and, with him, potentially England's hopes of regaining the Ashes.
England 121-3 (Brook 14, Root 15) Overs: 26
Change at both ends as Boland returns. Brook frees his arms with a late cut for four.
Boland wants an lbw off the last ball, but the umpire is unmoved. This time Smith sends it upstairs.
Height could be an issue, as can the impact. Ball tracking shows it hit outside the line so Australia lose the review.
England 115-3 (Brook 8, Root 15) Overs: 25
The Lions are playing an unofficial Test simultaneously, but Jacob Bethell has hardly impressed, scoring just 19, so maybe Pope can breathe a bit easier.
Starc is back. For the first time in the series, he comes around the wicket.
Want some good news, England fans? Starc looks absolutely knackered out there.
England 110-3 (Brook 7, Root 11) Overs: 24
Neser is testing Brook here, exploiting the cracks in the pitch to get one to jump up into his body.
Here is that Crawley dismissal, which will add a bit more pressure to his spot in the side. He has been England's second-best batter this test though.
Watch: Crawley gifts wicket away as England stutter
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England 107-3 (Brook 4, Root 11) Overs: 23
Root punches Doggett through midwicket for a much-needed boundary, before driving off the back foot for a couple more.
People made a big deal about Root never getting a hundred in Australia, but Pope has never got a fifty against the Aussies - home or away.
Watch: Pope caught and bowled by Neser
To be honest, you can watch the same clip to see how Crawley just got dismissed. Two very similar shots.
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Watch: Pope goes as Neser snaffles smart caught and bowled
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England 101-3 (Brook 4, Root 5) Overs: 22
Well then, what will Brook do to respond? He nearly gets trapped in front first ball, but it is just too high.
He tickles the next ball down for four to get off the mark and bring the hundred up for England.
Wicket! Crawley c and b Neser (42). England 95-3
Rinse and repeat!
One over before drinks, and Crawley miscues his drive back to Neser, who does well to hold on, reaching low.
And that will bring an early drinks break.
England 95-2 (Crawley 42, Root 5) Overs: 21
Steve Smith has donned the black strips under his eyes once more to reduce the glare from the pink ball. Can't wait to see who does that in club cricket next summer.
Doggett is happy to keep bowling in the channel outside off, and Root is happy to leave the ball alone. Maiden over.
England 95-2 (Crawley 42, Root 5) Overs: 20
Carey's position is keeping Root pegged back in the crease. His glove work this Test has been outstanding.
Neser continues to amp up the pressure as England's run-rate slows.
England 94-2 (Crawley 42, Root 4) Overs: 19
If England keep trying to drive good balls to the rope, Lyon's omission will be irrelevant.
Root has been much more watchful at the crease, as per usual, and is happy to pull for a single to keep the strike.
Watch: Australia will rue not picking Lyon, say Prior and Haddin
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Australia to 'start panicking', will '100%' rue not picking Lyon, say Prior and Haddin
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England 93-2 (Crawley 42, Root 3) Overs: 18
Root joins Crawley in the middle and England need him to replicate his first-innings antics at the very least.
Carey has come up to the stumps for Neser. Another wicket before stumps would put the Aussies in complete control, if they are not already.
Wicket! Pope c and b Neser (26). England 90-2
Neser also returns after his fruitless first spell. And this Pope drive goes straight back to Neser who takes a straightforward caught-and-bowled!
England 90-1 (Crawley 42, Pope 26) Overs: 17
Doggett comes back on, so England have survived that particular Starc cameo. Pope drrives on the up for four, and Josh Inglis has tweaked his shoulder diving for the catch that was well out of reach.
He seems fine for now though. Pope flashes another drive and it flies over Smith at slip. England are taking risks here but luck is with them so far.
England 78-1 (Crawley 42, Pope 15) Overs: 16
Neser dives to his right to get a hand on Crawley's push into the on side.
Another run ticked off for England.
Watch: Boland makes breakthrough as Duckett gone for 15
Watch: Duckett castled as Boland breaks through
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England 77-1 (Crawley 41, Pope 15) Overs: 15
Starc continues. He finally tempts Pope into a wild drive outside off but fortunately for the Surrey batter, he only connects with thin air.
Just one off the over as the deficit comes down to exactly 100.
England 76-1 (Crawley 40, Pope 15) Overs: 14
Crawley scampers through for a quick single and Neser misses the stumps, but Crawley was safe anyway.
Pope leans into another lovely drive and this time finds the rope.
England 71-1 (Crawley 39, Pope 11) Overs: 13
England are ticking along nicely now. Pope drives Starc towards the boundary, but Head chases it down to save a run.
Next ball, Crawley flashes a drive which just flies over Cameron Green at gully for four. That was fortunate.
England 63-1 (Crawley 34, Pope 8) Overs: 12
Pope frees up his arms to drive through cover for a couple. England need to do something to knock Boland off his metronomic length.
Perhaps that drive did so, as Boland drags one down leg and Pope gratefully flicks for his first boundary.
Now Crawley cashes in, with a glorious on-drive for four more.
England 52-1 (Crawley 30, Pope 1) Overs: 11
Starc's back. Crawley looks relatively comfortable against the left-armer but gets a bit of luck as he inside-edges down to fine leg for a couple.
Other than that, England avoid any drama.
England 50-1 (Crawley 28, Pope 1) Overs: 10
Big appeal for caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved. Thigh pad, not bat, saves Crawley, but Boland is in the mood tonight.
Now they go up for lbw on Pope! This is a much bigger appeal, but Smith opts against sending it upstairs. Replays show it hit outside the line.
Fiery over from Boland.
England 49-1 (Crawley 27, Pope 1) Overs: 9
After looking so good before dinner, that is a nightmare start for the tourists, but there's not much Duckett can do about that, truth be told.
Doggett backs up Boland well, getting a hand to Pope's drive off the final ball to preserve the maiden.
England 49-1 (Crawley 27, Pope 1) Overs: 8
Ollie Pope is next in, also looking to avoid a pair.
And he takes a single and does so.
Wicket! Duckett bowled Boland (15). England 48-1
Scott Boland is on at the other end. After England grab a couple of singles, Boland gets one to keep low and it skips through Duckett's defence and onto the stumps!
England 46-0 (Crawley 26, Duckett 14) Overs: 7
England have a mountain to climb in this second Test, but have negotiated the first few hundred metres with relative ease. However, they will need to show patience to set a competitive target, something that has been lacking all tour thus far.
Brendan Doggett opens the evening session and extracts a bit of bounce with his second ball as Duckett leaves at the last minute.
It's a good start from Doggett, who has a half-hearted appeal for lbw with his final ball, but looked to be drifting down leg.
Haddin: "They are going to regret not picking Lyon"
"100% they are going to regret not picking Lyon. We’re seeing how this wicket is behaving at the minute.
"Normally Nathan Lyon would come in and tie up one end and you can attack from the other."
The toughest battle is to come...
But England could not have dreamed of a better start to their second innings, which began with a 177-run deficit.
Whisper it, but Mitch Starc looks weary and went for 25 runs off his three overs before the dinner break as England reached 45-0.
If the pair can start again after the break, it looks a fantastic pitch to bat on and England can look to pass Australia's total without too much damage.
Zak Crawley (26 not out) in particular is hitting the ball beautifully with four boundaries from 23 balls and is mostly playing shots without too much risk.
The one chance given was Ben Duckett (13 not out) smashing a ball straight back at Michael Neser who could not be blamed for not grasping the catch despite getting both hands on the ball.
England 45-0 (Crawley 26, Duckett 13) Overs: 6
Crawley clips Neser for three off the first ball and then an uppish drive from Duckett is little lucky not reach Head at mid off and it ends up adding another three for England. Crawley then sees out the rest of the over - and that is the dinner break!
A very good start to the England innings.
England 39-0 (Crawley 23, Duckett 10) Overs: 5
A wonderful straight drive from Crawley straight down the ground for four to start Starc's third over. The opener takes advantage on an over-pitched ball to crash another through the covers. The next ball sees Crawley waft on a shorter wide ball which could easily have nicked behind. The good and the bad of the Kent batsman.
England 24-0 (Crawley 12, Duckett 10) Overs: 4
That was lunacy! Duckett hammers a ball straight back at Neser and the South African-born bowler gets two hands to it but it was going at such a speed it is hard to expect him to take it on his follow-through. The next ball was well wide of leg stump and Carey had no chance to get across to it. It really should have been wides rather than byes. Duckett clips the last ball of the over through mid-wicket for four.
England 18-0 (Crawley 12, Duckett 6) Overs: 3
Starc beats Duckett's outside edge but then veers to leg stump and sees the opener clip him through mid-wicket for another three. Starc loses his line off the last ball of the over to Crawley and concedes a four through the long leg region.
England 9-0 (Crawley 6, Duckett 3) Overs: 2
Crawley patient with balls outside his off stump and then punishes Neser with a clip through the leg side for a boundary.
England 5-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 3) Over: 1
England survive the first over of Starc. That's got to be a fillip! Duckett clips a nice shot through mid-wicket for three.
Who would want to be an England opener?
With dusk setting in, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will have to face at least four overs of Mitch Starc with the new ball before the dinner break.
End of innings
Resuming on 378-6, Australia could not have hoped to add another 133 runs for the last four wickets, as they reached 511 all out deep into the second session of Day 3.
Mitch Starc has led with the ball but on this occasion he did so with the bat, adding 77, including a 75-run ninth wicket partnership with Scott Boland (21 not out).
Even the last pair put on 20 runs taking Australia past the 500-mark, before Ben Doggett edged Will Jacks to Harry Brook at slip.
Earlier, Ben Stokes took the wicket of Michael Neser (16) and Gus Atkinson got his first wicket of the series, drawing Alex Carey (58) into a nick behind.
With the ball new, England would have had hopes of keeping the first-innings lead below 100, but Starc had other ideas.
Australia 511 all out
Wicket! Doggett c Brook b Jacks 13
Jacks takes his first wicket of the series. He has bowled well which is maybe the lone positive for England. They will now have to face 27 minutes of bowling before the dinner break.
Australia 511-9 (Boland 21, Doggett 13) Overs: 117
Lead: 177
It is the 16th time in Test history all 11 batsmen have hit double figures - and of these innings, no one has ever hit a higher lowest score than Doggett's 13. Stat heaven...
Australia 508-9 (Boland 20, Doggett 12) Overs: 116
Lead: 174
Doggett edges the last ball of the over but it just bounces in front of Brook. All 11 Australian batsmen have hit double figures.
Australia 504-9 (Boland 19, Doggett 9) Overs: 115
Lead: 170
This is the first time Australia have reached 500 in an Ashes Test since 2018. You would think Australia may be on the brink of a declaration.
Australia 502-9 (Boland 18, Doggett 9) Overs: 114
Lead: 168
Insult to injury as Australia's number 11 gives himself room and crashes a short ball from Jacks through the covers for a boundary and Australia have hit 500.
Watch highlights of Starc's 77
He has been Australia's bowler of the series by the length of the Flemington Straight (Melbourne Cup analogy) - and in this innings he top-scored with the bat too.
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Starc does damage with bat as 77 knock takes lead past 150
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Australia 496-9 (Boland 16, Doggett 4) Overs: 113
Lead: 162
Australia need another psychological boost? They may get it passing the 500-mark shortly.
Australia 495-9 (Boland 16, Doggett 3) Overs: 112
Lead: 161
Doggett will now face on over of Carse after taking a single off the last ball of Jacks' over.
Australia 493-9 (Boland 15, Doggett 2) Overs: 111
Lead: 159
Doggett gets off the mark after England finally break the 75-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Wicket! Starc c Stokes b Carse 77
491-9
Starc went to hit Carse over the top and Stokes almost collides with Duckett as they both go for the ball at wide mid on but the England skipper holds onto the catch. Starc leaves the crease as Australia's top scorer.
Australia 491-8 (Starc 77, Boland 15) Overs: 110
Lead: 157
Another over survived very comfortably. Jacks at least keeping things tight. Carse returns at the other end. More of a boom or bust option.
Australia 490-8 (Starc 76, Boland 15) Overs: 109
Lead: 156
Atkinson over-pitches a couple of times and Starc and whacks the bowler back over his head for a four on both occasions.
Australia reach the first drinks break of the session without losing a wicket.
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Australia 480-8 (Starc 67, Boland 15) Overs: 108
Lead: 146
Jacks unlucky not to get the outside edge of Boland from the last delivery. He has bowled six overs today for just 12 runs. That's a plus.
Australia 479-8 (Starc 66, Boland 15) Overs: 107
Lead: 145
This is pretty excruciating. It feels like we are waiting for Australia to declare now. This could come in about 40 minutes, giving England a tough 30-minute session before the dinner break.
Australia 478-8 (Starc 65, Boland 15) Overs: 106
Lead: 144
Jacks beats Boland through the gate but there is no clatter of the stumps.
Australia 478-8 (Starc 65, Boland 15) Overs: 105
Lead: 144
Starc is beaten early in the over but stands and delivers to hit a drive for four off the fifth ball and then he cuts the last delivery for another boundary.
Australia 470-8 (Starc 57, Boland 15) Overs: 104
Lead: 136
Boland powers an off drive for a boundary, a little bit like Steve Waugh famously did on the last delivery in Sydney in 2003. It’s unlikely their batting will ever be compared again.
Starc grinding England down with the bat
After punishing England with the ball, Mitchell Starc is now hurting them with the bat on Day 3, as his unbeaten half century has helped Australia to a first-innings lead of 131, with two wickets still intact.
Ben Stokes took an early wicket, dismissing Michael Neser for 16, though the runs continued at the other end off Brydon Carse, before Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer took the new ball.
Atkinson finally got his long-deserved first wicket, dismissing Alex Carey, caught behind for 58, but from that point onward there was just frustration for the tourists.
Although the bowling has largely been far better than yesterday, Starc is comfortable in the middle, punishing any loose deliveries, especially through or over the covers.
Scott Boland has supported him well. He is 11 not out, as the pair have put on 49 for the ninth wicket.
England are now certain to have to bat in the toughest part of the day facing the new ball.
Australia 465-8 (Starc 56, Boland 11) Overs: 103
Lead: 131
Boland reaches double figures with an inside edge for four.
Australia 461-8 (Starc 56, Boland 7) Overs: 102
Lead: 127
A maiden over from Jacks. He will gain some confidence for the fourth innings from his bowling here.
Australia 461-8 (Starc 56, Boland 7) Overs: 101
Lead: 127
Four more down the ground for Starc as he pushes an over-pitched ball from Atkinson back inside of the bowler. It was too easy for Starc to get off strike from the penultimate ball of the over.
England's bowling tactics questioned
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'Strange decision' - England bowling tactics questioned as Australia reach 450
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Australia 455-8 (Starc 51, Boland 7) Overs: 100
Lead: 121
Jacks gets turn and bounce from his first ball which draws oohs all round. England will be glad they do not have to face Nathan Lyon on this surface. Starc carves the penultimate ball through the vacant area wide of mid on for four.
Quick wickets a necessity
The England fielders are now back out onto the field at the Gabba.
"If Mitchell Starc has the new ball in his hands 45 minutes before the interval, England are in trouble," Steve Finn said. Quite right.
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Aussies in total control at tea
England's nemesis with the ball, Mitchell Starc, put a huge dent in England's chances of staying in the Ashes as his 46 not out has given Australia a lead of 116, with two wickets still intact, ahead of the long break.
Ben Stokes took an early wicket, dismissing Michael Neser for 16, though the runs continued at the other end off Brydon Carse, before Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer took the new ball.
Atkinson finally got his long-deserved first wicket, dismissing Alex Carey, caught behind, for 58 but from that point onward there was just frustration for the tourists.
Although the bowling was overall far better than yesterday, Starc looked comfortable in the middle, punishing any loose deliveries especially through or over the covers.
Whatever happens after the break, England are certain to have to bat in the toughest part of the day facing the new ball. Even Stokes and Brendon McCullum will struggle to retain their positivity.
Tea: Australia 450-8 (Starc 46, Boland 7) Overs: 99
Lead: 116
Starc happy to see the last over of the session out - until the last ball which he whacks over the covers. What a job he has done for his side.
Australia 447-8 (Starc 43, Boland 7) Overs: 98
Lead: 113
A decent over from Jacks before the break. The only run off the over comes from Pope looking to throw the ball at the stumps from short leg.
Australia 446-8 (Starc 42, Boland 7) Overs: 97
Lead: 112
An inside edge off the fifth ball almost sees Boland chop onto his stumps. He survives the Carse over though.
Australia 446-8 (Starc 42, Boland 7) Overs: 96
Lead: 112
Boland pushes a ball wide of gully and it goes all the way for four. He clips Stokes just short of Duckett at short fine leg. Starc then plays a beautiful back foot drive for four - the shot of the day.
Australia 437-8 (Starc 38, Boland 2) Overs: 95
Lead: 103
The frustration continues for England. It starts off a decent over but Carse puts one in Starc's arc and he clouts it over the covers before driving a full ball inside of mid on for another boundary and the lead passes 100.
Australia 429-8 (Starc 30, Boland 2) Overs: 94
Lead: 95
Boland off strike from the first delivery with a short push. It shouldn't be that easy. Stokes is very frustrated with that, but he set the field ... Starc will love keeping England out there so the visiting batsmen have to face the worst of the conditions with some shine still on the ball. Stokes has an optimistic appeal for a ball clearly going down leg, but then beats him with a beauty just wide of the off stump. Boland is also beaten off the last ball.
Australia 427-8 (Starc 29, Boland 1) Overs: 93
Lead: 93
Carse with a decent over. Keeping Starc on the back foot with short of a length bowling and not giving him any free hits. Matt Prior in the TNT Sports is critical of England's body language in the field. He'd like to see more energy.
Australia 427-8 (Starc 29, Boland 1) Overs: 92
Lead: 93
Stokes has his second spell of the day and his fourth delivery is a beauty beating Starc between the gate. He then entices an edge which goes short of Brook at slip.
Australia 426-8 (Starc 28, Boland 1) Overs: 91
Lead: 92
Carse comes back into bowl with short-pitched attack and the last ball sees Starc sky a ball over the umpire but Archer can't get to the ball from mid on to catch it.
Australia 425-8 (Starc 27, Boland 1) Overs: 90
Lead: 91
One plus for England is the surface looks very good. Boland fairly comfortably sees of Archer until the last ball which sees an appeal for caught behind but they don't send it upstairs. Replays show it hitting his thigh pad.
Australia 425-8 (Starc 27, Boland 1) Overs: 89
Lead: 91
It feels the intensity has gone out of England now. Things are pretty easy for Starc but good fielding from Archer means he will get to bowl at Boland again - hopefully for more than one ball.
Australia 425-8 (Starc 27, Boland 1) Overs: 88
Lead: 91
Poor from Archer as the first ball is on Boland's hip allowing him to get off strike. Starc then edges down to the vacant third man area for four. He then gets off strike off the fifth ball. A total leaving a lead above the 100-mark will be a psychological boost for Australia.
Australia 419-8 (Starc 22, Boland 0) Overs: 87
Lead: 85
The first maiden of the morning. After Starc neglects to take singles early in the over, Atkinson smartly bowls a short ball and then a wide one to stop him getting down the other end. Archer has an over at Boland after the drinks break.
Australia 419-8 (Starc 22, Boland 0) Overs: 86
Lead: 85
Archer beats Starc with a fine third ball of the over which moves off the surface. Starc has a chuckle to himself as well he might. Again Archer has just one ball at Boland which he deals with comfortably.
Australia 418-8 (Starc 21, Boland 0) Overs: 85
Lead: 84
Atkinson gets the edge of Starcs's bat but it drops well short of Smith. Starc looking to swing any chance he gets now with little face in his side's 10 or 11. He is the type of batsman who can quickly add a crucial 20 runs. He takes a single off the fourth ball and Boland then looks awkward fending off a ball into his body and missing a prod outside his off stump.
Australia 417-8 (Starc 20, Boland 0) Overs: 84
Lead: 83
Just the single off the over. Archer beats Starc before the veteran gets a single off the penultimate ball and Boland then survives a wide delivery.
Australia 416-8 (Starc 19, Boland 0) Overs: 83
Lead: 82
That was the wicket England needed. Boland very much a tail-ender.
Wicket! Carey c Smith b Atkinson 63
Finally Atkinson gets some reward. A wide ball not quite there to cut which tempts Carey to swoosh at it and he edges behind.
Australia 412-7 (Carey 58, Starc 17) Overs: 82
Lead: 78
The first ball from Archer is one where Carey looked to leave it late, but it caught his bat high and ballooned just short of gully. Starc misses with a couple of wild swooshes before clipping the last ball to fine leg for four.
Australia 407-7 (Carey 58, Starc 13) Overs: 81
Lead: 73
A good over from Atkinson but, as has been the case throughout his experience so far, no reward. He beats Starc's outside edge off the last ball.
Australia 405-7 (Carey 58, Starc 13) Overs: 80
Lead: 71
A nice push through the point from Starc for a couple. He is no mug with the bat especially if given the room by errant lines to extend his levers.
New ball please!
Australia 401-7 (Carey 57, Starc 10) Overs: 79
Lead: 67
Poor bowling from Carse as he drops two halfway down the track, the first of which Starc spanks through the covers for four and the next over the top for the same result. Australia's 400 is brought up, at better than five runs an over. He finds his line with the last two deliveries, beating Starc's attempted cut shot, but you would think that will be his last over as England will take the new ball at that end in the next over.
Australia 392-7 (Carey 57, Starc 2) Overs: 78
Stokes tries to tempt Starc with a wide one but he's smarter than his counterparts, happy to leave those. He is beaten by a beauty on the fourth stump line from the England skipper.
Australia 390-7 (Carey 56, Starc 1) Overs: 77
Carey plays a fantastic ramp over the slips for the first boundary of the morning. Carse again proving leaky with seven off the over. England cannot afford him to keep bowling in this manner. The lead stretched to 56 now.
Australia 383-7 (Carey 50, Starc 0) Overs: 76
Carey brought up his fifty off the second ball. How crucial was that drop from Duckett when he had not scored a run.
Wicket! Neser c Smith b Stokes 16
Stokes to the rescue once more. He beat Neser through the gate off the last ball, this one was a little bit wider and bounced a little more gifting an easy catch to Smith behind the stumps.
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Stokes takes third wicket to kick-start Day 3
Video credit: TNT Sports
Australia 382-6 (Carey 49, Neser 16) Overs: 75
Carse shares the duties, with England - as commentator Ebony Rainsford-Brent suggested - keeping Archer and Atkinson back for the new ball in five overs' time. Carse more erratic with his line than Stokes, with both comfortably adding runs and Carey getting to the brink of a milestone.
Australia 379-6 (Carey 47, Neser 15) Overs: 74
Stokes with a good length straight away, just conceding a single to Carey. The Barmy Army serenade with Jerusalem and are applauded by Root at slip.
Stokes to bowl first...
The England skipper is taking the responsibility as he so often does. Two slips in place, but otherwise the field is fairly spread out.
Archer and Atkinson to start - Finn
"They were the pick of the bowlers yesterday," Finn said on TNT Sports.
"And if they can set the right fields and push that ball slightly fuller, with the odd bouncer - you have to keep the lower order honest - if you bowl on that good length or there or thereabouts you can make inroads."
A sweltering day in Brisbane
England will want to get out of the field as soon as possible. It will start at 29 degrees with 48% humidity.
They have seven tricky overs to deal with before the new ball comes into play. Do they go all out straight away? Maybe give Jacks a couple of overs to get through to the new rock?
England can surely not afford to concede a first-innings deficit of over 100 runs. Then, even more importantly, they need to bat long enough to give their exhausted bowlers some rest as it is a big ask for their spinning options to skittle them to victory.
Day 3
After a difficult second day of the second NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series Test in Brisbane, England need to fight back on Day 3 with Australia resuming on 378-6, looking to extend their lead of 44.
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