'Slow learners' England on 'life support', write Australian media after second Ashes Test day three slump in Brisbane
Published 06/12/2025 at 18:09 GMT
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England's lacklustre batting display on day three of the second NRMA Insurance men's Ashes Test at The Gabba was the focus of attention for Australia's newspapers, as the hosts closed in on a second victory of the series. 'Bazball' was again the target of the Australian media's ire after more cheap wickets were lost in Brisbane. The Sydney Morning Herald claimed England are now "on life support".
Highlights: England collapse as dominant Australia close in on victory in second Test
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Australian media were typically damning in their assessment of England's performance on day three of the second NRMA Insurance men's Ashes Test.
Another batting collapse meant England ended the day 43 runs behind Australia with just four wickets remaining in their second innings.
Brendon McCullum's side are now on the brink of another Ashes loss down under, with much of the criticism targeted at their aggressive batting approach.
And Australian newspapers did not pull their punches as they reported on a dominant display from the hosts.
"Slow learners England burn Ashes dream with brain fades," read The West Australian's headline.
The newspaper wrote: "England are on the brink of butchering a gilt-edged chance to square the Ashes series after failing to learn from the mistakes that continue to cost them dearly.
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Disaster for England as Smith is third in a row caught behind
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Australia are without three of their greatest modern-day bowlers in Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the Gabba Test.
"There was an opening before the match started for England to make their move against a bowling attack without the big guns, if they were good enough.
"But they have fallen well short and now face a nigh on impossible task after trailing by 177 on the first innings."
Meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald said England are on "life support" in this Ashes series.
"England’s Ashes dream on life support after Starc stars with bat and ball," read the paper's headline.
Their report read: "England’s bid to regain the Ashes is on life support after Mitchell Starc and Australia’s lower order blew the second Test wide open, before another brittle batting display left the tourists staring at a shambolic defeat by an innings."
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The Courier Mail were equally damning, writing "Bazball on the brink as Aussie quicks leave England reeling".
"England’s unprepared approach to their Australian tour is producing some brutal results for the visitors, leaving the team’s radical strategy hanging by a thread," the paper added.
There was plenty of criticism from an England perspective, too. TNT Sports' Matt Prior made clear his disapproval for England's stubborn dedication to their front-footed style of play.
"At what stage do you go to them, that's not the shot you play any more?" former wicket-keeper Prior said on TNT Sports of England's batters.
"We hear a lot about the freedom to go and play their way with flair.
"Go back to when Bazball first started, Brendon McCullum's attitude, that was installed in this dressing room to free batsmen up, people like Ollie Pope, to go and play their natural game.
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Prior: England must ditch 'carefree, laissez-faire' attitude to batting
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I don't think it was ever meant to be this sort of ridiculous statement of intent where you've got to go at seven an over every single session of the game, and have a carefree, laissez-faire approach.
"So now we've gone wholeheartedly the other way. Who steps in and says 'as a batting group we've maybe gone a bit too crazy here, guys?'
"We have to learn how we pull it back - we're starting at one, we're now at five. How do we get back to three so we can bat time and put runs on the board?'"
Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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