Australia didn’t just win the second Test at The Gabba — they steamrolled England so thoroughly that the chase of 65 runs felt like a formality rather than a contest. Ten overs, eight wickets in hand, and a home crowd roaring as Steve Smith sealed the match with a booming six. The result: Australia go 2–0 up in the Ashes 2025–26, tightening an iron grip on a series that is already slipping out of England’s hands.
This match wasn’t decided on day four. It was decided across earlier sessions — through Australia’s control with the bat, the relentless pressure from their pace attack, and England’s inability to withstand either. Australia’s first-innings 511 was the foundational blow. The runs came in waves, leaving England to respond under scoreboard pressure in difficult pink-ball conditions. Mitchell Starc, operating like it was 2015 again, ripped through England’s top order in the first innings, returning a six-wicket haul that left England rattled and on the back foot from the outset.
England’s second innings showed some resistance, but it was temporary. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks stitched together a fighting stand that, momentarily, hinted they might drag the match deeper. But that hope was crushed when Michael Neser — the surprise selection, the local boy brought in for home conditions — produced one of the spells of his career. His 5 for 42 dismantled the lower order and erased any chance of England pushing Australia into an awkward chase. In truth, once that partnership broke, England collapsed quickly and without any real fight.
The chase itself was symbolic of the gulf between the sides. Australia lost two wickets early but never looked troubled. Smith walked out looking like a man in a hurry, cracking 23 off nine balls, while Jake Weatherald held up the other end with calm assurance. Smith’s final shot — a cleanly struck six over square leg — summed up the tone of the match: Australia dictating terms, England forced to watch.
This wasn’t just a defeat for England; it was a psychological blow. Teams do not come back from 2–0 down in an Ashes series. The last time it happened, Don Bradman was still playing. England now stare at Adelaide with pressure mounting, their batting fragile, and their bowlers consistently failing to control the game for long stretches. Even their bright moments — Stokes fighting as always, Jacks showing grit — were drowned out by the broader collapse.
Australia, meanwhile, look settled, sharp, and hungry. Starc’s resurgence, Neser’s impact, and the batting order’s composure give them an aura of dominance. They aren’t just winning sessions; they’re breaking England’s resistance whenever it appears. With three Tests still to come, Australia hold all momentum, all confidence, and all control of this series.
If England don’t find answers fast, this Ashes could be decided well before the final Test — and The Gabba might be remembered as the moment the urn effectively slipped away.
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