Ashes 2025 result: Reaction after Australia take 2-0 lead with dominant victory in Brisbane
Australia wrapped up an eight-wicket victory in Brisbane
England’s Ashes hopes have been left in tatters after falling 2-0 to behind to Australia after another dismal defeat in Brisbane.
The hosts reeled in a fourth-innings chase of just 65 for the loss of two wickets to secure victory with more than a day to spare in a ruthless performance. England had battled hard on day four with Ben Stokes (50) and Will Jacks (41) sharing a stand of 96 to drag them into the lead and raise hopes of an unlikely fightback. The pair showed excellent discipline and patience to make it through the first session of the day unscathed, producing the first wicketless session of the series so far, with their calm, considered approach contrasted with some of England’s batting last night. But just as they looked set to kick on, Jacks fell to a spectacular catch from Steve Smith before Michael Neser drew a feather behind from Stokes to remove the visiting skipper with England just 50 ahead. It was over quickly thereafter, allowing Australia to blast towards victory despite a hostile spell from Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson.
Mitchell Starc and the rest of the home side had dominated yesterday to close in on the win.After Starc (77) had impressed with the bat, England collapsed in a heap under the lights as they lost five wickets for 38 runs having been 90/1. It prompted more tough questions over the temperament and technique of Stokes’s side, who find the series all but over — the last side to come back from 2-0 down to win the Ashes were a Don Bradman-inspired Australia on home soil in the 1930s.
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Ben Stokes says no room for 'weak men' in England dressing room
Beaten captain Ben Stokes has made it clear there is no room for "weak men" on England's faltering Ashes tour.
Stokes' side are 2-0 down with three to play after another deeply flawed performance in Brisbane and find themselves up against it on one of cricket's most fierce trips.
Coming off the back of a two-day thrashing in Perth, there are serious question marks over the ability of his England team to react to the big occasion and time is running out for them to find an appropriate answer.
Stokes did his best to instil some fighting spirit on the fourth and final day at the Gabba, batting for almost four hours in a doomed show of defiance that put a flighty top order to shame, and had strong words afterwards.
"There is a saying that we have said a lot here, that Australia is not for weak men," he said, after seeing the hosts chase down a tiny target of 65 with eight wickets intact.
"Teams who come to Australia can't be soft or weak, whatever it may be, because that's how it is out here: it's a tough place to come. You can't come to Australia and be weak but you also can't be in my dressing room if you are and there is none of that.
"We pick people on ability and skill but we also pick people on character and mentality. A few things obviously need to be addressed, I think, on that but deep down we've got characters who I know that can stand up to what we've got to do over the next three games.
"Nothing's guaranteed in life and nothing's guaranteed in sport but as long as you walk out there and think in your head, 'I'm going to fight all the way to the end here', that's all you can focus on."
Brendon McCullum claims England ‘trained too much’ ahead of second Ashes defeat
Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, has claimed that his side “trained too much” ahead of their heavy defeat to Australia at The Gabba.
England fell 2-0 behind in the Ashes as the hosts wrapped up an eight-wicket victory in Brisbane despite a battling partnership from Ben Stokes and Will Jacks early on day four.
The damage had long been done, though, with the tourists inferior in all facets as they failed to bounce back from defeat inside two days in Perth.
Brendon McCullum claims England ‘trained too much’ ahead of second Ashes defeat
Michael Neser reacts to his crucial spell
Australia quick Michael Neser said he will cherish his bowling performance at his home ground in Brisbane after he took a five-wicket haul in the second Ashes Test, helping the hosts to a comprehensive eight-wicket win.
Neser, competing in his first test in three years, broke the 96-run partnership between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, dismissing both in his consecutive overs.
The right-arm pacer finished with five for 42 as Australia bowled out the opposition for 241 with a lead of 64 runs, setting themselves an easy target chased down in just 10 overs.
"I am sure I'll cherish this one," the 35-year-old told host broadcaster Fox Sports after his spell.
"It's a moment I'll never forget, having my family there.
"I think my sister's out there. I haven't seen her for a year and a half, so I am going to say hi to her."
Ben Stokes pinpoints England’s ‘obvious’ problem in damning assessment of second Test defeat
Strong words from Ben Stokes after England’s defeat, highlighting his side’s inability to handle pressure moments as key to their 2-0 deficit in the series.
Ben Stokes pinpoints England’s ‘obvious’ problem in damning assessment of defeat
When is the next Ashes Test? TV channel, date and start time for Australia vs England
Here’s everything you need to know as the series heads to Adelaide:
When is the next Ashes Test? TV channel, date and start time for Australia vs England
Brendon McCullum has also had a natter with BBC Test Match Special
"Disappointing to go 2-0 down,” McCullum says. “In a five-match series it makes things pretty tough.
"We have been here before and we have to make sure to stay tight as a group and iron out a couple of the chinks that we have shown in the last two Test matches.
"When you come to Australia you can't be below your best. You need to make sure you seize every opportunity.
"A few moments in this Test match that there was times we had ascendancy with the bat and we let that slip.
"Times where we didn't execute with the ball as well as we should have.
"Clearly our catching was an issue as well. Very hard to beat Australia at home if your going to be deficient in all those three areas."
What changes might England make?
You’d imagine England will shuffle their bowling attack for Adelaide. Brydon Carse did not bowl with the consistency he would have liked to despite finishing with four first-innings wickets, and Gus Atkinson hasn’t managed to be particularly penetrating so far in the series. Will Mark Wood be fit? And what of Shoaib Bashir? He’s not gone well for the England Lions but the spinner was backed ahead of this Test despite being left out.
As for the batting order, Ollie Pope feels most vulnerable. Jacob Bethell made 71 today in that second-string game at the Allan Border Field across Brisbane.
England coach Brendon McCullum claims England were 'over-prepared' for second Test
Some perhaps slightly misjudged comments from Brendon McCullum to Channel 7 in Australia.
“I think we’ll probably have a beer tonight,” McCullum says. “Leading into this Test match, I think we over-prepared, to be honest. We had five intense training days and I think sometimes when you are in the heat in the battle, the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh. I think the boys think a few days off and we’ll change a few of the training methods a little bit. We’ll look at the alternative methods over the next couple of days and start to plot and plan our way back into the series.”
Australia in position of supreme strength
There is just the small matter of a pair with a combined 871 wickets to come back in to this Australia team, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon likely to return to the bowling attack in Adelaide. Usman Khawaja may be brought back, too, at the top of the order.
It’s tough now to figure out who Australia might leave out, mind. Michael Neser is a certain starter, you’d say, after a standout performance in the second innings.
More from Ben Stokes
“I keep saying, it’s not a skill thing with this group. With bat or ball. They are incredibly skilled and gifted players with the ability to win games. By personal belief is that it is the mental side of how we are handling those moments of pressure, understanding the moment a bit better.
“Rooty getting a hundred is a good start. He’s a great example for the group. You look at the scrutiny that he was under when he came out here. After that game in Perth, he came and sat next to me and apologised to me. Then he said, ‘I’m going to get a big one for you next time’. That, to me, is an incredible mindset and mentality that everyone in that dressing room can ooze off. To go and do what he did this week, a lot of guys, myself included, can take a lot from that.”
Matt Prior asks Stokes what he can learn from 2013/14, a tour they were both on, where England capitulated in a similar situation: “Don’t panic. Don’t flap. Don’t waver. I know we can do this. I believe emphatically in the group.”
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