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Ben Stokes’ side eye redemption at the iconic Brisbane stadium after a humiliating first Test loss to Australia inside two days
Chris Wilson,Luke BakerWednesday 03 December 2025 16:00 GMTComments
CloseShellshocked England fall to heavy Ashes defeat inside two days
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England are targeting a quick Ashes reply to Australia in Brisbane after succumbing to the hosts inside two days of pulsating cricket in the first Test.
Now Ben Stokes and his team arrive at The Gabba, one of the most intimidating grounds in world cricket, with the pink ball and a day-night second Test set to examine their skill yet further.
Stokes has explained the painful decision to leave out Shoaib Bashir, instead preferring fellow spinner Will Jacks as a replacement for Mark Wood in the only change to the side.
The hosts face a tough decision of their own, with skipper Pat Cummins set for a late fitness test after missing the opener, though Mitchell Starc looks primed to torment England once more after a fiendish display of fast bowling in Perth.
Follow all the latest updates, scores and analysis on day one at The Gabba below:
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Ashes 2025/26: Australia v England - second Test, day one
- Australia make late fitness call on captain Cummins
- England pick spinner Jacks over Bashir to replace fast bowler Wood
- England trail hosts 1-0 after disastrous first Test loss inside two days
- Play at The Gabba due to start at 4:00am GMT in day-night Test
Australia captain Pat Cummins leaves door ajar for dramatic comeback in Brisbane
Australia captain Pat Cummins kept everyone guessing on the eve of the second Ashes Test, leaving the door ajar for a dramatic comeback in Brisbane.
“A whole heap of things are on the table. We’ll wait and see what the wicket looks like later and from there we’ll determine a playing XI,” said stand-in skipper Steve Smith.
“(Cummins) looks pretty good to me, he’s bowled in the nets. Obviously, games are different intensity, for sure, but he’s tracking nicely and he knows his body well. We’ll wait and see.”
Pat Cummins missed Australia’s victory in Perth with a back injury (Robbie Stephenson/PA) (PA Wire)Jack Rathborn3 December 2025 16:00Ben Stokes sends message to Shoaib Bashir after Ashes snub
England captain Ben Stokes has moved to reassure spinner Shoaib Bashir that he remains the team’s premier spin bowler, despite the decision to omit him from the squad for the second Ashes Test.
"He knows if it was down to picking our best spinner, he’d have played," Stokes stated.
"Baz (McCullum) does the telling of good news and bad news and I’m there for follow-ups, so it was pretty much like that. We thought this was the best XI for the conditions and circumstances of the game.
“We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be used and there was a bit of a tactical element to it – obviously with Jacksy’s ability with the bat, having that down the order for us is useful as well."
(AFP/Getty)Jack Rathborn3 December 2025 15:32More about
England cricketAustralia CricketBen StokesPat CumminsAshesWill JacksJoin our commenting forum
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