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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 16:30 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
Robin Smith was a Hampshire and England great and one of the very best – and bravest – in the face of raw pace
ine a bowler as Angus Fraser was, he probably wasn’t quick enough to get Robin Smith’s juices flowing. But the former England cricketer, and Independent cricket correspondent, may have summed up his old teammate better than most. “There have been many players who have suggested they would rather face 90mph throat balls than gentle leg-breaks but Smith is the only one I truly believe,” said England’s most skilful bowler of the early 1990s.
Nor was there any false bravado from Smith when he said, in many an interview, that he felt no fear against the quickest of the quicks, especially as he would often caveat it by admitting he was afraid of Shane Warne, whose leg-breaks were not gentle, but were rather less likely to inflict physical damage. Smith’s demons could be mental, but there were few braver batters in cricketing history. Few finer, too, when the speed gun showed deliveries timed at something approaching 100mph. From Donald Bradman to Brian Lara, there have been suspicions that some of the greatest ever had a slight susceptibility to raw pace. Smith was that rarity: he was better against it.
Robin Smith was one of the very best – and bravest – in the face of raw pace
Smith, who has died aged 62, was a master of ducking and diving to avoid the world’s fastest bowlers, writes Richard JollyJack Rathborn3 December 2025 16:30Ben Stokes admits Robin Smith’s death just days after England Ashes squad visit ‘hits harder’
England captain Ben Stokes has admitted the death of former batter Robin Smith "hits harder" after the cricketing legend connected with the touring squad in Perth just days before his passing.
"Just last week he was there chatting with the Lions who were out here," Stokes stated.
"He was at the game last week and talking to people and sharing, going into quite a lot of detail about his life and opening up quite a lot. It hits you a bit harder I think, when you realise that it was only a week ago where it was doing those kinds of things."
Stokes, who confessed he "didn’t know him overly well," shared the consistent tribute from those who did: "The same thing kept on coming up pretty much, which was just that he was an absolute belter of a bloke."
Robin Smith, centre, met with the England Lions squad in Perth before the recent Ashes Test (ECB/PA)Jack Rathborn3 December 2025 16:15Australia 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
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