The Ashes Test series moves to Brisbane as Australia and England lock horns in the second Test at the iconic Gabba, a venue known for pace, bounce, and relentless pressure on visiting teams. With the match set to be played as a day-night Test using the pink ball, conditions are expected to challenge batters even more than usual.
England arrived in Australia dreaming of ending their long Ashes drought Down Under, something they last achieved in 2010/11. After the opening day in Perth, that ambition looked realistic. However, everything changed when Travis Head unleashed a brutal counterattack, dismantling England’s bowling with a stunning 69-ball century and cruising through a tricky fourth-innings chase of 205.
Before Head’s fireworks, Mitchell Starc had already tilted the match Australia’s way by claiming 10 wickets, making life miserable for England’s batters. With Brisbane’s pink-ball conditions historically favouring fast bowlers, the challenge for England could be even steeper this time.
Australia vs England Head-to-Head Record in Test Cricket
Australia and England share one of the fiercest rivalries in world sport, and the numbers reflect how closely contested the Ashes have been over the years.
Test Matches Played: 362
Australia Wins: 153
England Wins: 112
Draws: 97
Tied Matches: 0
Australia holds a clear edge overall, especially at home, where conditions traditionally amplify their strengths.
Australia vs England 2nd Test: Date, Time & Venue
- Match: Australia vs England, 2nd Test – Ashes Series
- Date: Thursday, December 4
- Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
- Time:
- 09:30 AM IST
- 04:00 AM GMT
- 02:00 AM AEST
Australia vs England 2nd Test Team News & Selection Updates
England Team News
England are set to make at least one forced change. Mark Wood will be rested as he continues recovery from a knee issue. His absence opens up multiple tactical options:
- Josh Tongue – a like-for-like pace replacement, currently the frontrunner
- Matthew Potts – another seam option, though slightly behind Tongue
- Shoaib Bashir – adds spin for control
- Will Jacks – offers batting depth and part-time spin
Each option brings a different balance, making England’s final XI difficult to predict.
Australia Team News
Australia face a selection headache of their own. Travis Head’s explosive success as a makeshift opener in Perth has raised questions about whether he should continue at the top.
Usman Khawaja, who missed opening duties earlier due to back spasms, is part of the Brisbane squad, but his fitness and rhythm remain uncertain. Australia could:
- Retain Head as opener and push Khawaja to the middle order
- Replace Khawaja altogether
Josh Inglis is knocking on the door with consistent batting form, while Beau Webster offers all-round value.
Importantly, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss the Brisbane Test, forcing Australia to rely on squad depth.
Australia vs England 2nd Test Predicted Playing XI
Australia Predicted XI
Usman Khawaja / Josh Inglis / Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey (wk)
England Predicted XI
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue / Shoaib Bashir / Will Jacks
Gabba Pitch Report: Australia vs England 2nd Test
The Gabba pink-ball pitch has a reputation for being unforgiving, especially under lights. In the three day-night Tests played here, five completed innings have ended below 210 runs, underlining how challenging batting can be.
- Only two scores above 400 have been recorded here, both in 2016
- In the last two pink-ball Tests at Brisbane:
- Batters averaged 24
- Pacers averaged 21.75
- Spinners averaged nearly 32
Fast bowlers are expected to dominate once again, particularly with the new ball and during twilight sessions. Historically, the second session of the day offers the best conditions for batting.
Australia vs England 2nd Test Match Prediction
- Toss Prediction: Team winning the toss is likely to bat first to avoid the toughest pink-ball conditions later
- Match Winner Prediction: Australia
- Most Runs (Match): Travis Head
- Most Wickets (Match): Mitchell Starc
- Player of the Match Prediction: Travis Head
Given Australia’s dominance at the Gabba, their depth in fast bowling, and England’s ongoing selection uncertainties, the hosts enter the second Test as clear favourites. England will need something extraordinary to keep the Ashes alive in Brisbane.
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