England's hopes of levelling the Ashes series faced an immediate and brutal examination from Mitchell Starc on a dramatic first day at the Gabba, before a crucial partnership steadied the ship. The day was also overshadowed by a monumental selection shock from the Australian camp.
Australia's Bold and Controversial Selection Gamble
The hosts sparked disbelief by omitting veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon from their XI for the Brisbane Test. This marks the first time Australia has played a Test on home soil without a specialist spinner since 2012. The decision is particularly striking given Lyon's standing; with 560 Test wickets, he needs just two more to overtake Glenn McGrath and become Australia's second-highest wicket-taker behind Shane Warne.
"It really took me by surprise," said former England seamer Stuart Broad on commentary. "On that teamsheet, Nathan Lyon feels a big miss." The sentiment was echoed by ex-Australian opener Matthew Hayden, who bluntly stated, "I think it's a mistake, I really do."
Stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed that regular skipper Pat Cummins was not risked due to fitness concerns, adding that the team believed their four-pronged pace attack, aided by the pink ball under lights, was the best formula for victory.
Starc's Masterclass and England's Top-Order Jitters
If the Lyon decision was a surprise, Mitchell Starc's opening salvo was terrifyingly predictable. The left-arm paceman, a renowned pink-ball specialist, produced a devastating masterclass with the new ball. He struck with his first delivery of the match, removing Ben Duckett for a duck, and had his second wicket just nine balls later when Ollie Pope chopped on.
This calamitous start meant that, remarkably, every member of England's top five batsmen has now recorded a duck in the first three innings of this Ashes series. At 5-2, England were in deep trouble, with critics again questioning the tourists' shot selection under pressure.
Phil Tufnell, speaking on BBC Test Match Special, summed up the frustration: "Do you need to be cutting that? You've got to leave it... it's a poor shot." Starc's early double took his incredible tally of first-over wickets in Test cricket to 26, underlining his status as the world's most feared new-ball operator.
Crawley and Root's Precious Gabba Partnership
Facing a potential collapse, England found the resolve they desperately needed through Zak Crawley and captain Joe Root. The pair dug in, showing markedly more discipline than in the first Test at Perth. They left a higher percentage of balls and reduced their attacking shots, yet still managed to score at a healthy rate.
Their unbroken stand of 74 runs from 100 deliveries guided England to a much more respectable 98-2 at the first interval. Crawley reached tea unbeaten on 61, with Root providing solid support on 32 not out. The partnership was significant enough for former Australian great Glenn McGrath to award the first session to the tourists.
The fightback sets up a fascinating second session under the Gabba lights, where the pink ball and Australia's pace-heavy attack will be expected to come to the fore once more. The spotlight, however, will remain firmly on whether Australia's gamble to leave out Nathan Lyon proves to be inspired or ill-judged.
