The second Ashes Test in Brisbane has delivered drama from the very first ball, with individual battles and personal statements defining the opening day's play at the iconic Gabba ground.
Zak Crawley Silences Critics with Gritty Half-Century
Under immense pressure following a pair in Perth, England opener Zak Crawley entered the fray with a point to prove. Sporting a new buzzcut, he anchored England's fightback after a disastrous start. Crawley survived a tough caught-and-bowled chance to Scott Boland and went on to score a crucial 50 from just 68 balls before lunch. This innings, played in his characteristic attacking style, was a stark reminder of his talent against fast bowling and served as a robust justification for his continued selection.
The local Courier Mail newspaper had earlier quipped that Crawley was "the type of person you’d hire as a personal assistant because he’s really good at getting his ducks in a row." He avoided that particular fate, unlike two of his top-order teammates, and provided the backbone for England's resistance.
Mitchell Starc's Pink Ball Supremacy
While Australia's attack missed Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc stepped up emphatically. The left-arm quick enhanced his reputation as the greatest pink-ball bowler in history with a devastating opening spell. He removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for a golden duck and a duck respectively, plunging England into immediate trouble.
Duckett's wicket was the 26th time Starc has taken a wicket in the first over of a Test, putting him seven clear of his nearest rival, Jimmy Anderson. The dismissal of Pope also drew him level with Wasim Akram as the leading wicket-taker among left-arm pacemen in Test history, with 414 scalps.
Local Colour: Sledges, Scran and Olympic Dreams
The Gabba experience is about more than just the cricket. Brisbane's Courier Mail continued its tradition of pre-match sledging, with a front page simply declaring "Pommy Idiots." It also took a playful jab at the 'Bazball' phenomenon, comparing it favourably to 'Travball' – the undefeated Test record when Travis Head scores a century.
Off the field, fans were tucking into a familiar favourite: Panko Crumbed Whiting and Chips, or fish and chips to the English contingent, retailing at $15.65 (approx. £7.75). Meanwhile, the Gabba's long-term future was in the news, with local broadcasts detailing early preparations for the 2032 Olympics. The stadium will host events before being demolished after the Games.
The journey to the ground itself remains one of sport's great pleasures, with the CityCat ferry ride from downtown Brisbane to Mowbray Park rivalling walks to venues like Craven Cottage in London or Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
