The Ashes series hangs in the balance for England after a disastrous third day at The Gabba in Brisbane left them staring at a heavy defeat and a potentially insurmountable 2-0 series deficit.
Root's Rescue Act Overshadowed by Australian Onslaught
England's first innings was a tale of collapse and recovery. After a familiar top-order stumble, captain Joe Root played a sublime, unbeaten knock of 138 – his first Test century on Australian soil – to guide his team to a total of 334 all out. However, Mitchell Starc's brilliant 6/75 ensured England's fightback was contained.
Australia's response was one of utter dominance. They amassed a formidable 511 in their first innings, securing a massive lead of 177 runs. In a remarkable display of batting depth, all 11 Australian players reached double figures, a rare feat in the annals of Test cricket.
Starc the All-Rounder Grinds England Down
Day Three began with Australia resuming on 378/6, and the tourists' frustration was compounded by Starc. The left-arm quick, batting at number nine, scored a vital 77 runs, expertly grinding down the English attack and consuming precious time to push the total beyond 500.
England's second innings started with promise, reaching 45 without loss at the dinner break. Yet, under the challenging Gabba floodlights with the pink ball, their innings unravelled with alarming speed.
Collapse Under Lights Leaves England in Tatters
Australia's seamers, led by Michael Neser and Scott Boland, shared the wickets in a devastating spell. Neser removed Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, while Boland also claimed two, exploiting the pronounced movement. The crucial blow came when Starc returned to dismiss Root for just 15, snuffing out England's faint hopes of resistance.
At the close of play, England were 134 for 6, still trailing Australia by 43 runs. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, both unbeaten on 4, face a monumental task to avoid the follow-on on Day Four.
A Mountain Too High for England's Ashes Hopes
The situation presents a dire outlook for the tourists. An Australian victory in Brisbane appears inevitable, which would put the hosts 2-0 up in the five-match series. History offers England little solace; only one team in Ashes history has ever recovered from such a deficit to win the series.
This looming result underscores Australia's comprehensive control and leaves England's campaign in a state of crisis, with their ambitions of reclaiming the urn rapidly fading.
