The third day of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane delivered a pulsating contest, swinging decisively in England's favour during a dramatic afternoon session. After a shaky start with the bat, the tourists' bowling attack roared back to life, skittling Australia for 237 and setting up a potentially match-defining final innings.
England's Bowling Attack Strikes Back
Resuming their first innings on 339 for 9, England's tail added just four runs before Josh Hazlewood clean bowled Gus Atkinson. This left Australia with a seemingly manageable first-innings deficit of just 17 runs. However, any notion of the hosts building a commanding lead was swiftly dismantled by a resurgent English attack.
Gus Atkinson was the chief destroyer, extracting sharp bounce and movement from the Gabba pitch to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 58. He was ably supported by the ever-reliable Stuart Broad and the spin of Liam Dawson, who chipped in with crucial wickets. Australia's batting lineup, which had looked solid in patches, collapsed from a position of relative comfort at 142 for 4 to be all out for 237, losing their last six wickets for just 95 runs.
Stokes and Duckett Navigate Tricky Final Session
Set a target of 255 to win, England faced a nervy 25-over period before stumps. The early loss of Zak Crawley, caught behind off Mitchell Starc for 12, heightened the tension. However, Ben Stokes, promoted to number three, joined the watchful Ben Duckett at the crease, and the pair successfully navigated the remaining overs.
Their unbroken partnership of 41 runs steadied the ship, leaving England on 53 for 1 at the close of play. They require a further 202 runs on day four with nine wickets in hand. Duckett will resume on 22, with the England captain unbeaten on 19 in what promises to be a captain's innings of immense significance.
A Test Poised on a Knife-Edge
The match is now perfectly poised for a thrilling conclusion. England will believe their aggressive 'Bazball' philosophy can chase down the remaining runs, while Australia's potent pace attack, led by Starc, Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, will be relying on early wickets to expose the English middle order. The first hour of day four will be critical, with the pitch still offering assistance to the bowlers.
The weather in Brisbane remains a factor, with further interruptions possible, adding another layer of complexity to the run-chase calculations. All results remain possible, setting the stage for a classic Ashes finale that could see England level the series or Australia take a decisive 2-0 lead.
