England's bowlers were left sauteed in the sweltering Brisbane heat during a deeply frustrating opening session on day three of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba on Saturday.
Australia Grind Out Commanding Position
Resuming on 378-6, already holding a lead of 44, Australia fought their way to 450-8 by lunch, pushing their advantage to a daunting 116 runs. In searing temperatures hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit, England's breakthroughs were sparse and met with muted celebration.
Ben Stokes provided an early lift, trapping Michael Neser caught behind with the penultimate ball of his second over. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey also departed for a well-made 61, handing Gus Atkinson his first wicket of the series. However, even with the new ball, England's frontline attack could not dislodge a stubborn, unbeaten 34-run stand between Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland before the interval, visibly boiling Stokes's frustrations over.
Familiar Fielding Frailties Return
The session was a painful reminder of England's ongoing struggles. After a comically poor fielding display on Friday, standards did not markedly improve. A key moment arrived when Australia were 426-8; Mitchell Starc slashed a Brydon Carse delivery high into the air. The ball hung in the Brisbane sky for an age before dropping apologetically between a horrified Carse and a slow-to-react Jofra Archer at mid-off, summing up England's malaise.
Another incident perfectly captured the frustration. As Starc manipulated the strike to protect Boland, England finally had the number eleven facing a full over from Stokes. Yet, from the first ball, Boland prodded a single, and Archer at extra cover could not prevent the run. Stokes's fury was unconcealed, a stark contrast to Australia's patient, grinding accumulation of runs.
Context and Colour from Brisbane
Off the field, England opener Zak Crawley sought form, arriving at the nets over two hours before play started. Meanwhile, more than 300 members of the Barmy Army swelled the local South Bank parkrun numbers to over 900, with one fan noting to a marshal, "It's a lot warmer than Manchester."
In local news, a poll by the Brisbane Courier Mail crowned the late Richie Benaud as the greatest cricket commentator of all time, with Isa Guha the highest-ranked English voice in sixth. England's trials were compounded by the 'Gabbatroopers' – a battalion of Australian fans dressed in white, who scored a victory when legend Brett Lee posed for a picture with them.
As the session ended, Australia's lead had grown from merely handy to potentially match-defining, leaving England with a monumental task to salvage the Test when they eventually bat again.
