Mitchell Starc delivered a devastating double blow for Australia, first with the bat and then with the ball, to leave England struggling at 97 for three on day three of the day-night Test in Brisbane. Starc's unbeaten 77 from 141 balls, combined with Scott Boland's gritty 21 not out, propelled Australia to 491 for nine, a lead of 177 runs.
Starc emerged early in the first session after Michael Neser's dismissal and batted deep into the second, adding 75 runs with Boland for the ninth wicket. His defensive vigil, farming the strike and occasionally lashing boundaries, ensured Australia bowled with a new ball under lights. England's tactic of spreading the field allowed Starc to dictate terms, as he valued each run to extend the lead.
England's openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started aggressively at dusk, smashing 48 off 46 balls, but the buffer from Starc's batting gave Australia room for error. Despite Starc's wicketless first spell, his efforts had already left a huge cushion. The tourists' batting approach came under scrutiny as several players, including Crawley and Ollie Pope, fell to miscued drives, highlighting a tendency to lift the ball straight.
After a rest, Starc returned to claim the key wickets of Joe Root and Jamie Smith, both caught driving loosely outside off-stump. Boland had earlier dismissed Harry Brook, while Starc also bowled Duckett. England's hopes of seeing Starc hurt them in only one discipline were dashed as he struck with both bat and ball, leaving the visitors in deep trouble at stumps.
