The Ashes 2025 has reached a critical juncture, and England’s hopes are hanging by a thread after a disastrous third day in the second Test at Brisbane’s Gabba. This isn’t just a setback—it’s a full-blown crisis that has left fans and critics alike questioning the team’s resilience. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this collapse a result of Australia’s dominance, or is England’s own inconsistency to blame? Let’s dive in.
The day began with England already on the back foot, trailing Australia by 43 runs after a first-innings deficit of 177. Despite a promising start in their second innings, with Zak Crawley scoring 44 and the team reaching 45-0 in six overs, the wheels quickly came off. Australia’s bowlers, led by Michael Neser (2-27) and Scott Boland (2-33), ripped through England’s lineup, leaving them reeling at 134-6 by the close of play. The Gabba crowd, known for their relentless energy, roared as England’s batsmen fell like dominoes—a stark reminder of their winless streak at this ground since 1986.
And this is the part most people miss: England’s collapse wasn’t just about poor batting; it was a masterclass in how not to handle pressure. Ben Duckett’s unfortunate dismissal off Boland’s scuttler was a rare moment of bad luck, but Ollie Pope and Crawley’s reckless drives gifted Neser easy return catches. Even Joe Root, usually England’s rock, edged Mitchell Starc, while Harry Brook and Jamie Smith followed suit. Ben Stokes, the captain who has engineered miraculous Ashes comebacks in the past, looked helpless as his team crumbled around him. Stokes and Will Jacks ended the day on four each, but the damage was already done.
Earlier, Australia had piled on the misery, posting a mammoth 511 in their first innings. Starc’s 77 with the bat—his highest score in a home Test in nine years—was a brutal reminder of his all-round prowess. Alongside Cameron Weatherald’s 72, Australia’s lower order batted England into the ground, keeping them in the field for nearly two sessions. Brydon Carse’s 4-152 and Stokes’ 3-113 were valiant efforts, but they couldn’t stem the tide.
Here’s the bold truth: England’s predicament is largely self-inflicted. Wasteful batting, wayward bowling, and dropped catches have become their trademarks. Meanwhile, Australia—despite missing key players like Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon—have delivered a clinic in Test match cricket. Their batting has been ruthless, their bowling relentless, and their fielding flawless. No team has scored 334 in the first innings of a day-night Test and lost, yet Australia made England’s effort look ordinary.
The pitch is showing signs of uneven bounce, and rain is forecast for Sunday night. But let’s be honest—England won’t last long enough to capitalize on either. Sunday feels less like a question of if Australia will win and more like when. The same could be said for the series and the Ashes.
Is this the end of Bazball? England’s much-hyped aggressive approach has crumbled under pressure. Even when they started well, Australia knew a chance would come, and they pounced with precision. The Gabba crowd, dressed as stormtroopers in their ‘Gabbatroopers’ tradition, reveled in another day of Australian dominance. It’s hard not to feel like England is staring down the barrel of a 2-0 series deficit—a position they’ve rarely recovered from, especially in Australia.
Mitchell Starc has been the star of this Ashes series. In Cummins’ absence, he’s taken his game to another level, making batting look impossible for England and batting look effortless against them. His partnership with Boland, lasting 27.2 overs, was the longest of the series and a testament to Australia’s resilience. When Starc finally fell, miscuing Carse to mid-off, England’s torture continued with Boland and Brendan Doggett’s stubborn stand.
So, here’s the question: Can England salvage anything from this series, or is this Ashes campaign already lost? And is Australia’s success a testament to their skill, or a reflection of England’s flaws? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
