Ashes 2025-26: Australia Tighten Grip as England Collapses on Day 3 of the 2nd Test. By the end of Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba, Australia had made a huge step towards a win. Mitchell Starc’s great performance in all aspects of the game and England’s ongoing struggles with the bat made it inevitable for the tourists that they would lose by an innings.
Starting the day at 378/6, Australia added 133 runs to their first innings before being bowled out. Thus securing a total of 511 runs and a 177-run advantage. Starc, who came in at No. 9, was the highlight of the day with a blazing 77 runs. He saved Australia after a middle-order collapse and put the hosts firmly in control.
Also Read: Ashes 2025-26, 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights: Australia In Control at The Gabba With 378/6
The second innings of England
Once again, England’s second innings was telling a similar tale to their first. Just before the end of the day, their score was 134/6. They were still 43 runs behind with only four wickets left.
Starc, absolutely pumped, came into the attack. He took two important wickets right away, which severely disrupted the top order. Michael Neser and Scott Boland, who also made essential contributions with the bat earlier in the innings, were the ones to take the other two wickets. So that England never seemed to be well settled on a wicket that still favoured seam movement under the lights of the evening.
By the end of the day, Ben Stokes and Will Jacks were left not out in their quest to stop yet another fall of wickets. The pressure from the pacers of Australia was still unyielding.
Starc and Boland — the game-changing factors
The important ninth-wicket stand led by Starc and supported by Boland not only brought in significant runs but also changed the momentum of the match. Australian bowlers then made the most of the conditions being in their favour, as they executed pinpoint lines that took England’s technique and shot selection to task. A good number of the visitors’ aggressive “Bazball” approach appeared to be inappropriate for the situation and was a stark contrast to the unyielding pressure that the bowlers kept up with.
Also Read: IND vs SA 3rd ODI Preview: Pitch, Weather Report, Head To Head, Probable Playing 11, Prediction
Australia is looking for a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series
With England still behind and their tail-enders already shown up, Australia are very close to winning the second match and taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Only a huge rescue act can now stop the home team from achieving a commanding win at their stronghold in Brisbane.