Australia won the second Ashes Test at the Gabba by eight wickets to take a 2-0 series lead after dominating England across all four days.
The tourists were lifted early by Joe Root’s unbeaten 138 and Zak Crawley’s 76, after a pair of ducks in the first Test, but Mitchell Starc’s 6-75 and a fast 77 with the bat swung the match firmly Australia’s way as they posted 511 with a helping hand from England including five dropped catches.
England collapsed again in the second innings before a late Ben Stokes-Will Jacks partnership briefly delayed the inevitable, but Michael Neser’s five-wicket haul sealed England’s fate under lights. Set just 65 to win, Australia cruised home with Steve Smith finishing the job, displaying their control of the series.
Below, TIBS News analyses the most defining moments of the first two Test matches with Australia on the cusp of wining the series at home once again.
1) Mitchell Starc’s 7fer sets the Ashes ablaze in Perth – Perth, Day One
Starc established precedence early in the Ashes series despite missing his pace-bowling partners Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood. He recorded a career best 7-58 off just 12.5 overs dismantling Bazball’s top order including Crawley, Ben Duckett and Root. This feat saw the touring side collapse to 172 in just 32.5 overs.
The 35-year-old, who is occasionally labelled erratic, settled into his work imminently and made light work of England’s crown jewel Root on nought. Fast-forward to 13 days later and the 6ft 6in pacer has surpassed the great Wasim Akram’s tally of 414 wickets, making history by becoming the top-wicket taker for left-arm fast bowlers.
2) Travis Head’s fourth-innings carnage seals two-day win – Perth, Day Two, third session
After England’s slumped second innings total of 164, Australia were set 205 late on day two. Out strolled Travis Head like a true showman in the opening spot due to an Usman Khawaja’s back spasm.
What followed was utter carnage with the lefty hitting a blistering 123 off 83 balls with his hundred coming in only 69 deliveries. The innings contained 16 fours and four sixes which blew England’s confidence away and aided his side to an eigh-wicket victory inside two days with the fourth innings only lasting 28.2 overs.
3) Joe Root ends drought with first Test Hundred in Australia – Gabba, Day One
Prior to England arriving down under, much of the build-up was around Root and his capabilities of batting in Australia. Former Aussie internationals critiqued his technique and the infamous Matthew Hayden offered to walk around MCG nude if the Yorkshireman didn’t hit a Test hundred in Australia.
Fortunately for many he achieved this feat in the second Test reaching the milestone after 30 innings in Australia. The No 4 ended with 138 off 206 deliveries on day one which contained 14 fours and a six.
He celebrated in typical Root fashion, nonchalantly with a shrug to the crowd and a bat raise to the touring party within the Gabba.
4) England’s five drops cost them dear in the pink-ball Test – Gabba, Day Two
The pink-ball Test always throws a spanner in the works for any touring party but at least most come prepared. The English side opted out for the optional pink-ball warm-up in Canberra despite their heavy loss in the first Test.
To no surprise a lack of cricket doesn’t correlate to success. A total of five opportunities went to grass with Duckett and Jamie Smith guilty of four of them. This hiccup added to the pair’s misery on day one with both out for ducks.
5) Alex Carey’s brilliant glovework transforms the fourth day – Gabba, Day Four
Keeping up to the stumps in Australia is simply unheard of. Alex Carey did so and made light work of the tactical move. The flawless glovework added to the pressure once the pink ball wore old contributing to four dismissals and England’s downfall.
The Loxton-born keeper was seen taking deliveries one handed above head height. The out of the box move was dazzling and would’ve granted him the MOTM status if it weren’t for a Starc exhibition with both bat and ball.
6) Michael Neser Claims First Test Five-For in Controversial Recall – Gabba, Day Four
Neser’s introduction to the second Test was a controversial one with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon being left out to strengthen the lower order. But the move was justified in England’s second innings when Neser took five wickets – including Crawley, Ollie Pope and Stokes. The five-wicket haul was aided by Carey’s phenomenal glovework.
Australia’s inclusion of Neser and his medium-fast bowling went totally against Rob Key’s mantra of a fast aggressive bowling attack landing another blow to England’s falling tactics Down Under.
