New on my #blog: https://aspi.blog/2025/12/06/englands-ashes-hopes-hang-by-a-thread/
A look at the events of day three in Brisbane and a photo gallery.
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The Gabbatoir lives up to its name, but really the ground is not that tough:

"“Even miracles wouldn’t want to intervene in such situations for England,” says Abhishek Chopra. “Such a beautifully terrible omnishambles.”

"You know England are really screwed when Ben Stokes is at the crease and you still don’t believe a miracle is possible."

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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/dec/06/australia-vs-england-live-ashes-second-2nd-test-day-three-aus-v-eng-cricket-scores-updates-gabba-brisbane?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-69341aa98f088620f1c1faae#block-69341aa98f088620f1c1faae

Stumps. England are 6/134 and still 43 behind. Starc finished with a maiden. Stokes and Jacks both on 4. Scoring rate (for what it's worth) has slowed right down.

Poor batting, focused and consistent bowling have been the feature of this innings. Two caught and bowled by Neser - I don't recall the same bowler getting 2 c&b in the same innings.

All this was made possible by patient and effective batting by the Australian lower order in the first 2 sessions - particularly by Starc with great support from Boland. This pushed the start of the English 2nd innings to start at dusk where the conditions generally are more favourable for the bowlers. The English lost 6 wickets in the last session.

"Brilliant, dominant performance by Australia" says Stuart Broad. "Very poor day for England".

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Stumps on day three and England are 134-6, needing 43 more to avoid the innings defeat. At six down the end is not close enough for the extra eight overs to be taken (especially since Jacks, the junior partner, is a genuine front line batter).
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A wicket would enable Australia to extend the day by claiming the extra eight overs to finish it tonight, but otherwise this is likely to be the last over of the day.
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England are still 43 runs behind the deficit from the first innings and have lost 6 wickets. Stokes is going to have to play a blinder AND have the lower order staying around long enough for him to do it.

This is getting more and more difficult for the English.

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Flying take by Carey, and Australia think Jacks gloved it and send it upstairs when the appeal is turned down. Jacks looks happy enough, and the replay suggests thigh pad, not bat or glove. It duly stays not out and Australia lose another review.
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Jacks off the mark with a four off his second ball.
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Another wicket! Another English batsmen driving foolishly and getting a fine edge through to Carey! One more wicket to Starc! Smith (the English one) gone. And he wasted one of the English reviews by appealing to the 3rd umpire.

The Australians are bowling very well but too many English are not batting well.

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Another wicket tossed away, a firm footed drive from Smith resulting an edge behind. He sends it upstairs but that would seem to be an exercise in futility. It is duly confirmed as out. Smith gone for 4 (11) and it is 128-6, meaning that Will Jacks is in - no night watcher to protect a number eight!.
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Four more overs before cut-off time, unless England lose two more wickets, in which case a claim by Australia to an extra eight overs to finish it tonight would be upheld by the umpires.
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It is noticeable that the Australian bowlers are getting movement and variable bounce 30 overs in, whereas the English bowlers were getting hit all over the ground.

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15 of England's 20 wickets in this match have gone, and by my reckoning 12 of those involved batters getting themselves out rather than being got out - eight of the ten first innings wickets, and all save Duckett, who got a difficult delivery, in this innings.
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LBW appeal against Smith turned down, but not reviewed, for which Sharfuddoula should be grateful after two overturns in the over already.
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Umpire is having a horror over. Gave one out when clearly wasn't, then next ball gave not out, but 3rd umpire gave out on review. Then more appeals and excitement in the over.

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Another appeal for caught behind, given not out this time and sent upstairs. This time there is a spike as the ball passes the bat. They are now checking to see if the ball carried. It is confirmed as out and England are 123-5, Brook gone for 15.
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Brook out caught behind off Boland. Given not out. Australians appealed to 3rd umpire. Replay showed clear outside edge.

England are in trouble now. Still trail by 54. Boland on fire.

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Brook given out caught behind, refers instantaneously. The replay shows a king size gap between bat and ball. Awful umpiring to have given that out and well done by Brook to send it upstairs.
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Brook enjoying a bit of luck - he went for a big drive against Starc, with zero foot movement, but did not get close to the ball, so no edge. Still horrible cricket from him.
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Appeal for a caught behind against Root, not given by the umpires, sent upstairs by Australia, and the replay reveals an under edge. Root gone for d England are 121-4, still 56 adrift. Enter Ben Stokes.
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