England’s hopes in the second Test and the Ashes are in tatters after a bleak and depressing third day in Brisbane.
On a Saturday that will join England’s long history of misery on a ground where they have not won since 1986, Australia tortured the visitors with the bat and then applied overwhelming pressure with the ball.
To the delight of a baying Gabba crowd and in the intense atmosphere of the Queensland night, England were left in disarray at 134-6, still 43 behind. Defeat in three days was narrowly avoided.
Facing a first-innings deficit of 177, England began their twilight second innings against the pink ball with promise: the visitors were 45-0 in six overs at the dinner break.
As always, England were unable to bat well enough for long enough and mistakes were inevitable.
Ben Duckett may feel unlucky to be bowled by a Scott Boland scuttler, however, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley made irresponsible moves to be caught and bowled by Michael Neser.
Even Joe Root was guilty of overtaking Mitchell Starc, Harry Brook clipped Boland and Jamie Smith became the umpteenth England player to go down trying to drive Starc.
Ben Stokes has engineered unimaginable Ashes escapes in the past. This won’t be one of them and his team is crumbling around him. The captain remains unbeaten, with him and Will Jacks both on four.
Australia were earlier led by 77 from Starc (the pace bowler who added runs to his stellar series with the ball) to keep England on the field for almost two sessions and amass 511.
It was a slow roast in the Brisbane sun and England’s collapse that followed was entirely predictable.
