There was plenty of hype in the build-up to the opening Test of the series in Perth and it’s fair to say that the contest, although short in time, delivered plenty of entertainment.
It was the first two-day Ashes Test since 1921 and not since 1909 had we witnessed 19 wickets fall in one day of Ashes cricket!
But for all of the ‘firsts’ and ‘since’ which were rolled out, it was England’s batting which once again let them down.
The ‘Bazball’ approach will no doubt continue but it produced an eight-wicket defeat in Perth, an incredible loss for the tourists who at one point, only hours before they were beaten, led by over 100 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand.
Australia have injuries, as do England, but it is the hosts who have an incredible pink-ball record and are equally formidable at the Gabba!
AUS vs ENG Betting News
RECENT PERFORMANCE
AUS
W
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AUS
W
W
W
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ENG
L
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W
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ENG
L
W
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HEAD TO HEAD
Last 6 Matches
AUS
The Ashes, 2025-26
ENG
132/10 in 45.2
205/2 in 28.2
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The Ashes 2023
England won by 49 runs
The Ashes 2023
Match drawn
The Ashes 2023
England won by 3 wickets
The Ashes 2023
Australia won by 43 runs
The Ashes 2023
Australia won by 2 wkts
Australia Preview
Considering they were bowled out for 132 in their first innings, giving up a deficit of 40 runs, Australia can be very pleased with their eight wicket win over England in Perth!
The result was all the more impressive considering they were without their captain, pace bowler Pat Cummins, and new-ball bowler Josh Hazlewood, both of who will miss this second Test as well.
Usman Khawaja is out of this game, freeing up a place at the top of the order which we expect Travis Head, the hero of Perth, to occupy and Josh Inglis to replace Head in the middle order.
With the ball, Australia are expected to stick with the same attack, meaning Mitchell Starc can aim for a second ten-wicket haul in a row.
Australia Predicted Playing XI:
Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
Cameron Green
24
50
2
0
48
Mitchell Starc
12.5
4
58
7
4.52
Brendan Doggett
7.0
1
27
2
3.86
Cameron Green
1.0
0
10
1
10
Australia Actual Playing XI:
Steven Smith, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Michael Neser
England Preview
As is the ‘Bazball’ way, England announced their XI for this Brisbane day-night pink-ball Test on Tuesday afternoon with only one change – the injured Mark Wood replaced by batting all-rounder Will Jacks.
This switch means that England’s weak batting line-up is strengthened and also allows for a new spin option although Mark Wood’s express pace will be missed, the tourists still have captain Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer providing pace.
The batting line-up must be smarter with their decision making and find a way to blunt the pink-ball expertise of Mitchell Starc.
Harry Brook hit the only half-century of the first three innings in Perth while Zak Crawley is still waiting for his first run of the series and Joe Root’s wait for an Ashes century in Australia remains.
ENG Over/Under Betting Tips
England 1st Innings score over 323.5 1.85
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England after a disastrous fourth innings performance head into the second test at The Gabba to bounce back and level the series. The experts during the pitch report mentioned it is going to be a good surface for batters on the first two days and with England batting first expect them to keep up with their scoring tempo and attack the Australian bowlers early in the day and we predict England’s 1st innings score to be over 323 runs.
England Predicted Playing XI:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
Harry Brook
52
61
5
0
85.25
Ollie Pope
46
58
4
0
79.31
Jamie Smith
33
22
6
0
150
Ben Stokes
6.0
1
23
5
3.83
Brydon Carse
10.2
1
45
3
4.35
Jofra Archer
9.0
4
11
2
1.22
England Actual Playing XI:
Ben Stokes, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse
HR
Temp
Rain
W. speed
W. direction
Clouds
00h
26
0 mm.
2.29 k/h
From: ENE
75%
03h
27
0 mm.
6.03 k/h
From: NE
0%
06h
27
0 mm.
5.3 k/h
From: NE
0%
09h
25
0 mm.
4.01 k/h
From: NE
0%
12h
22
0 mm.
2.22 k/h
From: NE
1%
15h
19
0 mm.
1.04 k/h
From: N
20%
18h
19
0 mm.
1.05 k/h
From: WNW
14%
21h
21
0 mm.
0.92 k/h
From: WNW
7%
Weather Conditions
Wall to wall sunshine and clear skies are forecast for the first three days and evenings at the Gabba although there is likely to be some rain on the two final scheduled days.
AUS vs ENG Pitch Report
Australia love playing at the Gabba due to the pace and bounce provided by the pitch. Expect it to be slightly slower than in Perth and a par total should be in the region of 350.
Toss: To Bat
Although the pink ball offers a different challenge to the red ball, batting first makes sense at the Gabba. Expect both captains to choose to do just that if they win the toss on Thursday.
England have had ten days to consider their approach and to plot a way back into this series since their debacle in Perth. We expect a longer Test in Brisbane but can look no further than another pink-ball Test victory for the hosts.
We are backing Australia to win!
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