BRISBANE — The dust has settled on a pulsating second Ashes Test at the Gabba, a match that swung violently before Australia ultimately held their nerve to level the series 1-1. With the contest now perfectly poised, the pressure on individual players has intensified. Chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt assesses who is thriving and who might be wilting under the furnace of an Ashes battle.
Australia: The Hosts Regain Their Footing
After the shock of Edgbaston, Australia’s response in Brisbane was characteristically resilient. Several key players stood up when it mattered, though questions remain over a couple of established stars. The bowling attack, in particular, showed its world-class depth and adaptability in the absence of Nathan Lyon.
The Batting Order: Head Leads the Charge
Travis Head (9/10): The defining innings of the match. Promoted to No.5, Head’s counter-attacking 148 from 147 balls on the first day wrestled the initiative from England in brutal fashion. He was the difference between a sub-300 total and Australia’s match-defining 487. After being dropped for the World Test Championship final, this was a monumental statement. "Pure, unadulterated counter-punching at its best," as one commentator put it.
Steve Smith (7/10): A return to something near his best. His 91 in the first innings was a masterclass in accumulation and pressure-building. While he’ll be furious at missing a hundred, his crucial second-innings 44 not out guided Australia home in a tense chase. The signs are ominous for England.
Usman Khawaja (6/10): Solid if unspectacular. A patient 75 in the first innings provided the perfect platform for Head’s fireworks. Failed in the second dig, but his experience at the top remains vital. His reliability is a key asset.
Marnus Labuschagne (5/10): A quiet game by his lofty standards. Got starts in both innings (32 & 26) but failed to convert. Looked uncharacteristically fidgety at times against Mark Wood’s pace. He’ll be keen to cash in at his home ground in Melbourne.
David Warner (4/10) & Marcus Harris (3/10): The opening conundrum persists. Warner battled to 36 in the first innings but looked vulnerable. Harris’s pair (0 & 0) places his spot under severe threat, with whispers growing louder about a potential recall for Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw. Pressure rating: Extreme for Harris; High for Warner.
The Bowling Attack: Depth on Display
Mitchell Starc (8/10): Answered his critics emphatically. His first-ball wicket of Rory Burns was iconic, and he removed Joe Root twice in the match. Finished with six vital wickets and provided constant threat with the new ball. His place is now unquestionable.
Pat Cummins (7/10): The captain led from the front. While not at his absolute penetrative best, his six wickets included the crucial scalp of Ben Stokes in the first innings. His calm leadership during England’s second-innings fightback was impressive.
Cameron Green (7/10): A coming-of-age performance with the ball. His extra bounce and pace accounted for both Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler at critical times. Still waiting for a major contribution with the bat, but his bowling is becoming a primary weapon.
Michael Neser & Jhye Richardson (7/10): Thrown into the fray due to injury, both excelled. Neser took key wickets and scored handy runs. Richardson’s five-wicket haul in the second innings, breaking England’s stubborn resistance, was the match-clinching spell. Australia’s fast-bowling riches are the envy of the world.
England: Promise Fades as Old Frailties Resurface
England will leave Brisbane ruing a massive missed opportunity. Their first-innings batting collapse and some curious tactical calls ultimately cost them. There are bright sparks, but the consistency required to win in Australia remains elusive.
The Batting: Too Reliant on the Skipper
Joe Root (8/10): Yet again, England’s standout performer. A majestic 89 in the first innings held a fragile top order together. His second-innings 24 was cut short by a stunning catch. The concern is the growing gap between him and the rest. He is carrying the batting.
Dawid Malan (6/10): Played well for his 82 in a fine partnership with Root, showing great composure. However, his second-innings duck, edging behind off Starc, highlighted his ongoing vulnerability outside off stump early in his innings.
The middle and lower order showed fight, but the top-order failures are a critical issue:
- Rory Burns (2/10): A first-ball duck and a scratchy 13. The technical and mental scars from Starc’s first-ball dismissal at the Gabba four years ago seem fresh. His place is hanging by a thread.
- Haseeb Hameed (3/10): Two starts (25 & 27) but unable to go on. Looks organised but gets out in soft ways. Needs a score to cement his spot.
- Ollie Pope (4/10): A bright 31 in the second innings showed his talent, but a loose drive in the first innings continues a pattern of promising dismissals. The potential is clear, the output is not.
Ben Stokes (5/10): A quiet game by his superhero standards. Bowled with heart but without great reward. His batting (14 & 42) lacked its usual fluency and impact. England need him to explode into life soon.
The Bowling: Wood the Silver Lining
Mark Wood (9/10): England’s player of the match. His sheer pace was Australia’s biggest problem, consistently breaching 150kph. He removed Smith and Labuschagne in the first innings and claimed a deserved five-wicket haul. "A lion-hearted effort that gave England a sniff," noted Shemilt.
Ollie Robinson (6/10): Took important wickets (including Head and Green) but lacked the consistent menace of the first Test. Appeared to struggle slightly with the Kookaburra ball after its initial shine faded.
James Anderson & Stuart Broad (5/10): Rested for this match, a decision that will be debated endlessly. Their experience was missed during Head’s assault and in the tight fourth-innings chase. Their management is a major tactical storyline for the rest of the series.
Ben Stokes (4/10) & Joe Root (4/10): As bowling options, they were used heavily. Stokes toiled manfully, while Root’s part-time spin, though it claimed Warner, leaked runs at a critical time on day one, arguably allowing Head to settle.
Verdict: Pressure Points Exposed
The series is beautifully set at 1-1, but the psychological landscape has shifted. Australia’s batting depth, led by Head, and their frightening fast-bowling reserves have answered the Edgbaston wake-up call. For England, the over-reliance on Root and Anderson/Broad is stark. The players under the most intense scrutiny heading to Melbourne are clear:
Marcus Harris & Rory Burns: Their positions are now untenable without a score in the next Test. The pressure to retain their place is absolute.
England’s Top Three (excluding Root): As a collective, they must find a way to blunt the new ball and build platforms. The current rate of failure is unsustainable if they are to win the Ashes.
England’s Selection Panel: The decision to rest both Anderson and Broad has backfired. Their choices for the Boxing Day Test, at a ground that often suits their skills, will be under the microscope.
Australia have weathered their early storm. England, meanwhile, must prove their Gabba performance was a stumble and not a reversion to old habits. As the series moves to the MCG, it is the men in the England camp who will be staring at the ceiling at night, knowing improvements are non-negotiable.