Ashes 2025 live score: England facing defeat as Australia look to wrap up victory on day four

The first boundary of the day from Ben Stokes, whipping pleasantly straight of midwicket after Mitchell Starc tries to target his pads. No real alarm for England’s batters in the first couple of the day.

Mitchell Starc is tossed the ball at the other end, boasting as he does an outstanding record to Ben Stokes.

Two leaves wide outside off stump represent a simple enough task for the England captain.

There are two slips and a gully in for Australia first up, still protecting rather than going all out attack. Obviously Will Jacks is a very handy No 8 – he sees out the rest of Scott Boland’s opening over.

A nudged single to midwicket. A solid start from Ben Stokes.

Scott Boland has ball in hand. He begins with figures of 2-33 from 10 overs.

Ben Stokes has 4 (24) and is on strike; partner Will Jacks has faced nine balls for his four. Can they stave off 2-0?

Ben Stokes and Will Jacks are ready to go, perched on their bats on the boundary. An unlikely England fightback or a swift Australian victory? Things could move quickly in this first session.

The pitch still looks decent enough, although we did see some variable bounce yesterday. It’s another warm day in Brisbane with the threat of some rain later – and indeed tomorrow….

Right, with play little more than 20 minutes away, here’s a reminder of what happened yesterday:

Michael Neser hailed Mitchell Starc as the “greatest lefty of all time” after yesterday’s play after another start turn from Australia’s pace spearhead.

Starc, the experienced leader of the attack in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, struck twice late in the day after scoring 77 with the bat to continue a talismanic series.

“He’s a special player. He doesn’t like to admit it but he is the GOAT, the greatest lefty of all time,” said Neser, who like Starc and Scott Boland took two wickets. “He does it with the ball, the bat, and to be next to him, witnessing what he does, is just amazing. I don’t know how long he batted for but it was serious heat out there and to back it up with the ball like he did, it’s very special.”

Michael Vaughan bemoaned another day of “humiliation” for England after they collapsed to the brink of a second successive hefty Ashes defeat against Australia in Brisbane.

The tourists finished day three on 134 for six, still 43 adrift, at the Gabba and former captain Vaughan insisted they only had themselves to blame for sticking to their attacking philosophy.

Vaughan told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: “England were humiliated in that second day in Perth, and today and yesterday.

“Australia have just dominated two days of cricket. From England having a decent day one we all got a bit excited within two days. Australia have gone, ‘OK, we will show you how to bat in Test match cricket and then we will show you how to bowl’.

“This one way of playing and ultra-aggressive driving on the up at all costs when the ball is doing a bit just doesn’t work.

“It’s just not possible to play this style of cricket against quality bowlers. Let’s just mention this Australian team have got over a thousand wickets not playing. This is their second string.”