The Ashes 2025 third Test day two LIVE updates: The $4m man strikes: Fired-up Green sends Brook packing, England in all sorts
I came into play today thinking England were right in the game, based on the batting-friendly pitch, the heat and how poorly Australia batted on the first day.
Surely, England would improve here with more favourable conditions. They haven’t.
Australians have been cynical about Bazball, but what today has shown is that England are just not that good.
They’ve been more circumspect with the bat today on the pitch that has offered the least assistance to the bowlers – and it has not helped.
I thought Australia’s 371 was sub-par, so a scoreline of 6-168 in the final session is unacceptable.
They haven’t lost a flurry of wickets to extravagant drives on the up, but their failure to execute the basics has exposed the widening gap between the two sides.
Ben Stokes is in for the grind, taking 108 balls for his 31, but the scoreboard’s not moving.
Australia have lured England into a cage fight. They love this attritional cricket.
