The Ashes delivered fresh drama once again as the second Test between England and Australia exploded into mayhem within the first four overs at the Gabba. After England’s crushing two-day defeat in Perth, fans hoped for stability — instead, Brisbane offered another whirlwind start that set the tone for yet another unpredictable chapter in this storied rivalry.

What began as a routine toss quickly escalated into a frenetic, action-packed opening session. Australia’s decision to omit veteran spinner Nathan Lyon raised eyebrows, but that shock was instantly overshadowed by 20 minutes of frantic cricket featuring two English ducks, a dropped catch, missed review drama, and a destructive bowling burst from Mitchell Starc.

The left-arm quick — already England’s tormentor in Perth — wasted no time continuing his dominance. He removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope early, had Joe Root dropped in the slips, and even saw Zak Crawley survive what replays suggested was a faint edge off Michael Neser. Yet Australia, surprisingly, chose not to appeal.

Here’s how the chaos unfolded ball by ball:

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0.4 overs – England 4–0: Crawley Finally Off the Mark

After falling for ducks twice to Starc in the first Test, Zak Crawley broke his drought with a stylish cover drive — reminiscent of his opening-ball boundary off Pat Cummins in the 2023 Ashes. A moment of relief, albeit brief.

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0.6 overs – England 5–1: Starc Strikes Instantly

History repeated itself. Just as in Perth, Starc struck in the opening over, this time removing Ben Duckett for a first-ball duck. Drawn into a tentative push at a full swinging delivery, Duckett edged to first slip.
This marked a unique low for England: their openers recorded three ducks within the first two Tests of an Ashes series for the first time ever.

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2.3 overs – England 5–2: Pope Falls to a Rash Stroke

Ollie Pope, facing only his third ball, attempted an ill-judged cut shot to a wide delivery from Starc — only to drag the ball onto his own stumps. With the Gabba pitch already showing signs of steep bounce, the shot highlighted poor decision-making from England’s No. 3 so early in the innings.

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2.6 overs – England 11–2: Root Survives a Tough Chance

Joe Root, who looked unsettled, edged Starc toward the slips. Marnus Labuschagne couldn’t reach it on the bounce, and captain Steve Smith nearly pulled off a spectacular diving catch from second slip. The ball slipped through, gifting Root four valuable runs and a much-needed reprieve.

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3.5 overs – England 21–2: Did Crawley Edge It?

Michael Neser, selected specifically for his pink-ball expertise, beat Crawley with a delivery that carried a faint noise on replay. The bowler appealed, but his teammates showed little interest — and Australia opted not to review. Technology revealed a tiny scratch on Snicko, but not enough to overturn the original not-out decision.

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Starc’s Spell: A Repeat of 2013–14 Dominance

England survived the initial five-over burst, but Starc’s impact was undeniable. Within the first hour of play, he had already secured 12 wickets for the series, drawing comparisons to Mitchell Johnson’s famous 2013–14 demolition of England.

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell praised Starc’s calmness under pressure, noting how the fast bowler always appeared composed — even at breakfast before a Test match — a trait Tufnell tied to true world-class performers.

Starc’s achievements continued to stack up:

• He equaled Pakistan legend Wasim Akram with 414 Test wickets, the most by a left-arm pacer.
• He claimed a wicket in the first over of an innings for the 26th time, with three such strikes already in this series.
• He extended his staggering record in day-night Tests, reaching 83 wickets in 15 matches, far ahead of Pat Cummins in second place.

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Another Ashes Thriller in the Making

With England already under pressure and Australia’s bowlers in relentless form, the Brisbane Test promises another dramatic installment in an Ashes series defined by intensity, unpredictability, and extraordinary individual performances.

If the opening overs are any indication, the rest of this day-night Test will be every bit as chaotic — and compelling — as the rivalry demands.