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Australia face England in the second Ashes 2025-26 Test at The Gabba, Brisbane, starting December 4, with the hosts leading 1-0 after an eight-wicket win in Perth where Travis Head‘s explosive 123 sealed a two-day thriller. England, captained by Ben Stokes, must rebound in this day-night pink-ball encounter on a pitch expected to favour pace with green tinges, steep bounce, and lateral movement for fast bowlers. No rain is forecast for the first three days, setting up a high-stakes battle under Brisbane’s humid conditions.
Australia’s 13-1 pink-ball Test record underscores their edge, especially at home where no England side has overturned a 1-0 deficit since the 1950s. Head-to-head at Brisbane tilts heavily Australia’s way, fueling predictions of another hosts’ triumph within three days. A level series keeps England’s urn hopes alive, demanding disciplined batting to counter the Gabba’s relentless seam attack.
Gabba Pitch Report
The Gabba pitch for the Australia vs England 2nd Ashes Test presents a green-top surface with visible grass cover, primed for a pace bowler’s paradise in this day-night pink-ball clash. Expect steep bounce—among the highest globally at 1.06m for good-length deliveries—lateral seam movement, and true carry that challenges top-order batters early, especially under lights where conditions sharpen further. Curator Dave Sandurski has prepared it akin to recent lively Sheffield Shield tracks, mirroring the 2016 pink-ball Test and January 2024 day-night game, with potential for quick deterioration by Day 3 to aid spinners like Nathan Lyon. Average first-innings scores linger around 329 across 69 Tests, but England’s dismal Gabba record since 1986 and 2-5 pink-ball ledger amplify Australia’s seam attack advantage in humid Brisbane weather.
Test stats and records at Gabba
- Total Matches: 69
- Matches won batting first: 26
- Matches won bowling first: 27
- Average 1st innings Score: 329
- Average 2nd innings Score: 316
- Average 3rd innings Score: 236
- Average 4th innings Score: 158
- Highest total recorded: 645/10 (158.6 Ovs) by Australia vs England
- Lowest total recorded: 58/10 (21.3 Ovs) by India vs Australia
- Highest score chased: 329/7 (97 Ovs) by India vs Australia
- Lowest score defended: 122/10 (38 Ovs) by England vs Australia
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