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  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:23 GMT 6 December 2025

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    OpenersImage source, PA Media

    If England can battle and save this match it will feel like a victory. But sadly, that’s not how this team thinks.

    NP, Wantage

  2. Eng 9-0published at 2 overs

    Michael Neser shares the new ball. His third delivery is smartly flicked square for four by Zak Crawley, who leaves the other five alone.

  3. Postpublished at 08:21 GMT 6 December 2025

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Brisbane

    It's loud from both sets of fans, the atmosphere as hot as the temperature on a perfect Brisbane evening. Joe Root was right when he said the Ashes does not need day-night Test cricket, but you can't deny Australia do them well. It really is the ideal way to watch cricket in this country.

  4. Postpublished at 08:19 GMT 6 December 2025

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England have just got to clear the brain. Forget the scoreboard.

    Play your natural game, perhaps tweak it a little bit and don't be so flamboyant.

  5. Eng 5-0published at 1 over

    Zak Crawley gets off the mark with a single off the second ball.

    Ben Duckett - who got a golden duck in the first innings - is also up and running, darting three.

    Crawley finishes with a single.

    England have made it through the first over without losing a wicket. Trumpets.

  6. Eng 0-0published at 0.1 overs

    StarcImage source, Getty Images

    Mitchell Starc stares down Zak Crawley as he waits for the umpire to give the all clear.

    He lopes in, fires down the pink ball, and Crawley defends.

  7. Postpublished at 08:14 GMT 6 December 2025

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England's opening batters must be tired. It is going to be tough - crucial to get through this little spell.

    If Scott Boland can stay out there and make it look simple with an old ball. You have to take heart that there is no demons in this pitch.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:14 GMT 6 December 2025

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    BrisbaneImage source, PA Media

    I hope I am wrong, but with the sun setting and the Aussie bowlers licking their lips, this has all the feelings of impending doom.

    JD, Summerisle

  9. Postpublished at 08:13 GMT 6 December 2025

    The players are back out. Australia lead by 177 runs.

    Mitchell Starc has handed his cap to the umpire...

    Roars around the Gabba.

  10. How's stat?!published at 08:11 GMT 6 December 2025

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Highest team totals without an individual century in Test history

    • 531 - Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in 2024, Chattogram
    • 524-9 (dec) - India v New Zealand in 1976, Kanpur
    • 520-7 (dec) - Australia v West Indies in 2009, Perth (WACA)
    • 517 - South Africa v Australia in 1998, Adelaide
    • 511 - Australia v England, Today
  11. Postpublished at 08:08 GMT 6 December 2025

    So, Australia scored 511 from 117.3 overs.

    Mitchell Starc top-scored (yes, you read that right) with 77 (141) while there were also half-centuries for Jake Weatherald (72 off 78), Marnus Labuschagne (65 off 78), Alex Carey (63 off 69), and Steve Smith (61 off 85).

    Every Australia batter reached double figures, they had six 50+ partnerships, and they added 182 for the final four wickets... remember those dropped catches on day three?

  12. Postpublished at 08:06 GMT 6 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I actually don't think losing that wicket is a bad thing at all for Australia.

    It might just have given Mitchell Starc a bit more rest before bowling.

    You want the sun setting a little bit further so the lights take effect a bit more, however it's not going to make all that much difference.

  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 117.3 overs

    Doggett c Brook b Jacks 13 (Aus 511 all out)

    Finally, finally, Australia's innings is over!

    Will Jacks get a big edge from Brendan Doggett and Harry Brook takes a routine catch in the slips.

    Australia are all out for 511, leading by 177 runs. England will have a tricky half an hour or so to bat before the break.

  14. How's stat?!published at 08:02 GMT 6 December 2025

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Pitch map

    Very efficient innings from Mitchell Starc maximising on his strength in his knock today. Starc struck at a rate of 200 when the deliveries were pitched up full, and facing hard length deliveries scored at a rate of 61 - slightly higher than his career strike-rate of 49 with these deliveries in Australia.

  15. Aus 511-9published at 117 overs

    The camera has just picked out a rather fed up looking chap in a sizeable England contingent. One hand on his brow, resting his eyes.

    A wide and two singles.

  16. What's happened today...published at 07:59 GMT 6 December 2025

    Top of the mornin' to you. Tuning in to check what's happened in the Ashes after some shut eye? Well, it's fair to say that it's not been England's day thus far. Let's have a quick recap...

    Australia started the day on 378-6 and England might have hoped to knock the home side over quickly when Ben Stokes removed Michael Neser, caught by Jamie Smith, for 16 in the second over of the day.

    But Alex Carey nudged the score along with a 52-ball half-century as he and Mitchell Starc shared a 33-run stand for the eighth wicket.

    Gus Atkinson managed to remove Carey - dropped twice yesterday, you will recall - for 63 when he slashed at one and Smith gobbled up the catch.

    That was Atkinson's first wicket of the series.

    After that, it was largely the Mitchell Starc show.

    The 35-year-old batted with tremendous game awareness as he wore down an England bowling attack which grew increasingly weary.

    Starc picked his moments to attack, defend and rotated the strike with Scott Boland as the pair shared a 75-run stand for the ninth wicket.

    Starc, who has never made a century in any format of professional cricket, was eventually dismissed when he chipped Brydon Carse to mid-off where Ben Stokes took the catch after a near-collison with Ben Duckett.

    Australia's last pair of Boland and Brendan Doggett continue to pile on the misery for England and the runs for the home side.

    Boland is unbeaten on 20 off 67 while Doggett is 12 not out off 17.

    Australia's lead is 174.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:57 GMT 6 December 2025

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    There are lots of runs in this pitch. If any batsmen (bar Root) get 20-30 at a run a ball and then get out, or if anyone swipes at one a mile outside off and gets out, they should be dropped. Sticking around clearly gets runs, so maybe try that.

    Anthony, Buckinghamshire

  18. Aus 508-9published at 116 overs

    Brendan Doggett runs a single off the first ball of the 116th to move into double figures. Every Australia batter has achieved that. Four England players got ducks...

    There's another three runs in the over before Doggett edges one that drops just in front of Harry Brook in the slips.

  19. Postpublished at 07:54 GMT 6 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I never thought we would be at this stage of a Test match and thinking, 'How are England going to pick up a wicket?'

  20. How's stat?!published at 07:53 GMT 6 December 2025

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    It's a very unusual innings.

    Australia have passed 500 with no century stands and no individual scores over 80. It is only the fourth time in Test history that a team has made 500 without at least one century stand.