The second Ashes Test in Brisbane erupted into pandemonium within minutes on Thursday, as Australia’s Mitchell Starc once again proved the master of pink-ball cricket. After England’s two-day capitulation in Perth, hopes of a steadier start vanished almost instantly under the Gabba lights.
Even before the first delivery, the Test had taken an intriguing turn. Australia confirmed the omission of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, opting instead for seamer Michael Neser to exploit the twilight conditions. It was a tactical gamble, but one that quickly paid dividends as England were thrust into disarray.
Starc wasted no time asserting his dominance. With his very first ball, he removed opener Ben Duckett for a golden duck, continuing England’s worrying trend of early collapses. Duckett, drawn into a tentative prod at a full, swinging delivery, edged to slip, marking the third duck by an England opener in just two Tests.
The atmosphere around the ground crackled. England were already reeling, and the chaos deepened only minutes later. Ollie Pope, facing uneven bounce and relentless swing, attempted an expansive cut to a wide ball from Starc. The decision backfired disastrously as he chopped on, leaving England stunned at 5-2 with just 15 balls bowled.
Joe Root very nearly joined the procession. In the same over, Starc squared him up, producing a thick edge that flew low towards the slips. Steve Smith dived across teammate Marnus Labuschagne but failed to cling on to the difficult chance. The ball trickled to the boundary, giving Root a nervy four and England a rare moment of fortune.
The drama refused to subside. Zak Crawley appeared to feather a delivery from Neser behind the wicket. The bowler went up alone, receiving no support from his teammates. Replays later showed a faint mark on the snicko, though not definitive enough to overturn an on-field not-out call. Australia’s hesitation may have spared England from an even deeper crisis.
Despite the carnage, England somehow survived Starc’s blistering opening spell without losing further wickets. Yet the damage to their confidence was unmistakable. Starc’s early breakthroughs not only showcased his skill but also cemented his status among cricket’s greats. The left-arm pacer’s first-over wicket marked the 26th time he has struck in the opening over of a Test innings—three of those coming in this series alone.
The milestone also propelled Starc alongside Wasim Akram on 414 Test wickets, the highest tally for any left-arm fast bowler. His dominance in day-night Tests remains unparalleled, with his wicket haul now rising to 83 from 15 matches, far ahead of teammate Pat Cummins and any rival in world cricket.
Former England spinner Phil Tufnell summed up the aura surrounding Starc with trademark humour on Test Match Special. “Mitchell Starc always looked so calm at breakfast,” he joked. “That’s how you know he’s world-class. He’s calm while you’re nervous.”
England, by contrast, displayed anything but calm. Their top order once again fell victim to rash decision-making under pressure, reminiscent of previous Ashes nightmares. The ghosts of Mitchell Johnson’s ferocious 2013-14 campaign at the same venue felt uncomfortably close as England’s batters struggled to cope with pace, swing and intensity.
By the end of the opening hour, the Test had delivered a full spectrum of cricketing theatre—panic, brilliance, missed chances and controversy. Australia had manufactured chaos with calculated precision, while England survived only through sporadic luck and stubborn resistance from Root and Crawley.
As the evening session approached, one thing was undeniable: the Ashes had regained its trademark unpredictability. Starc’s early blitz may well prove decisive as the series narrative unfolds, but for now, Brisbane has once again produced a gripping chapter in cricket’s fiercest rivalry.
