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  1. Goodbye!published at 10:40 GMT 7 December 2025

    Media caption,

    England soundly beaten by Australia in second Test drubbing

    England have lost the second Test by eight wickets. They leave Brisbane trailing 2-0 in the Ashes.

    Make sure you read Stephan Shemilt's report from the Gabba here.

    Next stop is Adelaide, where England must win to keep their hopes of recapturing the urn alive.

    We'll be with you for every ball of the third Test, which gets under way on 16 December, but in the meantime, there's plenty of cricket content for you to enjoy on the BBC Sport website:

    See you soon! Goodbye!

  2. The winning moment...published at 10:38 GMT 7 December 2025

    Media caption,

    Smith smashes six to seal second Test win for Australia

  3. Postpublished at 10:36 GMT 7 December 2025

    England trail 2-0 and have to win the remaining three Tests to win the Ashes...

  4. Watch: Second Test highlights on BBC iPlayerpublished at 10:34 GMT 7 December 2025

    BBC iPlayer

    You can watch all of the action from day four, plus reaction from the players and analysis from the Test Match Special team, from 5pm on BBC iPlayer.

  5. 'I can lead this team to an impressive bounce back' - Stokespublished at 10:32 GMT 7 December 2025

    England captain Ben Stokes speaking to Test Match Special about England's top order: "We have to take some responsibility as a batting group, especially in that top seven.

    "I think there is some of the stuff it is mentality thing.

    "Again we seem to see those kind of things in that pressure situations when it is neither here nor there.

    "We managed to wrestle momentum back toward us then Australia have got the momentum back.

    "I see that as a common theme when the game is on the line. When the pressure is on where are we at? Are we clear to go out there and do what we need to do to get us back in the game.

    "I will be addressing this stuff in the dressing room. I'm not going to sit here and splurt it all out."

    On whether he has confidence to win the remaining three Tests: "Incredibly confident. I always have confidence in the guys who get to put the shirt on and confident in myself that I can lead this team to an impressive bounce back.

    "What else can I do and where else can I be with my mind?"

  6. 'We need to dig deep' - Stokespublished at 10:30 GMT 7 December 2025

    England captain Ben Stokes, speaking to Test Match Special: "What else are we supposed to do? We are 2-0 down and three games left - we know we have to win them.

    "It is not necessarily a blur, but moments in the game where it is on the line. Is it fight, character, mentality that we take out there as a group - that is what I have got to find out.

    "There is a saying that we have said a lot here that Australia is not for weak men.

    "A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either.

    "We need to dig deep, I need to dig deep. I need to get this team in a place where we come to Melbourne [and] we are switched on and we know where we are.

    "Individual chats, they happen constantly.

    "We are one team, but made up of 11 players. It is a team thing. If I feel that, it is constantly happening then I need to address it. I have no doubt about the guys in there that they're capable of winning this Ashes."

  7. 'I am capable as a captain' - Stokespublished at 10:29 GMT 7 December 2025

    England captain Ben Stokes, speaking to Test Match Special on his role as captain: "I am capable within myself as a captain and a player, but we cannot speak about the things that potentiality have gone wrong over this last two games.

    "As a captain, you try to put a hint of your influence into the team - your own personal character.

    "All I asked of last night was everyone had a responsibility to do in this game - with the bat was to show fight.

    "I asked them to take the scoreboard out of the equation and to just fight.

    "I think me and Jacks did an unbelievable job at doing that. The guys lower down the order have unbelievable ability to score us some runs, but they're batting down the order for reasons.

    "It is tough to expect more and more from them down the order."

  8. 'Do we need to start thinking about mentality?' - Stokespublished at 10:27 GMT 7 December 2025

    England captain Ben Stokes, speaking to Test Match Special on re-occurring themes: "Stuff is happening over and over again, moments in games, when the game is in a moment of neither here nor there Australia have managed to get through those periods and outdo us.

    "That seems to be the constant theme, not just these first two games but over a long while. I can stand here and say it's not down to a skill thing. They are all incredibly talented players but if you can't put it down to a skill thing you start to wonder, what is it?

    "Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments? When we are on top, we are great. When behind the game, we are also very good. But when that moment is neck and neck we are not coming out on top on enough occasions. There will be some conversations going on that I will keep to the dressing room. I fully back my players that we are able to bounce back from this."

  9. Postpublished at 10:24 GMT 7 December 2025

    England captain Ben Stokes has also been offering up his thoughts on Test Match Special...

  10. Second Test player ratingspublished at 10:22 GMT 7 December 2025

    Split image of Ollie Pope, Mitchell Starc, and Jamie SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Chief reporter Stephan Shemilt has filed his player ratings from the Gabba.

    Who was brilliant in Brisbane and who is wilting under pressure?

    You can read his verdict here.

  11. 'We trained too much' - McCullumpublished at 10:18 GMT 7 December 2025

    England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking to Test Match Special about doing anything differently: "Not from a preparation point of view.

    "If anything, we trained too much. We had five to 10 training sessions leading into this game.

    "Something as a coach you have to be aware of. Sometimes there is a tendency to overdo things to make up for it.

    "As we all know in this game it is played in the top two inches. We all have to find a way to ensure that we feel prepared physically, technically and we are ready for the battle, but also to make sure we are fresh and make sure we can make those decisions in the heat of the games."

  12. 'To beat Aus in Aus, you have to be at your best' - McCullumpublished at 10:16 GMT 7 December 2025

    More from England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking to Test Match Special: "We have got some work to do. We have some time. We have been here before and there is no point feeling sorry for yourself. You pick yourself up and you go again.

    "We weren't at our best and to beat Australia in Australia you have to be at your best across all three disciplines and we weren't - that is brutal honesty and we will wear that.

    "From our point of view, we know we have to be better. We have to be a lot quicker to adapt to the conditions in Adelaide. I thought we were a bit slow to adapt to the conditions here.

    "Second innings, the length they bowled and the adjustment they made and they put us under a lot of pressure. Some positives in it as well when you lose, you try grasp onto those positives and you try iron out those negative.

    "We have time and we make sure we don't lose heart. We have an opportunity to bounce back and a chance in nine days time to put our hands up and be better than what we were in this one."

  13. 'We've been here before' - McCullumpublished at 10:14 GMT 7 December 2025

    England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking to Test Match Special: "Disappointing to go 2-0 down. In a five-match series it makes things pretty tough.

    "We have been here before and we have to make sure to stay tight as a group and iron out a couple of the chinks that we have shown in the last two Test matches.

    "When you come to Australia you can't be below your best. You need to make sure you seize every opportunity.

    "A few moments in this Test match that there was times we had ascendancy with the bat and we let that slip.

    "Times where we didn't execute with the ball as well as we should have.

    "Clearly our catching was an issue as well. Very hard to beat Australia at home if your going to be deficient in all those three areas."

  14. Postpublished at 10:14 GMT 7 December 2025

    England head coach Brendon McCullum has been speaking to Test Match Special...

  15. Postpublished at 10:11 GMT 7 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    England will have to make changes going into Adelaide.

    They have to seriously consider Ollie Pope's position.

    He has played plenty of games against Australia. There is a mental scar against Australia for Pope.

    Do you bring in Jacob Bethell? Can Stokes bat at number three and Jacks bat at number six?

    It is a big risk bringing Bethell into this series when the team is 2-0 down, and he hasn't scored a first-class hundred, and you expect him to score against this Australia team with Cummins and Lyon back in the team.

  16. 'Neser was exceptional' - Smithpublished at 10:08 GMT 7 December 2025

    Australia captain Steve Smith: "I'm pretty chilled now! It was good fun there. A great day of cricket. The guys toiled really hard there. It was a good partnership from Will Jacks and Ben Stokes but once we broke that we were able to get through and leave ourselves a chase of 60 odd so pleasing.

    "I think the first two days were pretty even in terms of conditions we both faced. Nobody got a new ball at night in the first innings. The game turned when we were able to extend our innings and everyone getting into double digits, even though unfortunately nobody was able to go on and get a big one. The tail batting for 50 overs and extending it into the night so we were able to bowl with a newer ball under lights was crucial for us.

    "It was just a really good performance. It can be tricky with the pink ball - you can never feel in at times. It can change quickly and you have to adapt. Sometimes the ball gets a little bit soft, you get a ball change, or the lights come on and it speeds up a bit. It can be tricky at times. I thought the guys being able to extend those partnerships that really helped us."

    Media caption,

    'It's a shocker!' - Pope and Crawley both caught and bowled

    Media caption,

    Neser dismisses Carse for his five-for as England bowled out for 241

    On Michael Neser delivering: "He did. He made the batting longer for us as well. What he did today and in the first innings was exceptional. He offers something different to the other guys, we can bring the keeper up to the stumps, and change the game. The way he bowled today was exceptional. He's been on a lot of tours and I'm delighted he's got his first five-for."

  17. 'Got the rewards for batting deep' - Starcpublished at 10:05 GMT 7 December 2025

    Australia player of the match Mitchell Starc: "Two wins. I can't ask for much more. A hard-fought win and glad to be on the right side of it. How's the body holding up? It takes a bit longer in the mornings at this age, but I'm doing okay. Hanging in there! I still try to bowl as quick as I can and hit the stumps every time so I keep running in.

    "We've seen on this ground before the wicket is hard and that pink ball goes soft pretty early so I think as a bowling unit we bowled well in both innings. Obviously batting in the first innings it was key we got a lead there. Michael Neser, on his home ground in front of his family, was phenomenal today.

    Media caption,

    Starc dismisses Root for 15 after Australia use review

    "With the bat it was nice to put into a partnership there and from the tactical side of Test cricket we need knew it was going to be better to bowl with a hard pink ball later in the day so bat as long we did with the bat, in a partnership with Scott Boland, was really key for us. We saw later in the day we got the rewards. I'll enjoy the extra day to put my feet up and get ready for Adelaide."

    Media caption,

    Starc hits back-to-back fours to end Carse's over

  18. Postpublished at 10:02 GMT 7 December 2025

    But was this effort from Steve Smith - to break the partnership between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks - the best of the match?

    Media caption,

    Smith takes 'brilliant catch' at first slip to dismiss Jacks for 41

  19. Postpublished at 09:59 GMT 7 December 2025

    England were also left to rue dropped catches.

    While there was this spectacular effort from Will Jacks to remove Steve Smith...

    Media caption,

    'What an amazing catch!' - Jacks makes diving grab at backward square leg to dismiss Smith

    ... there were also five huge errors on day two.

    • Travis Head on 3 (Jamie Smith) – Aus 30-0
    • Alex Carey on 0 (Ben Duckett) – Aus 291-4
    • Josh Inglis on 21 (Ben Duckett) – Aus 327-5
    • Michael Neser on 6 (Brydon Carse) – Aus 346-6
    • Carey on 25 (Joe Root) – Aus 352-6

    Head put on 77 for the first wicket with Jake Weatherald, Carey went on to make 63 (69), and Carey and Neser shared a 54-run seventh-wicket stand.

    Media caption,

    'Despair' on day two for England with missed opportunities in the field

  20. Postpublished at 09:56 GMT 7 December 2025

    Spare a thought for Joe Root. He was the man of the moment on day one, scoring his maiden Test century in Australia.

    Unfortunately, his stellar 138 (206) wasn't backed up by his teammates.

    Zak Crawley (76 in the first innings) and Ben Stokes (50 in the second) were the only other players to reach 50, there were 12 sub-20 knocks, and wickets frequently fell in clumps.

    By contrast, Australia had five players pass fifty (including four of the top six), six fifty partnerships, and put on 182 for the final four wickets.

    Media caption,

    'He's done it!' - Root hits maiden century down under as England push towards 300