Australia walked away from day two of the second Ashes Test with the momentum firmly in their grasp, capitalising on a flat and uninspired English bowling performance that has put the tourists in danger of slipping to a daunting 2-0 series deficit. What should have been a defining early-morning opportunity for England instead unfolded into a session dominated by Australia’s top order, who strode to lunch at 1-130 after just 21 overs, dismantling an attack that had promised so much but delivered very little.
England arrived in this series trumpeting a rejuvenated fast-bowling brigade — one they believed was built precisely for Australian conditions. Yet when the moment came to harness the pink ball at its hardest under ideal early-day conditions, the potency they anticipated evaporated almost immediately. Australia’s batters, led assertively by Jake Weatherald, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, made them pay in brutal fashion. Their attacking intent not only blunted England’s plans but also shifted the tone for an entire day that left the hosts in a commanding position.
Former Australian captain Kim Hughes summed up the sense of bewilderment surrounding England’s rapid decline. Speaking to The West Australian, Hughes said England’s pace assault in the opening Test in Perth had reminded him of the fearsome West Indies attacks he once faced — high praise that only highlighted how far their performance has since fallen. Their display in the second Test has been anything but intimidating, and Hughes did not mince words, noting their subsequently “pedestrian” execution.
The issue has not been talent but consistency — or the lack of it. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson both opened this series bowling with fire, but across the innings in Brisbane, their speed, rhythm, and sharpness all dropped significantly. With each successive spell, the sting disappeared. Atkinson in particular has seen his pace evaporate “the longer he has been forced to bowl,” an issue that has been compounded by England’s longer-than-expected time in the field. The high workloads are clearly draining their strike bowlers, leaving them unable to sustain the level of aggression and accuracy needed to rattle Australian batters on home soil.
Brydon Carse, England’s standout from the first Test, also struggled to reproduce his earlier success. While he eventually picked up some wickets late in the day, they came amid what could only be described as erratic bowling and some puzzling Australian shot choices. For long stretches he was unable to apply pressure, leaking runs and allowing the scoreboard to tick at a pace England simply could not afford.
Compounding England’s woes was the decision at selection level. After leaning into an all-out pace strategy in Perth, the visitors opted to replace the injured Mark Wood not with another fast bowler but with off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks. The problem became clear almost immediately: Stokes did not appear confident in using Jacks in meaningful spells, and the result was an attack lacking variety, balance, and — most critically — reliability. Without spin pressure and with pace bowlers fading as overs mounted, Australia found themselves with the kind of batting conditions they relish.
Australia’s top-order dominance was as much about their own execution as it was about England’s struggles. The hosts were disciplined, positive, and composed, punishing anything loose while also respecting deliveries that deserved caution. Labuschagne played with the technical precision that has defined his Test career, while Head and Weatherald used England’s inconsistency to maintain scoreboard pressure from the outset. Every missed length became an opportunity, and every lull in England’s energy was exploited.
For England, this growing pattern is becoming increasingly concerning. They have spent the past three years, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, shaping a style of play tailored specifically for this Ashes campaign. The aggressive, fearless approach to batting has garnered attention, but the bowling strategy — supposedly built for Australian surfaces — has not lived up to the billing. Instead, England appear to have underestimated just how vital preparation time is on Australian wickets. Their decision to rely on only one three-day warm-up match against their own reserves now looks like a significant misstep, particularly given the demanding nature of pink-ball Tests.
England insisted their limited preparation was enough. But the early signs in this series suggest otherwise. Their bowlers look underdone, their lengths inconsistent, and their ability to adapt under pressure lacking. If they cannot rediscover the discipline they showed in Perth, and quickly, their hopes of reclaiming the Ashes will fade fast.
As Australia continue to tighten their grip on the match and the series, England once again find themselves needing a fightback — one that feels increasingly difficult with each passing session. The tourists have not won a Test on Australian soil in 17 matches, and unless their bowlers rediscover their bite and their selectors find a more balanced attack, that streak could easily extend further. They have the personnel, they have the belief, but belief alone cannot win Test matches. Australia have seized the initiative, and England now face yet another uphill battle to keep the Ashes alive.
