A tense atmosphere hangs over the Gabba, Brisbane, as the second Ashes Test begins tomorrow, a day-night affair that presents a unique challenge for the touring England team. THE Ashes 2025-26 the series has already gotten off to a dramatic start, with Australia draw first blood in a fast-paced, low-scoring contest. The tourists are desperate to level the score, but they face a historically dominant Australian side with the pink ball.
Ashes 2025-26: Series so far between England and Australia
The highly anticipated Men’s Ashes 2025-26 started with a bang, but not the one England hoped for. The opening Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium ended in just two days, marking a historic and painful defeat for the tourists.
- Result of the first test: Australia won by eight wickets against England.
- Series score: Australia leads the five-match series 1-0.
- Next try: The second Test is a day/night match (pink ball), starting on 4 December 2025 at the Gabba, Brisbane.
- Following tests: The series moves to the Adelaide Oval for the third Test (day/night), followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test at the SCG in Sydney.
Ashes 2025-26: England pink-ball Test record ahead of Gabba match against Australia
England’s history in day-night Test cricket with the pink ball has been a major cause for concern heading into this crucial second Test. They struggled to master the conditions and movement that the extra lacquer on the Kookaburra ball provides, especially under the spotlight.
- Overall Pink Ball Test Record: I played 7, won 2, lost 5.
- Australia pink ball Test record: I played 3, lost 3.
Crucially, England have never won a pink-ball Test against Australia. Their three previous meetings in Australia – in Adelaide (2017), Adelaide (2021) and Hobart (2022) – all ended in heavy defeats. Australia, on the other hand, has a formidable record of 13 wins in 14 pink-ball Tests around the world.
Ashes 2025-26: 3 England players who can trouble Australia in pink-ball Test at Gabba
Despite a dark history, England have world-class players who have the skills and temperament to turn the tide. Here are three key players who could pose the most potent threat to Australia in the day-night Test at the Gabba:
1. Harry Brook (middle order batsman)
Harry Brook represents the future of England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, and his limited but impactful pink-ball track record suggests he is untroubled by the idiosyncrasies of the format. Brook played just one day-night Test, but he made his mark by hitting a confident and vital 89 in his only innings against New Zealand in 2023. This performance alone gives him a pink ball batting average of 44.50, very close to his outstanding career average, highlighting his ability to adapt his fast attacking game to the conditions.
The pink ball often swings more, especially under lights, but Brook’s aggressive footwork and ability to cross the line can disrupt a bowler’s rhythm. His fearless approach is exactly what is needed to put pressure on a dominant Australian attack that relies on building pressure. If he can survive the initial move, his penchant for scoring quickly could take the game away from Australia in a critical session.
| Category | Matches | Sleeves | Works | Highest Score (HS) | Batting average | 50/100 |
| Pink Ball Test Statistics | 1 | 2 | 89 | 89 | 44.50 | 1 /0 |
2. Joe Root (top batter)
Joe Root is the undisputed anchor of England’s batting line-up and their most experienced player in the day-night format, having featured in all seven of England’s pink-ball Tests. His wealth of experience in handling tricky twilight periods, where the pink ball often exhibits maximum movement, is indispensable. Root has accumulated 501 runs in D/N Tests, with a solid batting average of 38.53 which, although lower than his career mark, is crucial resilience against the moving ball. He has one century (136) and four fifties, highlighting his ability to build substantial innings.
His technical skills and patience are key to surviving Mitchell Starc’s deadly spells with the new pink ball. For England to truly threaten Australia, Root must convert his starts into one of his monumental scores, providing the stability around which the rest of the aggressive batting order can play.
| Category | Matches | Sleeves | Works | Highest Score (HS) | Batting average | 50/100 |
| Pink Ball Test Statistics | 7 | 13 | 501 | 136 | 38.53 | 4/1 |
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3. Jofra Archer (Pace Bowler)
Jofra Archer is England’s ultimate X-factor in pink-ball cricket. Although his overall pink ball stats are limited to one Trials due to an injury, they in no way reflect its potential impact. He took 1 wicket in D/N Tests at an average of 24:00, but his value lies in the express pace and lively, unsettling bounce. he extracts, which is magnified on the fast surface of Gabba and enhanced by the lacquer of the pink ball.
Against an Australian top order featuring several left-handers, Archer’s ability to angle the ball and straighten it or get it away late makes him lethal, especially with the new ball under the lights. His intensity and ability to bowl spells at over 90 mph can break down a stable batting line-up, making him arguably the most critical part of England’s bowling attack if they are to successfully trouble Australia’s batters.
| Category | Matches | Sleeves | Counters | Best bowling (BB) | Pin average | Economical price |
| Pink Ball Test Statistics | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1/24 | 24h00 | 3.57 |
ALSO READ: AUS vs ENG, Ashes 2025-26: England reveal their playing XI for the Gabba Test, no place for Mark Wood
