2nd Ashes Test: Australia v England @ The Gabba Thu Dec 4-8, 2025

[King-Gutho94]

To go 2-0 up without three of the established bowling quartet (Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon) over the past 8 years since they first appeared together at the start of the 2017/18 Ashes is a phenomenal achievement.

If Cummins comes back and bowls as well as he has over the past few years, some big winning margins over the next three tests are on the cards. Furthermore, it will definitely take pressure off Starc, since a return for Hazlewood in this Ashes series is looking extremely doubtful now after his recent achillies soreness injury.

My prediction (after watching the first 2 tests): bad weather or a road like the one dished up for the 2017 Boxing Day Test is the only thing that gets in the way of a 5-0 whitewash for Australia.

Yeah basically with our fast bowling cartel down its been a massive missed opportunity for England.

Jacks and Stokes showed today batting sensibly grinding away we lack the pace and class to break through if things get tough and batters just keep pitching away.


And on Mitchell Starc

Baz McCullum has been retired for a decade and Starc is still destroying him a decade on from the world cup final.

 

[undertaker]

Yeah thinking Ashes series can be won relaxing in Noosa.

Hasn't been done before in 150 years why is it going to work now.

Maybe a one-way ticket back to New Zealand and coaching the Poms via. Zoom meetings on his phone might do the trick.

 

[Chins]

Yeah basically with our fast bowling cartel down its been a massive missed opportunity for England.

Jacks and Stokes showed today batting sensibly grinding away we lack the pace and class to break through if things get tough and batters just keep pitching away.


And on Mitchell Starc

Baz McCullum has been retired for a decade and Starc is still destroying him a decade on from the world cup final.

That 3 ball duck from Baz Boy is the most selfish innings I've seen in the sport, really special stuff.

 

[undertaker]

Yeah basically with our fast bowling cartel down its been a massive missed opportunity for England.

Jacks and Stokes showed today batting sensibly grinding away we lack the pace and class to break through if things get tough and batters just keep pitching away.


And on Mitchell Starc

Baz McCullum has been retired for a decade and Starc is still destroying him a decade on from the world cup final.

In Baz's case, his foolish batting in the first over of that 2015 ICC World Cup Final cemented his chump status forever. He completely flopped and failed to deliver when it mattered most, and deserved a large portion of the blame for putting his teammates under immense pressure so early on.

Like the 1994 Winfield Cup Grand Final where Martin Bella knocked-on from the kick-off and Canberra dominated from that first play of the game right through to the full-time whistle, Australia got the momentum very early courtesy of Starc dismissing Baz, and maintained that momentum right through to the end of the match.

Also revealing is former New Zealand head coach Andy Moles' views on Baz. To say they're not flattering is a gross understatement:

Ex-Coach Andy MolesDrops Bombshell On Brendon McCullum’s Ego And Team Betrayal

In a controversial revelation, former New Zealand coach Andy Moles has blasted Brendon McCullum in his explosive autobiography.

cricket.one

Interesting that 2009 ICC Champions Trophy tournament got referenced by Moles. The internet is forever. In the aftermath of Baz's comments about him being bitterly disappointed with the Australians over the whole Bairstow-Carey stumping incident at Lord's, footage went viral of Baz doing the EXACT same thing to Paul Collingwood 14 years earlier. Hypocrisy, much?:

 

[jargan83]

Australia deadset lives rent free in Baz's brain

 

[King-Gutho94]

In Baz's case, his foolish batting in the first over of that 2015 ICC World Cup Final cemented his chump status forever. He deserves a very large portion of the blame for putting his team under immense pressure so early on the big stage.

Like the 1994 Winfield Cup Grand Final where Martin Bella knocked-on from the kick-off and Canberra dominated from that first play of the game right through to the full-time whistle, Australia got the momentum very early on courtesy of Starc dismissing Baz, and maintained that momentum right through to the end of the match.

Also revealing is former New Zealand head coach Andy Moles' views on Baz. To say they're not flattering is a gross understatement:

Ex-Coach Andy MolesDrops Bombshell On Brendon McCullum’s Ego And Team Betrayal

In a controversial revelation, former New Zealand coach Andy Moles has blasted Brendon McCullum in his explosive autobiography.

cricket.one

He stabbed Ross Taylor in the back to get the NZ captaincy.

That was enough for me to realise his a snake who can't be trusted.

I went off him completely in 2015 when he had a go at Steve Smith for upholding a dismissal in an ODI against Ben Stokes for obstructing the Field at Lords.

Like as the NZ captain at the time fancy getting on your high horse saying i wouldnt have done that in regards to a England v Australia ODI match like seriously.

And whats with English blokes not staying in there crease.

 

[Marshall_magic]

To go 2-0 up without three of the established bowling quartet (Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon) over the past 8 years since they first appeared together at the start of the 2017/18 Ashes is a phenomenal achievement.

If Cummins comes back and bowls as well as he has over the past few years, some big winning margins over the next three tests are on the cards. Furthermore, it will definitely take pressure off Starc, since a return for Hazlewood in this Ashes series is looking extremely doubtful now after his recent achillies soreness injury.

My prediction (after watching the first 2 tests): bad weather or a road like the one dished up for the 2017 Boxing Day Test is the only thing that gets in the way of a 5-0 whitewash for Australia.

I think England will win a game (either Adelaide or Sydney), they play high risk cricket but it will come off once over the series.

 

[Marshall_magic]

He stabbed Ross Taylor in the back to get the NZ captaincy.

That was enough for me to realise his a snake who can't be trusted.

I went off him completely in 2015 when he had a go at Steve Smith for upholding a dismissal in an ODI against Ben Stokes for obstructing the Field at Lords.

Like as the NZ captain at the time fancy getting on your high horse saying i wouldnt have done that in regards to a England v Australia ODI match like seriously.

And whats with English blokes not staying in there crease.

I remember his holier than thou rant about George Bailey doing that in the BBL - always thought the bloke was high on his own supply after that.

 

[Chins]

I think England will win a game (either Adelaide or Sydney), they play high risk cricket but it will come off once over the series.

Not with Cummins back. They miss their w chances

 

[undertaker]

He stabbed Ross Taylor in the back to get the NZ captaincy.

That was enough for me to realise his a snake who can't be trusted.

I went off him completely in 2015 when he had a go at Steve Smith for upholding a dismissal in an ODI against Ben Stokes for obstructing the Field at Lords.

Like as the NZ captain at the time fancy getting on your high horse saying i wouldnt have done that in regards to a England v Australia ODI match like seriously.

And whats with English blokes not staying in there crease.

100% agree with you.

Always had a good impression of Ross Taylor whenever he toured Australia. Came across as both talented and humble.

After reading what he dealt with being white-anted by the joint collaboration of Baz and then-coach Mike Hesson, it's amazing that Taylor stuck around and continued to perform as well as he did for the Kiwis when he was in high demand on the T20 circuit.

Regarding English blokes not staying in their crease, good ol' Jonny "it's within the rules of the game, and that's how it is" Bairstow in the 2014 County cricket championship:


And that exposes the hypocrisy right there. If the roles had been reversed at Lord's in 2023, and it was Bairstow who stumped Carey out of his crease the way that Carey did to Bairstow, the home crowd would be in raptures, and the likes of Piss Morgan, Geoff Boycott et al. in the British media who had a massive tantrum in the aftermath of that test match and harped on about the incident not being in the spirit of the game....instead, they would all be praising Bairstow and going on about it for days, saying what a wonderful piece of individual brilliance it was from Bairstow to have the situational awareness to quickly lob the ball back to the stumps and catch the batsman napping.

 

[undertaker]

I remember his holier than thou rant about George Bailey doing that in the BBL - always thought the bloke was high on his own supply after that.

Ah yes, good old Baz strikes again and is happy to bandy the "spirit of the game" term around when an adjudication goes against his team:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/george-bailey-missed-an-opportunity-to-uphold-spirit-of-game-brendon-mccullum-1132446

 

[Fangs]

Thank Christ we went for Nesser over Lyon at the 11th hour

Otherwise poms be still batting

Correct decision

Shame Neser unlikely to be picked again...Or will he?

Starc said he will rest up for Adelaide
Both Lyon and Cummins back in the XI

3 into 1 wont go - 2 will be dropped Boland , Doggett , Nesser ??

He had a great second innings under lights. But he has done his job for the series I reckon. He only gets picked again this summer due to injury.

Doggett a chance on his most recent home turf in Adelaide but likely Boland. We need to look at Fergus O'Neil for the 4th MCG test if the series is decided.

 

[jargan83]

I thought warm up matches didn't matter:

England to seek better warmup preparations before 2029-30 Ashes series

Australia will be offered the pick of facilities for the 2027 series as England seek more serious matches for the 2029-30 return

www.theguardian.com

 

[undertaker]

ROFL!

The Poms have really lost the plot:

https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/whinging-poms-full-scale-meltdown-goes-viral-as-english-fan-attacks-natives/news-story/3242e2397ce25f97c81e89d99a5b080a

 

[blue bags]

Archer arching up at a bloke he’s never got out in a Test.

Archer pie chucker holds the record
Longest bowling to Smith. To never getting his wicket

 

[blue bags]

Jofra too much chains not enough speed work bruv!!

Don't forget about his Pillow

 

[blue bags]

England got lapped. They need to make about 8 changes to get back in this series. Find some people who understand how test cricket works.

Bring back Boycott. Gooch. Cooky

 

[hineyrulz]

Someone needs to tell the chef that he needs to start serving the players humble pie

Jofra got a taste of Steve Smiths dick last night after he slapped him across the face with it.

 

[King-Gutho94]

The full trainwreck interview

What about the little clip of Broad from McCullum when he asked a legitmate question.

"I used to have those conversations with you as well"

 

[Bazal]

I'm starting to wonder if we haven't all misjudged Buzz McClymont.

What if he's not the saviour of English cricket?

What if he's the saviour world cricket, a plant who knows that if nothing else, every single Test nation just absolutely loves belting the Poms?