Updated at\u00a022.43 EST<\/p>\n
England XI<\/p>\n
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer.<\/p>\n
No tomfoolery from England as Will Jacks is picked for his third Test and replaces Mark Wood in the XI that played in the defeat in Perth. The 27-year-old bolsters the tourists\u2019 batting which runs even deeper with him in the side, though he has been picked in Brisbane just as much for his off-spin. A six-for on debut in Pakistan in 2022 suggests Jacks\u2019 bowling will be useful if and when the pink ball softens at the Gabba, though he has only bowled another 14 overs across three Test innings since then.<\/p>\n
All eyes will be on Jofra Archer, especially with Wood now absent, when England take their turn to bowl in Brisbane. But, for now, they will hope to bat much longer than the 30-odd overs that they managed in both innings in Perth.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Australia XI<\/p>\n Australia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.<\/p>\n The speculation comes to a close but the debate will continue across the afternoon at least, as Australia turn to a horses for course approach with Nathan Lyon left out of a home Test for the first time in almost 13 years. The off-spinner was also omitted from the XI in Australia\u2019s most recent pink-ball Test in the Caribbean, but it still feels like a huge call to leave out a bowler who has claimed 562 wickets. Michael Neser comes in to add more pace in the day-night Test, as well as reducing the length of the Australia tail.<\/p>\n As expected, Josh Inglis replaces Usman Khawaja in the lineup for his fourth Test \u2013 though the 30-year-old will bat in the middle order with Travis Head hard to move out of the opening slot.<\/p>\n Nathan Lyon is left out of the Australia XI for the day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.38 EST<\/p>\n Toss: England win the toss and elect to bat<\/p>\n Ben Stokes calls correctly and England will bat first in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. Steve Smith would have preferred to bat first as well.<\/p>\n Steve Smith tosses the coin in the middle of the Gabba field. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris\/CA\/Cricket Australia\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.41 EST<\/p>\n Steve Smith joins Ben Stokes at the toss as Australia captain Pat Cummins remains on ice to continue his recovery from a back stress issue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England and Australia will wear black armbands on day one of the second Test in memory of former England and Hampshire batter Robin Smith, who passed away earlier this week. There will also be a moments silence before the national anthems.<\/p>\n Tanya Aldred has written a beautiful tribute to Robin Smith, who stood tall when England cricket was at a low point through the late 1980s and early 1990s.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s cut, alongside a David Gower cover drive, gave hope where there was little left in the bucket. Those famous forearms \u2013 half oak, half baobab \u2013 the white shirt unbuttoned past the clavicle, the chain glinting through his chest hair, smelt enticingly like bravery, and old spice and one last throw of the dice.<\/p>\n The sight of Smith marching out to bat \u2013 as an opener (in four Tests), No 3 (six), No 4 (30), No 5 (19), No 6 (14) or No 7 (twice) \u2013 those charmingly indecisive selectors never could quite place him \u2013 was a high point in a largely post-Botham era, a clear-the-bars alarm for those in the ground and a stay\u2011your\u2011ground sign to those on the sofa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our selection dilemma detectives are casting their eye over Australia\u2019s preparations in Brisbane. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon have been seen getting around in flat shoes, while Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett are both wearing spikes and have marked out their run up.<\/p>\n Ali Martin is at the Gabba and points out that this would be the first time Australia enter a home Test without Lyon since facing India at the Waca in early 2012. Meanwhile, Travis Head has confirmed on Fox Sports that he will open the innings whether Australia bat first or second.<\/p>\n Nathan Lyon warms up on the Gabba ahead of the start of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.14 EST<\/p>\n Usman Khawaja is already certain to miss the second Test for Australia after being unable to open while suffering back spasms in Perth. That of course opened the door for Travis Head to take the game away from England with a blistering century and the expectation is that the powerhouse will bat at the top of the order again in Brisbane. What time means for Khawaja \u2013 who turns 39 this month \u2013 could well be decided in the middle over the next two (please, no) to five days. Geoff Lemon has been busy pondering what it all means for the veteran and the future of this Australia outfit.<\/p>\n Right now Australia are saying Khawaja is still in the plan, staying with the squad in Brisbane for his treatment. If he can storm back to have a decisive influence in the final three Tests, it would be a wonderful story to round out a career that has already given us several. But there\u2019s a point at which Khawaja becomes Homer Simpson\u2019s giant sandwich, and the team clinging on for too long faces a health hazard.<\/p>\n Currently, nobody else knows what they are doing because the injured opener is the variable. Head doesn\u2019t know if he has that job for a season or a week. Inglis won\u2019t know if he\u2019s coming in with licence to attack the series over four Tests, or needing a huge score from one. The argument for keeping Khawaja around since David Warner\u2019s retirement has been stability, but right now he is the main destabilising influence on this team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We might have to wait to find out the Australia XI until either Pat Cummins or Steve Smith walk on to the Gabba alongside England captain Ben Stokes for the toss. But Geoff Lemon has already dived into what that call will mean for the hosts and the second Test.<\/p>\n Cummins, it seems, is now feeling good enough in training that waiting for the third Test in Adelaide seems excessive. But overnight nerves might get the better of anyone in the decision-making chain, pondering the fallout that would await them if that comeback turned out to be too soon. That leaves a nation of Australians in the highly unusual position of going to sleep the night before a Test match without knowing who will captain the team the next day. The stand-in, Steve Smith, took the press conference as though he would do the job, but declined to confirm that this would be the case.<\/p>\n If Cummins returns, the cards in the dealer\u2019s hands could be whisked in various ways around the table. Perhaps in order to mitigate the number of overs required of him, he could be part of a four-man pace attack and replace Nathan Lyon. That might also mean bringing Beau Webster into the middle order, given he could offer spin. If Cummins plays alongside Lyon, instead replacing Brendan Doggett as one of three quicks, Webster could still be included to bowl backup seam alongside Cameron Green.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The plot thickens at the Gabba with one of Australia\u2019s heroes of the first Test, Travis Head, heading into the middle for a sighter of the pitch with pads on and bat in hand.<\/p>\n Travis Head inspects the pitch at the Gabba before play starts on day one of the second Ashes Test. Photograph: Dave Hunt\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n I promised the conjecture would continue and especially over whether Pat Cummins would be injected into the Australia XI after impressing in the nets in Brisbane. But if being left out of the squad was the first sign that the fast bowler would have to wait a little longer before playing a part in this Ashes series, Steve Smith inspecting the pitch alongside coach Andrew McDonald \u2013 rather than the formal Test captain \u2013 could be the strongest pointer yet.<\/p>\n Cummins arrived earlier at the Gabba wearing a polo shirt, while the other Australia players are decked out in their training shirts. This could be elite attention to detail from Australia, but feels more likely to be the end of the fun n games.<\/p>\n Steve Smith inspects the wicket at the Gabba alongside Australia head coach Andrew McDonald before play on day one of the second Ashes Test. Photograph: Dave Hunt\/AAPShare<\/a>Preamble We\u2019re back! After a two-day taster of the most highly anticipated Ashes on Australian soil for years, if not decades, was followed by 12 days of fresh dissection, discussion and debate, the second Test finally begins in Brisbane this afternoon. Welcome to day one of the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes.<\/p>\n The conjecture continues with Australia yet to name their XI for the pink-ball Test<\/a> at the Gabba. Captain Pat Cummins is in line for a late call-up after being left out of the squad as he recovers from a back injury, while Josh Inglis is widely expected to slide into the middle order and allow Travis Head to reprise his rollicking role as opener in the absence of Usman Khawaja. All will be revealed at the toss, stand-in skipper Steve Smith promised yesterday<\/a>, as the Australia outfit unusually plays their cards close to their chest.<\/p>\n Australia captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald arrive at the Gabba for a training session ahead of the second Ashes Test. Photograph: Chris Hyde\/Getty Images<\/p>\n There are fewer surprises in the England camp as Will Jacks has already been picked in the XI<\/a>. The batting all-rounder replaces Mark Wood in the side that collapsed to defeat in the Ashes opener, as the speed demon is forced out \u2013 as a precaution, we are told \u2013 due to soreness in the left knee that he happened to have surgery on earlier this year. But whether the tourists double down and roll out the same captivating yet chaotic strategy remains to be seen. It lifted England to a promising position in Perth before their own blunders with the bat and Head\u2019s heroics<\/a> loosened their grip on the first Test in a matter of hours and they quickly fell behind 1-0 in the series.<\/p>\n More chaos can be expected in Brisbane in the next few days \u2013 and hopefully longer \u2013 as the city again hosts a day-night Test. Australia are vastly more experienced in the varied conditions and tactics that come with the pink ball being delivered across the afternoon, dusk and early evening, and have won 13 of the 14 day-night Tests they have played. But the one blemish on that record came the last time they played with the pink ball at the Gabba, when West Indies stunned the hosts under lights in January 2024. The Gabbatoir is not quite the fortress that it once was for Australia, but they have not lost to their oldest rivals at the venue since 1986<\/a>.<\/p>\n This iteration of England under captain Ben Stokes seeks to separate themselves from those that came before but have even more history to rewrite than they might like in Brisbane. They have lost five of their seven day-night Tests, and last played with the pink ball in February 2023, though that at least ended with a victory over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. Of more concern might be the threat of falling 2-0 behind, knowing that only one side \u2013 under the guidance of a certain Don Bradman in 1936-37 \u2013 has overturned such a deficit to win an Ashes series.<\/p>\n There is still an hour to go before the toss and confirmed teams \u2013 with first ball to be bowled at 2pm in Brisbane \/ 3pm AEDT \/ 4am GMT. Plenty of time to get in touch with your thoughts and predictions for the second Test and perhaps beyond \u2013 drop me an email<\/a> or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky<\/a> or X<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the meantime, I\u2019ll help you catch up on all that has happened during the frankly painstaking 12-day fallow period between Tests, and in the lead up to the day-nighter at the Gabba. Let\u2019s get into it \u2026<\/p>\n![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Martin_Pegan.png\")
Martin Pegan<\/p>\n