Ashes news: What to expect in the second Test and where England must improve at The Gabba

After a hugely disappointing opening Test match in Perth, in which Australia beat England inside just two days, attention now turns to The Gabba for the second Ashes Test.

By the time the first ball is bowled in Brisbane, England will have had 12 days to lick their wounds and assess what went wrong at Optus Stadium.

The second Test provides an opportunity for England to restore an entire nation’s belief, but only if they can put the ghosts of Perth behind them and win at The Gabba.

Defeat, however, would likely mean another series loss Down Under and could spell the end of the ‘Bazball’ era.

So, ahead of this crucial encounter, what can we expect in Brisbane? And where must England improve if they are to have any chance of tasting victory at one of Australia’s most fearsome cricketing strongholds?

Here, Sports News Blitz cricket writer Joseph Ould gives his thoughts.

Aussie day/night dominance

The pink ball will be in use in the second Test, with Brisbane hosting this series’ day/night Ashes offering.

Australia will come into the game as heavy favourites, already holding a 1-0 lead in the series and boasting a formidable record in day/night Tests.

The Aussies’ 13-1 record in day/night Tests is enough to send a shiver down the spine of even the most optimistic England supporter and in Mitchell Starc, they have a genuine pink-ball specialist.

Starc ripped through the England batters in Perth, taking 10 wickets in the match and in pink- ball contests the fast bowler is an even scarier prospect.

No bowler in world cricket has taken more wickets in day/night Tests than Starc’s 81, with those dismissals coming at an average of just 17.

England will need to be at their very best to have any hope of defeating Australia under the lights, with a huge focus, surely, on how they will face up to Starc.

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Batting must be better

Ben Stokes’ England have prided themselves on their ‘no backward steps’ ethos, attempting to disrupt bowlers by hitting them off their length and regularly finding the boundary. 

In Perth, however, this back-fired in a huge way and it’s not the first time this has happened.

England seem to have developed the unhealthy habit of working hard to get into a position of dominance in the game, only to throw it away with reckless batting.

This was demonstrated yet again in the first Test.

At 65-1 in the second innings of the first Test, England were in pole position to take the game away from Australia, before a monumental batting collapse saw the tourists bowled out for 164.

The England batters’ refusal to put away the drive saw Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook all dismissed cheaply, handing the initiative back to Australia.

Controversially, England have opted not to send any senior players to a day/night practice match in Canberra vs the Australia Prime Minister XI. 

This decision has bemused many fans and experts, with the England batters clearly in need of some time in the middle.

By the time the second Test rolls around, the England batters must balance their aggression with a healthy respect for the Aussie bowlers if they are to put some serious runs on the board.

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Aussie team news

Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, is in line to return to the XI after recovering from the back injury that saw him sidelined in Perth.

Cummins’ return would see him take over leadership duties from stand-in captain Steve Smith, who led the hosts in the opening Test.

The return of the Aussie skipper won’t be a welcome sight for England, with Cummins undoubtedly one of the finest bowlers in the world.

The captain’s return could mean that after just one game, Brendan Doggett will have to wait for another crack at Test cricket unless Australia choose to leave out veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.

There is also a feeling that Usman Khawaja could potentially lose his spot at the top of the Australian batting order.

Khawaja’s form has been disappointing for a while now and he was unable to open in the first innings due to back spasms.

With Travis Head making a sensational 123 as a replacement opener in the second innings, in what was a successful Australian run chase, talk of Khawaja losing his spot has intensified.

Elsewehere, Josh Hazlewood’s hamstring injury will rule him out of the second Test as it did the first, but head coach Andrew McDonald has denied that the injury will keep him out of the whole series.

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England team news

England’s batting lineup will almost certainly remain unchanged, despite the poor showing in Perth. 

As for the bowlers, England have Josh Tongue waiting in the wings. 

Tongue’s swing bowling could be a good fit for a pink-ball Test under the lights, meaning the quick is in serious contention to come in for Brisbane.

England may still name an unchanged bowling lineup, though, having got through less than 80 overs in the entire opening Test.

Shoaib Bashir remains an option, but with pace likely to dominate, he will likely have to wait for his Ashes debut.

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The prediction

With Australia’s remarkable pink-ball record and England having not won a Test match Down Under in 14 years, it’s hard to avoid the feeling this feels like an inevitable Aussie victory.

Expect Starc to be front and centre of the Australian bowling attack and troubling England batters throughout, with Cummins likely to also be amongst the wickets.

Jofra Archer could prove key for England, with his pace already showing it can cause problems for the Australian top order. 

England will need to remove the dangerous Head early if they are to stop the free-scoring batter, with Australia looking to do the same to England’s Brook.

The Test begins December 4th, and it is set up to be make or break for England.

MORE FROM JOSEPH OULD: The Ashes news: Australia vs England – Five questions that will decide the series Down Under