Australia showed once again why they are one of the toughest teams to beat at home. Even without their biggest stars, they dominated England and strengthened their Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead, proving how powerful their squad depth truly is.
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Australia Stay Strong Despite Missing Big Stars
Australia entered the Test without Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Usman Khawaja, yet they still pushed ahead confidently toward their Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead. Cummins and Lyon, who carried a combined 871 Test wickets, were unavailable, and Hazlewood’s absence added to the challenge. Despite this, Australia stayed calm and made bold decisions that helped maintain their Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead.
One of those big decisions was dropping Lyon for Michael Neser. Lyon was reportedly unhappy with the call, but by the end of the match, Neser helped secure the Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead with an outstanding spell. His figures of 5 for 42 on his home ground lifted the team and showed how well Australia can adapt under pressure.
Smith later explained that the selection call was incredibly tight. But Neser’s ability to bowl stump-to-stump and allow the keeper to stand up gave Australia the control they needed to protect their Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead. Beyond bowling, Neser took two superb return catches that shifted momentum completely in Australia’s favour.
Australia’s total of 511 was also boosted by Mitchell Starc’s powerful 77 runs at No. 9. His batting kept the scoreboard moving and added further security to the Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead. The rest of the attack—Scott Boland, Xavier Bartlett Doggett, and Cameron Green—kept the pressure on England throughout the innings.
Fielding played a huge part too. Alex Carey produced one of his best wicketkeeping displays, while Smith’s sensational catch to remove Will Jacks energised the entire stadium. Josh Inglis’ direct-hit run-out and Marnus Labuschagne’s outfield brilliance added to the growing control that built the Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead.
How Australia Outplayed England to Extend Their Advantage
England were expected to challenge Australia more than the last few tours, but Australia stayed ahead of every situation and protected their Australia 2 0 Ashes Lead at every step. Their victories—first by ten wickets, then by eight wickets—showed complete dominance.
Smith praised the team’s ability to adapt on the go. He explained that they no longer wait until the end of a session to analyse conditions—they make changes instantly. This real-time thinking is one of the big reasons behind the strong Australia 2-0 Ashes Lead so early in the series.
A turning point came when Starc and Boland built a crucial lower-order partnership on Day 3. Their runs set up ideal evening bowling conditions, helping the team tighten their Australia 2-0 Ashes Lead. Under the lights, the ball moved sharply, and England had no real answers.
England did get a brief moment of excitement when Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson found some extra pace, but by then the Australia 2-0 Ashes Lead was unshakeable. Australia had already dominated with bat, ball, and in the field. Every key moment was seized, and every mistake from England was punished, securing the Australia 2-0 Ashes Lead in convincing style.
As the dust settles on another Gabba win, Australia look well-placed to extend their success even further. Their squad depth, discipline, and ability to rise without their star players have made the Australia 2-0 Ashes Lead one of the most impressive storylines of the series so far.
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