Their chase was set up by Australia’s second batting collapse of the match: 132 all out, to go with their opening-day 152. There were four wickets for Brydon Carse and three for Ben Stokes, who helped make up for a hamstring injury to Gus Atkinson, of which more below. After all, before this series, there had been only two two-day finishes in Australia, in 1930-31 and 2022-23. Now Gus Atkinson leaves the field on the second day in Melbourne, which will probably mean a first Ashes Test for Matthew Potts at Sydney. After carving Ben Stokes to Harry Brook at second slip for 19, he incurred the commentary-box wrath of former Australia opener Simon Katich, who fumed: ‘It’s pre-determined rubbish.

Source: Daily Mail December 27, 2025 13:34 UTC