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Bazball era takes U-turn as Ben Stokes and Will Jacks forge slowest partnership in Gabba Test

Anurag Dasgupta

England duo register slowest partnership [Source: AFP Photo] England duo register slowest partnership [Source: AFP Photo]

Before the Ashes 2025, England were confident of pulling off a series win against an ageing and injury-prone Australian side. However, the team suffered a setback in the first Test at Perth, losing in a one-sided contest, and in the ongoing Day-Night clash in Brisbane, the situation remains the same as England is on the verge of another embarrassing defeat.

England got bundled out for 334 in their first innings, and in reply, Australia posted a mammoth 511. In their second innings, England struggled for runs as the Australian attack ran riot and the team lost six wickets in no time.

The team was staring at a heavy innings defeat before captain Ben Stokes and Will Jacks came to the crease and formed an un-Bazballish partnership to keep the team alive in the contest.

Stokes-Jacks forge slowest partnership in Bazball era

The duo put on the longest partnership of the series, passing the 27.2 overs Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland faced together in Australia's first innings. This was the need of the hour, but what was surprising was the fact that both Stokes and Jacks took a defensive approach, rather than playing the aggressive way (what Bazball poaches).

Of the 164 times an English pair have registered a 50+ partnership in the Bazball era, this Stokes-Jacks partnership is the slowest of all terms of scoring rate at 2.26 runs per over. Bazball is a way of playing ultra-aggressive cricket, but the duo went against the method to keep Australia frustrated.

England avoid innings defeat, courtesy Stokes and Jacks

The visitors lost their sixth wicket when the scoreboard read 128. All the key batters were back in the hut, and the team was staring at an innings defeat as Australia could smell a win. However, what this partnership between Stokes and Jacks has ensured is that England are still alive in the game and have avoided the innings defeat, as the Aussies will need to come out to bat.