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Michael Neser douses England, ‘BazBall’ dismantled as Australia secure 2-0 lead in Ashes

Aakash Saini

Michael Neser celebrating an English wicket on Day 4 [Source: @nazeerrayadurga/x]Michael Neser celebrating an English wicket on Day 4 [Source: @nazeerrayadurga/x]

Australia minced England for the second time in succession to take a 2-0 lead in the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series. Fast bowler and comeback man Michael Neser hogged the limelight with the pink ball after Mitchell Starc’s first innings heroics, taking a match-defining five-wicket haul as England’s ‘BazBall’ was forced into retreat.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of Day 4 of the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England, as it panned out at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday, December 7.

Michael Neser skittles England despite Ben Stokes’ unusual 50

England’s overnight batters, Will Jacks and captain Ben Stokes survived till lunch to lift their team from 134-6 to 193-6. Employing caution, the two cricketers churned out just 59 runs together in the opening two hours of play from 24 overs as England’s ‘BazBall’ quietly took cover. Ticking away till 224-6, Stokes notched up a rather unusual half-century, taking 152 deliveries to score his 50 runs with four boundaries.

Australian fast bowler and comeback man Michael Neser, who picked up two wickets late on Day 3, added three more to his tally to mop up the English tail from 224-6 to 241 all out in 75.2 overs. Neser finished with career-best figures of 5-42, which included the prized scalps of Will Jacks and Ben Stokes in the post-lunch session as Australia set themselves an unchallenging target of 65.

Steve Smith motors Australia to big win

Australian openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald raced to a 37-run partnership in less than six overs, with the former tearing away the Englishmen to make a run-a-ball 22 before falling to Gus Atkinson. Marnus Labuschagne at number three failed to steer Australia to victory as he was dismissed for just three by Atkinson as the hosts fell to 41-2 in 7.3 overs.

Weatherald remained unbeaten at 17* off 23, while captain Steve Smith blasted 23* from just nine balls with two fours and two sixes to notch up the winning runs for Australia in just 10 overs.