Thursday sees the continuation of one of the most significant cricket events on the calendar as Australia hosts England in their 2025-26 Ashes series. The Ashes have been contested since 1883, with Australia winning 34 times, England 32, and seven draws.
The Aussies are the defending champions, having won the 2021-22 series and kept the trophy via a series draw in 2023.
This Ashes series will be played over the traditional five Tests. Australia won the first Test in Perth, and this second Test is being played in Brisbane. Future Tests will be played in Adelaide, Melbourne (Boxing Day Test), and finally at the SGC in Sydney.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
Australia VS England 2nd Test Venue: BCG, Brisbane
Australia VS England 1st Test Date: Thursday, December 4 to Monday, December 8
Australia VS England Odds:
History
The last time that England won an Ashes series in Australia was in 2010/11. The last time that England won a single Test in Australia was in 2010/11.
The English are on a run of 15 Tests in a row Down Under without a single victory. This run continued in the first Test of the 2025-26 series, a Test many thought England had to win to have any chance of regaining The Ashes.
It was a wild, albeit short, ride in Perth. England collapsed to their worst Test defeat in Australia for years as they fell inside two days in the first two-day Ashes Test since 1921,
To go from 105 runs ahead with nine second innings wickets in hand to losing by eight wickets less than five hours later is a defeat that will sting for a generation. It was an astonishing collapse, and it will be tough to bounce back quickly, given the widespread failures.
Australia
Australia has failed to name its team for this second Test even though there are just hours to go until the first ball is bowled.
This has seemingly been done to allow for the potential return of captain Pat Cummins. Cummins has been missing since July with a back injury, and it was widely expected that he would not be available until later in this series, if at all.
At worst, this is a smart move by the Aussies to keep England guessing about their lineup. At best, Cummins is healthy enough to come back into a team that will still be without frontline bowler Josh Halelwood through injury.
England
England have added a spin option for the second Test with Will Jacks inserted into the lineup in place of injured pacer Mark Wood.
Jacks has seemingly been included because of his ability to bat in the lower order, after the tail fell apart in Perth.
One issue might be his lack of red-ball cricket, with the player having concentrated on the white-ball game over the last couple of years. If he is successful in this day-night match, it will be seen as a masterstroke of selection.
Best Bets
Australia is famed for being ruthless when it has an edge. Look to see them push England to the wall here under a relentless bowling attack.
Mitchell Starc at 7/1 is a great shout as Player of the Match as he will be used early to fire into the England batters.
