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Australia vs England 2nd Test Predictions - Australia to dominate with the pink ball

Ralph Staniforth

Editor

Last updated: 02 Dec 2025

Ralph Staniforth 02 Dec 2025

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Australia leads 1-0 in the series after a dominant first Test.
Mitchell Starc excels in day/night Tests, threatening England's lineup.
Australia's inconsistent batting remains a concern, despite Travis Head's form.

Expired

Mitchell Starc can dominate England batsmen under lights (Getty Images)

Australia vs England 2nd Test Predictions

Australia are 1-0 up heading into a day/night Test match, a form the hosts dominate with 13 wins in 14 pink ball games. There isn’t a bowler that comes close to Mitchell Starc with the pink ball in hand. My best bet is for the left-arm quick to run through the English lineup.

Australia vs England 2nd Test Predictions
Head to Head
Australia Form
Australia Injuries & Team News
England Form
England Injuries & Team News

Australia have won 4 of their last 5 Test matches against England at the Gabba.
Australia have won 13 of their 14 day/night Test matches.
Australia have won 15 of their last 20 Test matches at the Gabba.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the 1st Test.
Australia’s Travis Head scored 100+ in his last Test match innings.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc has taken 81 wickets in 14 day/night Test matches.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc averages 17.08 in 14 day/night Test matches.
England lost the 1st Test against Australia.
England’s Harry Brook was the only English player to score 50+ runs in the 1st Test.

Head to Head

Australia lead the series 1-0 after winning the first test. In Brisbane, Australia have played England five times since 2005, winning four with one draw back in 2010.

This is also the first-ever ‘pink ball’ Test in the Ashes. Australia have thrived under lights in the past, winning 13 of their 14 day/night Test matches. That is a record England will need to end if they are to retain a realistic shot at the urn.

Australia Form

Australia crushed England by eight wickets in the first Test in Perth in just two days of play. Mitchell Starc blew through the English in the first innings, taking 7-58 with the visitors all out for 172.

Australia were poor with the bat, scoring just 132 in response, putting the English a good position. However, Starc took three wickets along with Brendan Doggett in the second innings while Scott Boland bagged four with England all out for 164, leaving Australia needed 205 to win.

Travis Head played a stunning knock, scoring 123 off 83 balls as the Aussies secured a comfortable win. While the victory was sweet against their biggest rivals, the hosts will be concerned about their batting performance in the first innings.

Australia have always had a good home record against all comers and since 2005, they have won 15 of their 20 Test matches played at the Gabba. Their two defeats in that period came against India back in 2021 and against the West Indies in 2024.

In the last five tests at this ground, Australia have lost two, drawn one and won two. That is not a great recent record.

Australia Injuries & Team News

Australia are again without pace duo, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins as they still recover from injury. Steven Smith will once again captain the side. Usman Khawaja is also a major doubt.

England Form

England have come in for much critique for their approach to Test cricket in recent times. It is entertaining, we must give them that, but their stubbornness to adapt to conditions has many supporters wondering if they can comeback from a 1-0 deficit.

In the first Test, England were bowled out for 172 and 164 runs. They faced just 32.5 overs in the first innings and 34.4 overs in the second. That, in many cases, is unacceptable as batsman continuously throw their wickets away in the name of expressing themselves.

Since that first Test, England had the opportunity to play against the Prime Minister’s XI but chose to field a completely second-string side, players unlikely to threaten the Test side.

While training sessions with the pink ball has taken place, there is nothing like it when Mitchell Starc gets a newish pink ball under lights. He has devastated many a side and England will need to be weary of that.

England Injuries & Team News

We are not likely to see many changes with the only one looking guaranteed is Mark Wood missing out through injury. England could opt for a spinner or another seam option.

Verdict

Australia v England 2nd Ashes Test

I am backing Travis Head to top score as he looks likely to open. Over 28.5 runs in the first innings looks good value while Mitchell Starc is tipped to be the hosts best bowler in the first innings.

Head Over 28.5

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