Australia have taken a commanding and potentially decisive 2-0 lead in the 2025/26 Ashes series, sealing a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over England on the fourth day of the day-night Test at Brisbane's Gabba on Sunday. The win solidifies their dominance in the iconic rivalry and maintains their perfect record in the current World Test Championship cycle.
Root's Historic Ton Overshadowed by Australian Batting Depth
The match saw a moment of personal triumph for England's Joe Root, who finally notched his first-ever Test century on Australian soil. His masterful knock was the cornerstone of England's first-innings total of 334. He received valuable support from opener Zak Crawley, who made 76, and a brisk 38 from tailender Jofra Archer, which turned out to be the third-highest score of the innings.
However, Australia's response was a textbook display of collective batting strength. While no individual reached three figures, every single Australian batter scored in double figures, systematically building a formidable reply. Their disciplined effort earned them a massive first-innings lead of 177 runs, putting England under immense pressure from the outset.
Stokes-Jacks Fightback Fades as England Collapse Again
Facing a daunting deficit, England's second innings began to unravel quickly after a steady 48-run opening stand. The scorecard soon read a precarious 97 for 3, which then deteriorated to 128 for 6, pushing the visitors to the brink of an innings defeat.
A glimmer of hope emerged on the fourth morning through a defiant partnership between captain Ben Stokes and Will Jacks. The duo displayed immense grit, batting through the entire first session without losing a wicket—England's first wicket-less session of the 2025/26 Ashes series. Their seventh-wicket stand added 96 precious runs off 221 deliveries, briefly frustrating the Australian attack.
Despite this resistance, the English tail could not sustain the fight for long, setting Australia a modest target of just 65 runs to win.
Comfortable Chase and WTC Implications
The Australian chase was not entirely without hiccups, losing two quick wickets. Travis Head was bowled in an unfortunate manner as the ball trickled back onto his stumps, while Marnus Labuschagne was caught behind off the bowling of Gus Atkinson. However, the small target meant the outcome was never in doubt. Steve Smith fittingly sealed the victory with a six, wrapping up the match in just 10 overs.
The result has significant ramifications for the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Australia, with five wins in five matches, firmly retain their top spot with a perfect Points Percentage (PCT) of 100. The top five is completed by South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India.
For England, the defeat is a major setback. They have slipped down to seventh place in the WTC table from their previous sixth, with a PCT of 30.95. New Zealand, after a drawn series against the West Indies, have moved up to occupy the sixth position.
