The Ashes Series 2025-26: The second match of the ongoing 5-match 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England was played as a day-night test in Brisbane. Australia has taken a strong 2-0 lead in the series by defeating England by eight wickets in this match. After achieving a decisive victory in the Brisbane Test, Australia remains on top in the current rankings of the World Test Championship (WTC). At the same time, England’s problems have increased in this ranking.

Brisbane Test account

In the Brisbane Test, England won the toss and decided to bat first. England did not have a good start in the first innings and lost 2 wickets for just 5 runs. After this, thanks to the brilliant century of England’s legendary batsman Joe Root (138 runs) and half-century of Jack Crawley (76 runs), England was able to score 334 runs in its first innings. In reply, Australia managed to take a huge lead of 177 runs in the first innings with all its batsmen scoring double digit runs.

The England team was seen struggling in the second innings and lost six wickets for just 128 runs, but captain Ben Stokes (50 runs) and Will Jacques (41 runs) played a fighting innings. These two batsmen did not lose any wicket in the first session of the fourth day and made an important partnership of 96 runs for the seventh wicket, due to which Australia got the target of only 65 runs to win. Chasing this small target, Australia achieved it in just 10 overs, despite losing two wickets in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. Steve Smith won this match brilliantly by hitting a six off Gus Atkinson.

Australia on top in WTC rankings

After a spectacular win in the day-night Test, Australia remains on top of the 2025-27 WTC standings with 100% percentage points (PCT), having won all five of its matches. At the same time, England has suffered a big loss due to the defeat in Brisbane Test and it has slipped from sixth position to seventh position. If we talk about Team India, it remains at 5th position in the current ranking of Test Championship (WTC).

The Ashes Series 2025-26: The 5-match Ashes series between Australia and England is being played in Australia. The host team, which won the Perth match, has suffered a big setback before the Brisbane Test. Australian captain Pat Cummins was expected to return in the second match, but Cummins is out of this match also due to injury. In the second match of this Ashes series also, the team will be captained by veteran batsman Steve Smith.

Team announced for Brisbane Test

Australia has announced the team for the Brisbane Test a week in advance. Captain Pat Cummins has also been ruled out of the second test against England. The Australian team has not made any changes in its team for the second match of the Ashes 2025-26 series. The first match of this series was over in just two days. While batting first, the entire England team was all out after scoring 172 runs, after which England bowled out Australia for 132 runs. After gaining a lead of 40 runs in the first innings, England was able to score 164 runs in the second innings and gave Australia a target of only 205 runs. Which the Kangaroo team chased at the loss of only 2 wickets. Travis Head played an important role in this victory by scoring a stormy century.

Unchanged#Ashes pic.twitter.com/Xu7W7p9R3N

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) November 28, 2025

Apart from Cummins, two more players were out

Apart from Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Josh Hazlewood have also been ruled out of the Brisbane Test. Both these players also had to stay out of the first test due to injury. The second match of the Ashes series will start from December 4 and Test captain Pat Cummins will travel with the team to speed up his recovery process.

Australian team for Brisbane Test:

Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Bo Webster.

The 2025-26 Ashes series will be played between Australia and England from 21 November. This historic test series of five matches will start from 21st November, while the final match will be played from 4th January 2026. England has announced a 12-member team for the first test of the Ashes series. England has included five fast bowlers in the team along with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.

The first test match is to be played between Australia and England in Perth. In such a situation, the picture of England’s playing eleven has also become almost clear. Perth is expected to get momentum and bounce. In such a situation, the English team can only stick to its strategy of relying on fast bowling attack. The England team has players like Mark Wood, Joffra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse, who can bowl at a speed of 90 miles per hour.

History of Ashes Series

The Ashes series started in the year 1882. Since then, a total of 345 matches have been played between Australia and England under this historic series, in which Australia has won 142 matches, while England has won 110 matches.

England’s 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test- Ben Duckett, Jack Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Shoaib Bashir.

Full schedule of 2025-26 Ashes series

First Test, November 21 – Perth, 8:00 AM IST

Second Test, December 4 – Brisbane, 9:30 am IST

Third Test, December 17 – Adelaide, 5:30 am IST

Fourth Test, December 26 – Melbourne, 5:30 am IST

Fifth Test from January 4 – Sydney, 5:30 am IST

Where to watch live in India?

Indian viewers will be able to watch the live telecast of Ashes 2025-26 on Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on JioHotstar app and website.