Australia laid trap in Brisbane and England walked straight into it

No England team has recovered from 2-0 to win the Ashes, which is the scale of the challenge they face to regain the urn if the finishing touches are applied on Sunday. It is mission impossible and has all come about so quickly: England’s Ashes dream has evaporated in just five days of Test cricket in a blaze of big-ego batting. It will soon be a question of how bad the bloodletting becomes.

Despite their shortcomings and with two of the great modern fast bowlers crocked, Australia have outplayed and outthought England in two Test matches. England, in reply, have conspired in their own downfall with some of those most witless batting seen on an Ashes tour for years considering the ceiling of this team.

Australia laid a trap in Brisbane and England walked straight into it. Australia controlled the match like pink-ball puppet masters, while England tried to wing it.

There is no shame in Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland outbowling England, but when they outbat them too then it is indeed a black day.

That was the state of affairs at the Gabba, with Bazball firmly put in its place by a ruthless Australian side that refused to budge an inch. Batsmen sold their wickets dearly; contrast that with England and their hard-handed, knuckle-headed drives.

Boland, a very limited tailender, batted for 72 balls for 21 runs supporting Starc, who top scored with 77 from 141 deliveries, his highest innings for 12 years, in a controlled, all-round Australian team effort in which every single player reached double figures and there were six partnerships above 50.

The last four wickets added 188 and condemned England to another 48 overs in the field and three-and-a-half hours of toil in blistering afternoon heat. It sapped morale and exposed their shortcomings. Ben Stokes’s tactical flair withered in plain sight, England were bereft of ideas and set themselves up for a fall.