Watch: Michael Neser dismisses Zak Crawley for 76 during 2nd D/N Test in Ashes 2025/26 in Brisbane

England had a terrible start in the second day-night Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Gabba in Brisbane when they lost their opening batter, Ben Duckett, on the last ball of the opening over before their number three, Ollie Pope, perished to the Mitchell Starc delivery as the horrors of the Gabba from the 2020-21 series knocked on their doors. 

However, Zak Crawley and Joe Root recovered their innings and put up a fine partnership of 117 runs for the third wicket as both activated their Bazball mode from the very first ball and attacked the home bowlers. Crawley looked good for his attacking knock of 76 runs in 93 balls at a strike rate of 81.72 with the help of 11 boundaries, as the pressure was shifted on the hosts. 

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But Michael Neser was able to break the stand with the wicket of Crawley on 76 runs when the opening batter looked to pull the ball but got an under-edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper, Alex Carey. The home crowd was delighted with the return of the Kent batter.

Watch: Michael Neser breaks Zak Crawley’s aggression for 76 during 2nd D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test

It was the third-highest score from an England opening batter following a pair in the previous Test. The former captain, Michael Atherton, got 108 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1999, while Geoff Pullar got 83 runs against India at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai during the 1961 trip.

After Crawley’s dismissal, Root celebrated his 10th half-century in the Test matches in Australia. It was his 67th half-century in the five-day format, which puts him just behind the former Indian captain, Sachin Tendulkar, who ended with the landmark 68 times in his 24-year-long career.

Harry Brook came with the same aggression and raced away to 24 runs at run-a-ball. The Yorkshire duo put 44 runs in 48 balls for the fourth wicket stand as England crossed the 165-run mark for the loss of three wickets in 34 overs.