On Day 2 of the ongoing second match of the Ashes 2025-26, Ben Stokes took pickle juice during a break. Cricketers used to take water or energy drinks during a match. But why did Stokes take pickle juice during the match at The Gabba? What are the benefits of having pickle juice? Let's know about it all.

Benefits of Pickle Juice:

This fluid can be very beneficial for athletes and players, especially those who have to put a lot of effort into their bodies and muscles. For example, cricketers have to spend a lot of time on the field, whether they are batters, bowlers or fielders. Throughout the match, they have to run a lot across the field of pitch. For which, viewers often see cricketers struggling with muscle cramp. Pickle juice can help to fight against muscle cramps.

Key Benefits of Pickle Juice:

1. Electrolyte Replenishment & Hydration

2. Muscle Cramp Relief

3. Blood Sugar Management

4. Antioxidants

In the video, we can see that Stokes took the fluid after his 17th over spell. The Gabba Test is a day-night test, a different kind of hurdle for cricketers mentally and physically. Parallay, Stokes had to field and bowl for 17 overs, which was enough for a player to get exhausted. Relentless running can result in dehydration and muscle cramps. So, it is understandable why, during the match, he consumed the liquid.

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Watch the video when Ben Stokes took pickle juice

Ben Stokes reacting to the pickle juice treatment for his cramp 😂 🥴

Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/24gM7at4jn

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 5, 2025

But it is necessary to remember that without taking advice from an expert, consuming pickle juice can be harmful for a body, as it contains a high amount of sodium.

At the end of Day 2, Australia is leading by 44 runs. England scored 334 runs in their first innings with the help of Joe Root's century. On the second day of the pink ball test, England had a poor day in fielding. Australia is currently at 378 runs for 6 wickets, with Alex Carey and Michael Neser at the crease.

The century of Joe Root in the ongoing 2nd Test of the Ashes 2025-26 caused some out-of-the-field hilarious moments because of a comment of Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden. The former cricketer had jokingly promised that he would run nude in Melbourne if Root failed to score a hundred in the ongoing Ashes series. This is not going to happen, as the England batter smashed a century at The Gabba.

Now, Grace Hayden, daughter of Matthew Hayden, with a sense of humour, shared a hilarious story on her Instagram account. She thanked the almighty, as her father would not have to run naked around the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Grace thanked Joe Root for "saving all our eyes". "Root, thank you. You've saved all our eyes," she wrote in her Instagram story shortly after Root reached the milestone. The screenshot of the Instagram story quickly went viral across social media platforms, thanks to her huge fan following.

England was struggling earlier in the ongoing match, which is a pink ball test, because of early strikes from Mitchell Starc. Root stepped up on a big occasion and rescued his team from a possible batting collapse. The right-handed batter remained unbeaten for 138 off 206 with fifteen boundaries and one over boundary. With the help of Root's hundred-plus-run knock, England registered 334 runs in their first innings of the day-night Test.

Read More: Watch: Hardik Pandya hugged bowler after getting dismissed in SMAT 2025

Hilarious reply as Joe Root scored century in the 2nd Test of The Ashes

For Australia, Mitchell Starc took a total of 6 wickets in his 20-over spell in the first phase of the game. After the century of Root, Matthew Hayden took some moments to celebrate the occasion out of the commentary box.

A viral video, posted by Channel 7, showed Hayden broke into an enthusiastic dance outside the commentary box as soon as the England batter completed his century.

Let's cross LIVE to Matthew Hayden after Joe Root's century...

😂 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/4Wnnp5vsMN

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 4, 2025

Mitchell Starc was flying with the new ball at the Gabba on Day 1 of the 2nd Test match of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26. The pacer claimed the first wicket in the very first over of the match in the form of England opener Ben Duckett (0). Starc, in his 2nd over of the spell, clinched the wicket of Ollie Pope. Like Duckett, Pope also lost his wicket for a duck.

After winning the toss, England skipper Ben Stokes chose to bat first, and they were down by 2 men for only 5 runs in 2.3 overs because of Mitchell Starc. He bowled out Pope with a jaffa and took the wicket of the opener, Duckett, with the help of Marnus Labuschagne, who was standing at the slip cordon. With the wicket of Ollie Pope, strengthen his record in the pink ball (day-night test).

He is the bowler with the most wickets in the day-night Test cricket category and tops the list of the bowlers who took the most wickets against a single opponent with a pink ball. In the list of bowlers with the most wickets against a single team in pink-ball tests, Starc broke his own record. And if we talk about the most successful bowler in the pink ball Test, then he is miles ahead of his countryman Pat Cummins, who is second on the list. Nathan Lyon, a spinner and another Australian bowler, is third in the list.

Read More: Watch: Captain Ishan Kishan with fans after straight 5 wins in SMAT 2025

List of bowlers with the most wickets against a single team in pink-ball tests

• 20* - Mitchell Starc vs England
• 17 - Starc vs West Indies
• 16 - Shamar Joseph vs Australia
• 16 - Alzarri Joseph vs Australia

List of highest wicket takers in Pink Ball Test

Ten-wicket haul for Mitchell Starc. He completed his 10-wicket figure in the ongoing 1st Test of The Ashes 2025-26 at the Optus Stadium in Perth by dismissing England skipper Ben Stokes in the second innings.

Starc took 3 wickets in the second innings to go with the first innings' 7-wicket figure. Without the services of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia's bowling attack looked like a well-oiled machine mostly because of Mitchell Starc. In the second phase of the match, the pacer took the scalps of Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and Stokes. In the first phase, Starc got the wickets of Crawley, Ben Duckett, Root, Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood. The pitch of the Optus Stadium makes it more spicy.

None of the teams, despite having good batting power on paper, were not able to get near the 200-run mark. England went to bat first and registered 172 runs. The run on the scoreboard might have looked easy to overtake, but in reality, fiery spells from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood set the stage to make them believe they can protect their first-innings run.

Read More: Watch: Jasprit Bumrah clean bowled Aiden Markram in IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

Mitchell Starc dismissed Ben Stokes and completed 10-wicket figure

Archer and Brydon Carse made the Australian top order shrink quickly, and then it was the moment for Stokes, who took 5 wickets. Australia bundled for only 132 in their first innings. In the second innings, England came to bat with a narrow lead on hand. Duckett and Ollie Pope were batting well. Starc and, surprisingly, Scott Boland cut their momentum short. Starc took 3, and Boland took 4. Debutant pacer Brendan Doggett also snatched 3 wickets in the process.

10 wickets for the match!

Magnificent, Mitch Starc.#Ashes | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/mMznMiumtS

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025

England, in their second innings, collected only 164; Australia has to score 205 runs to win the opening match of The Ashes 2025-26. 

Unimaginable catch by Mitchell Starc. A caught and bowl to start Day 2 of the 1st Test of The Ashes 2025-26. Starc got England opener Zak Crawley for the second time in the match. And what a way to get a wicket! The crowd at the Optus Stadium in Perth absolutly loved the moment. Great bowling along with great fielding display by the tall Aussie pacer. 

On the 5th ball of the first over of the second innings, Starc dismissed Crawley for a caught and bowl. It was a good lenght delivery from the pacer, on the line of the middle stump, the batter was ready to play a straight drive. Crawley made the connection with the ball, but produced a leading edge. The ball might have stuck on the surface a littlebit and reached late to the batter, that's why the opener was not able to met the ball with sweet spot of his willow. 

Starc observed every movement of the ball thorougly, he saw the ball coming towards him, but with some pace and away from his body. To make the sure, the bowler showed his insane level of elasticity on his followthrough, bent himself down, stretched his left arm and grabbed the ball. He even curved his wrists so that the ball did not hit the ground. Umpire went for a check to make sure it was a fine catch, and it was an absolute fine catch. Mitchell Starc again on the roll, got his man early. 

Read More: Watch: All 19 wickets fell on Day 1 of the first Test of The Ashes 2025-26

Micthell Starc dismissed Zak Crawley with a caught and bowl: 

WHAT A RIDICULOUS TAKE! Mitchell Starc sends Zak Crawley off for a pair! #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/1cg8PtLzx4

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025

In the first innings of the match, Starc claimed 7 wickets in his 12.5 overs. England, batting first, scored only 172 runs in their first innings. The total was enough to take a lead as Australia, the home team got only 132 runs in their first innings. 

England captain and pace bowling alllrounder Ben Stokes bagged a 5-wicket figure to make to sure his team got some lead. Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse supported their captain well enough with their pace bowling.  

At the end of the day, it was the England cricket supporters who were louder than the Australian cricket supporters at the Optus Stadium in Perth. After the Stumps on Day 1 of the first Test of The Ashes 2025-26, England is leading by 49 runs, after scoring only 172 in the first innings. Australia, the home team, lost 9 batters for 123 runs. Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett will start Day 2 as the last wicket batters for the Aussies. Ben Stokes, team England captain, took 5 wickets in the process.

During the match, when the visiting side was positioning themselves ahead of their opposition side, Barmy Army, a group of England team supporters, got their moment to sledge the home team captain, Steve Smith. In the absence of Pat Cummins, who is out from action due to injury, Smith is the stand-in captain of Australia.

As Australia was going into huge trouble, members of the Barmy Army started to recite their infamous chant, "We saw you cry on the telly. Cry on the telly." Whenever Smith and the Australian team felt in a problematic situation against England, the Barmy Army started to chant those words to put more pressure on the opposition team, which is Australia. 

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Barmy Army sledge Steve Smith

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It was an out-and-out entertaining day of cricket. Mitchell Starc started to clinch wickets from the beginning of the match and concluded his bowling figure as 12.5-4-58-7; England bundled for 172 in 32.5 overs. Target was easy on paper, but the pacers of England left the Australian batting line-up suffocating for some fresh air.

Jofra Archer started the carnage by taking wickets of the openers, then it was Ben Stokes who claimed 5 wickets to clinch half of the opposition batting order. Brydon Carse also struck twice. Australia lost 9 wickets for 123, with Steve Smith gone for 17 off 49. 

A good day for Mitchell Starc and Team Australia, and a magical day for captain Ben Stokes and the England cricket team on Friday (November 21) at the Optus Stadium in Perth. It was a wicket-taking feast on the 1st day of the first Test match of The Ashes 2025-26. England all out for 172, Australia down by 9 men for only 123 runs. 19 wickets went down on a single day. All 19 wickets were taken by the pacers. 

England's first innings: 

It was a bright day at Perth, near the Swan River. A good number of crowds were there in the stadium to watch one of the greatest rivalries in the entire sport live from the gallery. In the very first over of the match, England lost their first wicket. Mitchell Starc got his first in the morning, and Zak Crawley headed back to the pavilion. 

Australia is forced to play the opening match of the innings without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, two ace pacers out of the match because of injury concerns. All eyes were then on Mitchell Starc, the most experienced pacer in the line-up, which proved enough to take down the English playing XI. 

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The partnership of Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) was the only exceptional case when the England batting was looking more improved and promising. Together they added fifty-plus runs on the scoreboard. Jamie Smith (33) played an entertaining innings as well.

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood are a list of batters who lost their scalps against a steaming Mitchell Starc. Starc got these wickets by using the line and length properly, accompanied by swing. 12.5-4-58-7 was the bowling figure of Starc. Debutant pacer Brendan Doggett claimed 2 wickets, and Cameron Green claimed one wicket.

First innings of Australia:

England starts from where Australia left. Jofta Archer with his redeemed form was absolutely on point. Another debutant from the Aussie side, opener Jake Weatherald departed cheaply. The other opener, experienced Marnus Labuschagne, also was not able to maintain his defense long enough against Archer. Archer got both of the openers. But it was Ben Stokes who turned into the wrecker-in-chief by taking 5 wickets. He single-handedly destroyed the middle and lower-middle order of the Australian batting lineup.

Here's every single one of the NINETEEN wickets to fall on Day 1 at Optus Stadium ... in just 71.5 overs 🤯#Ashes pic.twitter.com/d8QFJEmCxe

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 21, 2025

Stokes claimed the wickets of Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. In 6 overs, the England skipper got those 5 wickets with one maiden over. Mark Wood bowled well too with a 150 km/h pace continuously but lacked wickets on Day 1. Australia lost 9 batters for 123 before stumps. 

Jamie Smith also could not escape the trap set by Mitchell Starc. After an enertaining 33 run, 22-ball knock, the young English batter had to depart. It was the 6th wicket for the Aussie pacer on Day 1 of the 1st Test of The Ashes 2025-26. 

Mitchell Starc was in fiery form from the morning at the Optus Stadium in Perth. He took a total of 7 wickets in his 12.5-over spell, including 4 maiden overs. Starc scalped Zak Crawley (0), Ben Duckett (21), Joe Root (0), England captain Ben Stokes (6), Smith (33), Gus Atkinson (1), and Mark Wood (0) in the process. From the scorecard it was clear that among those seven batters who were dismissed by Starc, only Smith tried his best to counter the in-form bowler. 

Jamie Smith, a 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter known for aggressive batting, started to bat in the way he can do best. From the beginning of the day, cricket fans were only witnessing the gretness of Mitchell Starc and falling wickets of England, the away team. Smith's batting was like a much-needed breath of fresh air for the England cricket team. But that too did not stay for a long time. 

Read More: Watch: Jaffa from Mitchell Starc clean bowled Ben Stokes on Day 1 of 1st Test of The Ashes

Mitchell Starc cleared well-set Jamie Smith from the track

Mitchell Starc gets his sixth wicket, Jamie Smith departs 33 (22) 🔥

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— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) November 21, 2025

Smith went to play an aggressive shot against Starc as well. On the 4th delivery of the 33rd over of the first innings, the right-handed batter took the aerial route to clear the boundary line. Against a hard length over the stumps from Starc, he smashed it towards the deep mid-wicket cordon, where Cameron Green was waiting for the moment to show his catching technique. Green made no mistake and grabbed the ball with both hands just over his head. 

With the 33-run inning from Smith, England got only 172 runs on the scoreboard in exchange for all of their 10 wickets. Starc concluded his first innings bowling figure with 7 wickets in 12.5 overs, offering 58 runs. 

Bails were flying, timbers displaced, and Ben Stokes kneeled down. Mitchell Starc got his 4th wicket of Day 1 of the 1st Test of the Ashes 2025-26. The Australian cricket team is ruling at the Perth Stadium. 

Mitchell Starc has been on fire since the morning. After dismissing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root, the pacer dispatched England skipper Ben Stokes. The experienced pacer delivered an absolute jaffa to bowl out Stokes. Stokes had no clue what to do to counter the moving ball. The left-handed batter went down on one knee on the ground, staring at the bowler in disbelief. 

The pitch has some grass, which has helped the pacers with the new red shining ball. Starc delivered the ball slightly out of the off stump, which moved towards the batter and went through between the bat and pad to dismantle the stumps. Ben Stokes is gone for 6 off 12. England lost their 5th wicket for only 115 runs on the scoreboard. 

Read More : Watch: Cameron Green gets Olli Pope on 1st Test of The Ashes 2025-26

Watch the delivery that bowled out Ben Stokes: 

MITCH STARC SEEEEEEED! What a ball to dismiss Ben Stokes. #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/PehDst540x

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2025

Australia came to play the opening match of the first match of The Ashes 2025-26 without their key bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood; both of them are currently recovering from injury. For this match, Australia named two debutants—opener Jake Weatherald and pacer Brendan Doggett—into their playing XI. In the absence of Cummins, Steve Smith is playing as the stand-in skipper of the Australia cricket team. 

Starc is the main bowler of Australia, as there are no Cummins and Hazlewood. As of now, their absence has not bothered the Aussies too much, as Starc is on song. 

Australia’s Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, and Scott Boland.

England's Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (w), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood.

Cameron Green came and took well-set batter Ollie Pope's wicket on Day 1 of the first match of The Ashes 2025-26 in front of his home crowd.

On the last ball of Green's first over of the day, Pope was gone for an LBW. The England batter took a review, but the ultimate decision went in for the home team, Australia, at Perth. Before the sixth delivery of the 20th over of the innings, Pope and Harry Brook were rotating strike with ease. They had already accumulated 10 runs from the over before the fall of the vital wicket.

Along with the pace bowling all-rounder Cameron Green, credit also goes to Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith, who combined their bowlers well. Mitchell Starc emerged as the main weapon for the Aussies, as he single-handedly cleared up the top batting order of England.

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Cameron Green takes the wicket of Ollie Pope

Cameron Green gets settled batter Ollie Pope 🦗😮🏏

📺Watch #Ashes on ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/sOOmnqnKOT
✍️BLOG https://t.co/RJmE4Oidt9
🔢MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/l21qM0wVxc pic.twitter.com/BChaW9JIRZ

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) November 21, 2025

After the dismissals of Zak Crawley (0), Ben Duckett (21), and Joe Root (0), the touring team started to gain some momentum through the partnership of Pope and Brook. Together they stitched a partnership of 55 out of 67. Pope went back to the hut after making a confident 46 off 58 with 4 boundaries. 

Green noticed the right-handed batter was about to move across the crease and delivered a full and straight delivery, angling into the leg stump line. The England batter by then had already shuffled down the ground to play a flick. The delivery with a 134.2 km/h breeze passed the bat and hit the front pad directly. The umpire had no doubt to declare it out, an LBW. Ollie Pope took a review, but the decision remained unchanged. England lost their 4th batter for 94 on the scoreboard.