The second Test of the Ashes 2025-26 ended with another big defeat for England. The match was played at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 4. Australia once again dominated and beat England by eight wickets.

England began their innings with Zak Crawley scoring a solid 76. Joe Root produced a standout performance, hitting his maiden Test century in Australia and making 138 off 206 balls. Jofra Archer added a useful 38 runs, helping England reach a total of 334.

Australia gave a strong reply. Travis Head scored 33, and Jake Weatherald made 72 as openers. Marnus Labuschagne added 65 runs, while Steve Smith scored 61. Alex Carey made 63, and Mitchell Starc played a key knock of 77 runs. Australia reached 511 runs in their first innings and took a big lead against England.

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A seriously spicy end to the second Test! #Ashes

Break it down here: https://t.co/2htO3lNuXL pic.twitter.com/Tq62fMqr3h

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2025

Australia Maintains Dominance to Win Second Ashes Test

In the second innings, England tried to put up a better fight, but another middle-order collapse hurt them again. Zak Crawley continued his good form and scored 44 from 59 balls. Ben Stokes added a steady 50. England reached 241, which set Australia a target of 65 runs.

While chasing, Australia lost Travis Head early for 2 runs. However, Jake Weatherald (17*) and Steve Smith (23*) stayed calm and took the team home. Australia finished at 69/2 in 10 overs, winning the match by eight wickets and taking a 2–0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.

Brief Scores:

England: 334 and 241 in 75.2 overs (Stokes 50, Crawley 44; Neser 5/42, Boland 2/47, Starc 2/64)

Australia: 511 and 69/2 in 10 overs (Smith 23*, Weatherald 17*; Atkinson 2/47)

Result: Australia won by 8 wickets

Player of the Match: Mitchell Starc

Series: Australia lead 2–0 in the 5-match series

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.

#zakcrawley out #ashes25 pic.twitter.com/geSJA5ZB4A

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) December 4, 2025

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.

Lancashire Lightning, the hosts, have been dumped out at the quarter-final stage in each of the last two seasons of the T20 Blast and have fallen at this hurdle in four of the last six. They lost their last match by four wickets against Nottingham.

On the other hand, this Kent team will arrive in Manchester with a nothing-to-lose mentality and will be led by the reigning Men's Hundred champion in keeper-batter Sam Billings. They won their last match by seven wickets against Essex, successfully chasing the target of 173 runs. 

LAN vs KET Match Details

Date: 6th September, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM IST

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

LAN vs KET Weather Report

Clear weather 

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Top Batters LAN vs KET

• Tawanda Muyeye (KET) - 516 runs in this tournament 

• Keaton Jennings (LAN) - 411 runs in this tournament 

• Daniel Bell-Drummond (KET) - 361 runs this tournament 

Top Bowler LAN vs KET

• Chris Green (LAN) - 21 wickets in this tournament 

• Luke Wood (LAN) - 19 wickets in this tournament 

• Nathan Gilchrist (KET) - 15 wickets in this tournament 

LAN vs KET Recent Performance

LAN vs KET Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If LAN bats first

• First Innings score prediction- LAN is expected to score 190-210 runs

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 20-30 Runs 

Scenario 2- If KET bats first

• First Innings score prediction- KET is expected to score 155-175 runs.

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 4 wickets 

LAN vs KET Predicted Playing XI

Lanaschire (LAN) Playing XI 

Phil Salt, Keaton Jennings (c), Marcus Harris, Luke Wells, Ashton Turner, Matty Hurst, Chris Green, Tom Hartley, Luke Wood, Tom Aspinwall, Mitchell Stanley.

Kent (KET) Playing XI

Tawanda Muyeye, Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Joe Denly, Sam Billings (c) (wk), Jack Leaning, Joey Evison, Grant Stewart, Fred Klaassen, Nathan Gilchrist, Matt Parkinson.

LAN vs KET Complete Squad

Lanaschire - 

Jos Buttler, Kyle Jennings, Liam Wells, Paul Salt, George Bell, Matt Hurst, Kyle Fonseka, Matt Alexander Jones, James Anderson, Tom Bailey, Saqib Mahmood, George Balderson, Tom Hartley, Liam Wood, Jack Blatherwick, Tom Aspinwall, Will Williams, Jack Boyden, Matt Stanley, Chris Barnard, Ryan Flintoff, Ollie Sutton, Adam Phillip, Liam Livingstone, Josh Bohannon, Haseeb Singh, Craig Green, Alex Turner.

Kent -

Daniel Bell-Drummond, Sam Billings, Chris Benjamin, Michael Hussey, Ben Compton, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Jordan Evison, Will Agar, Matt Cohen, Joe K Denly, George Garrett, Neil Gilchrist, Kashif Ali, Fabian Klaassen, Matt Parkinson, Matt Quinn, Joe Leaning, Hamish Finch, Teddy Muyeye, Michael O'Riordan, Tom Rogers, Ethan Singh, George Stewart, Jayden Singh.

LAN vs KET Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Lanaschire to win

We predict that Lancashire will win this T20 Blast 2025 match. Phil Salt, Luke Wood and Keaton Jennings will be key players to watch out for.

Northern Superchargers have had a strong campaign this year, finishing the league phase with five wins from eight games to book their playoff spot. But one of those three defeats came against Trent Rockets, who they'll face again in the Eliminator. 

On the other hand, The Trent Rockets have been rock solid this season, winning six from eight games to lock up second place and earn their playoff spot. They come into the Eliminator after back-to-back dominant performances, so confidence should be high.

TRT vs NOS Match Details

Date: 30th August, 2025

Time: 10:30 PM IST

Venue: Kennington Oval, London 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

TRT vs NOS Weather Report

Clear weather 

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Top Batters TRT vs NOS

• Zak Crawley (NOS) - 280 runs in this tournament 

• Joe Root (TRT) - 228 runs in this tournament 

• Tom Banton (TRT) - 228 runs this tournament 

Top Bowler TRT vs NOS

• Rehan Ahmed (TRT) - 10 wickets in this tournament

• Matthew Potts (NOS)  - 9 wickets in this tournament 

• Lockie Ferguson (TRT) - 7 wickets in this tournament 

TRT vs NOS Recent Performance

TRT vs NOS Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If TRT bats first

• First Innings score prediction- TRT is expected to score 160-175 runs

• Result prediction- TRT will win the match by 15-20 Runs 

Scenario 2- If NOS bats first

• First Innings score prediction- NOS is expected to score 135-145 runs.

• Result prediction- TRT will win the match by 5 wickets 

TRT vs NOS Predicted Playing XI

Northern Superchargers (NOS) Playing XI 

Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Dan Lawrence, Harry Brook (c), Michael-Kyle Pepper (wk), David Miller, Samit Patel, Tom Lawes, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Jacob Duffy.

Trent Rockets (TRT) Playing XI

Joe Root, Max Holden, Tom Banton, David Willey (c), Marcus Stoinis, Ben Cox (wk), Sam Hain, George Linde, Rehan Ahmed, Ben Sanderson, Lockie Ferguson.

TRT vs NOS Complete Squad

Northern Superchargers - 

Harry Brook, David Miller, Adil Rashid, Zak Crawley, Mitchell Santner, Dan Lawrence, Brydon Carse, Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Potts, Michael Pepper, Dawid Malan, Pat Brown, Graham Clark, Tom Lawes, James Fuller, Rocky Flintoff.

Trent Rockets -

Tom Moores(WK), Joe Root, Samuel Cook, Sam Hain, Tom Alsop(WK), Tom Banton(WK), Calvin Harrison, Marcus Stoinis, David Willey(C), George Linde, Rehan Ahmed, Max Holden, Adam Hose, Lockie Ferguson, Dillon Pennington, Ben Sanderson, Callum Parkinson, Akeal Hosein.

TRT vs NOS Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Trent Rockets To win

We predict that Trent Rockets will win this Hundred Men's match. Joe Root, Tom Banton and Lockie Ferguson will be key players to watch out for.

Northern Superchargers beat Oval Invincibles by 16 runs in an exciting game at Headingley. Sam Billings chose to bowl first, but Harry Brook’s side made the most of the batting track. Zak Crawley (49 off 25) and Dawid Malan (34 off 21) gave a flying start. Captain Harry Brook then played a brilliant knock of 56 from 27 balls, while David Miller finished strong with an unbeaten 37 off just 16. Their efforts took the Superchargers to a big total of 198/4.

The Invincibles lost their top order early, but Sam Curran (30 off 19) tried to steady things. Donovan Ferreira gave hope with a quick 41 off only 15 balls, hitting big sixes, but the chase ended at 182/7. The Superchargers sealed the win, ending the Invincibles’ winning streak.

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The London Spirit Men suffered an 8-wicket loss to the Northern Superchargers men in Match 22 of The Hundred 2025 at Lord’s. Batting first, the Spirit made 135/3 from their 100 balls, thanks to Ollie Pope (52 off 38) and Jamie Smith (41 off 27), but failed to finish stronger towards the end of the innings. In reply, The Superchargers chased the target down comfortably in 82 balls, led by Zak Crawley's unbeaten 55 and Dan Lawrence’s brisk 37 as they posted 138/2 to win the game with 18 balls to spare. Here are the main reasons why London Spirit Men lost the match.

1. A Dominant Chase From Zak Crawley

Zak Crawley’s match-winning 55 off 38 balls* provided an early base and aggression at the top end of the order. His fluent stroke play took the pressure off the Superchargers' middle order and made for a comfortable chase.

2. Ineffective Bowling and Lack of Pressure

The London Spirit's bowling stock couldn't make breakthroughs at crucial stages, allowing the Superchargers to stay in control. Jamie Overton and Richard Gleeson were the only two bowlers to get a wicket each, while other bowlers were expensive.

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3. Spirit's Top Order Stumbles and Misses Big Counters

The Spirit, although Ollie Pope (52*) and Jamie Smith (41) played well, were always left lacking a big finishing push following an early duck from David Warner, leaving them just below where they needed to be against a confident chase.

In the 14th match of The Hundred 2025, Northern Superchargers took on Birmingham Phoenix at Headingley, Leeds. Phoenix captain Liam Livingstone won the toss and chose to bowl, thinking the pitch would be better for batting later. David Miller came in for Graham Clark for the Superchargers, while Chris Wood replaced Dan Mousley for Phoenix.

Zak Crawley got the hosts off to a flying start with 45 runs from 23 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. Dawid Malan followed with a classy 58 from 34 balls, including seven boundaries and a six. Captain Harry Brook finished strong with 31 off 14 balls, and Dan Lawrence chipped in with 15 runs, helping the team post a big total of 193/5 in their 100 balls.

Phoenix had a terrible start, losing three wickets in the first 16 balls. Ben Duckett’s poor form continued, but Livingstone and Jacob Bethell fought back with an 80-run partnership. Bethell hit 48 off 23 balls with three fours and three sixes, while Livingstone scored 46 off 31 with one four and four sixes. Once they got out, the chase lost momentum, and Northern Superchargers wrapped up a 36-run win to move to the top of the points table.

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Ben Stokes has been appointed as the mentor of the Northern Superchargers for the remainder of The Hundred Men’s 2025 season. Currently recovering from a left shoulder injury sustained during the recent England-India Test series, Stokes was ruled out of the 100-ball tournament even before it began in February. The decision to rest him was part of a broader workload management plan, with the Ashes in Australia scheduled later this year. Despite being sidelined, the English Test captain remains involved with the team in a non-playing capacity.

Although the injury would have kept him out regardless, the announcement of his absence had already been made to prioritize his recovery. The 34-year-old will now support the Northern Superchargers' coaching staff, which is led by former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Stokes' presence in the dugout is expected to provide valuable guidance and motivation to the players. His extensive experience in high-pressure situations will be an asset as the Superchargers aim to build momentum this season.

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Stokes has represented the Northern Superchargers briefly, playing two games in 2021 and three in 2024. His 2024 campaign was cut short due to a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for the rest of the summer, including key Test series where Ollie Pope took over captaincy duties. As of now, the Superchargers have made a winning start to their 2025 season, defeating Welsh Fire by eight wickets. Zak Crawley starred with an unbeaten 67 and some sharp fielding, earning him the Player of the Match award.

England and India draw series 2-2

Ben Stokes had a commendable outing in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, delivering strong performances both as a captain and a player. He played a crucial role with the bat, stepping up during challenging situations to stabilize England’s innings on multiple occasions. With the ball, Stokes showed great endurance, bowling extended spells to support the pace attack. His all-round contribution was vital in keeping England competitive throughout the series. Stokes demonstrated his leadership skills under pressure, guiding his team effectively in closely fought encounters.

In total, Stokes scored 304 runs across seven innings and picked up 17 wickets in eight innings, showcasing his value as a premier all-rounder. His ability to contribute consistently with both bat and ball highlighted his significance in the team. However, he was rested for the final Test at The Oval to manage his workload. England went on to lose that match by just six runs, underlining how much they missed his presence in a closely contested series finale.

The third match of The Hundred 2025 was played at Headingley, Leeds, where Northern Superchargers faced Welsh Fire. Home captain Harry Brook, back from international duty, chose to bowl first, expecting the pitch to get better for batting later. Zak Crawley returned to open the innings, joined by Adil Rashid, while the team also had Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim, and David Miller. Welsh Fire had Steve Smith making his debut.

Bairstow and Smith gave the visitors a strong start, adding 62 runs in 37 balls. Bairstow was in fine touch, scoring 42 from 23 balls with seven fours. But after his wicket, the Superchargers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Welsh Fire lost their way and could only manage 143/9.

Crawley and Malan started the chase in style, racing to 60 runs in the first 30 balls. Malan scored 41 before getting out, while Crawley played some classy shots to bring up his fifty. Brook came in and hit his very first ball for six. Crawley stayed unbeaten on 67 and Brook on 25, as the Superchargers won by eight wickets with 11 balls to spare.

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Rishabh Pant’s courageous innings on Day 2 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford drew widespread praise, including a heartfelt message from his sister, Sakshi Pant. Despite suffering a fractured right toe on Day 1 while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes, Pant displayed remarkable grit by returning to bat. With India already missing his services behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel took over wicketkeeping duties as announced by the BCCI, Pant’s decision to contribute with the bat showcased his determination and resilience during a high-stakes match against England.

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Pant walked in at No. 8 to a loud reception from the Manchester crowd after Shardul Thakur’s dismissal. Resuming on his overnight score of 37 from 48 balls, the left-handed batter pushed on to complete his 18th Test half-century. He ended with a valiant 54 from 75 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes. His fighting spirit, despite the injury, served as an inspiration and underlined his value to the Indian Test side in challenging conditions.

“Zakhmi hoon, magar khel raha hoon. Kyunki haar maanna meri fitrat mein nahi.” (Despite being injured, I am playing. Because giving up is not in my nature), Sakshi Pant posted on Instagram.

England trail India by 133 in the ongoing ENG vs IND 4th Test

At the close of play on Day 2 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, England finished strongly at 225/2 in 46 overs, trailing India by 133 runs. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave England a flying start, putting up a commanding 166-run partnership. Crawley scored an aggressive 84 off 113 balls before falling to Ravindra Jadeja, while Duckett followed shortly after with a fluent 94, caught by substitute Dhruv Jurel off debutant Anshul Kamboj, who picked up his maiden Test wicket. England's top order looked in complete control on a batting-friendly surface.

Following the dismissals, Ollie Pope and Joe Root steadied the innings, ending unbeaten on 20 and 11 respectively. The Indian bowling attack struggled to maintain pressure, with Siraj and Thakur going wicketless and expensive. Bumrah remained economical, but lacked breakthroughs. England capitalized on India’s ineffective bowling to set up a solid foundation heading into Day 3. With Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and a deep batting lineup yet to come, the hosts are well-positioned to push for a first-innings lead.