Cricket Dec 07, 2025

The Ashes: England's Ollie Pope in the firing line after soft dismissal on 'gruesome' third day in Brisbane Test

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
The Ashes: England's Ollie Pope in the firing line after soft dismissal on 'gruesome' third day in Brisbane Test

You can come out from behind the sofa now, England fans.

A "gruesome" third day - to use SportNews' Michael Atherton's word - for Ben Stokes' tourists at The Gabba ended with them six wickets down in their second innings, trailing by 43.

There was another loose drive-induced batting collapse following the meltdown in Perth that cost England the first Test, with Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley the guilty parties in Brisbane.

After a number of close shaves driving on the up, Pope refused to put that shot away and eventually his luck ran out - chipping back to seamer Michael Neser on 26 for a routine caught and bowled.

To make matters worse for England, Crawley then did the exact same thing while facing Neser, falling for 44 as a position of 90-1 became 97-3 and ultimately 134-6 by stumps.

Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland bagged two wickets apiece, after they had showed England's oft-giddy top order how to bat time earlier in the day by sharing a sedate ninth-wicket stand of 75 from 165 balls as the hosts earned a first-innings lead of 177.

Pope could not play with the same discipline, leaving SportNews' Nasser Hussain bemused.

"Pope's dismissal was utterly bizarre," said Hussain.

"There is something in your brain that, however positive you want to be, driving on the up on this surface is not easy. We have seen that.

"Pope spoke to me about it on interview the other day - about learning from the first Test that there are certain shots you have to put away.

"On this Brisbane pitch, the drive on the up is not the shot to be playing.

"Pope nearly got caught and bowled early on, he then hit over the fielder Josh Inglis at cover and then he nicked one over slip off the outside edge.

"I sat in the press box thinking to myself, 'what is going through Pope's head now?' I would have been thinking 'that shot started a collapse in Perth so put it away'.

"But what does Pope do? He goes down the other end, drives on the up with a closed bat face and is caught and bowled as 90-1 becomes 90-2 and the collapse comes.

"That's where I question him. If I, sat up in the press room, can see a wicket coming, how can Pope himself not say, 'if I carry on batting like this I am going to get out'.

"Put that shot away for a while like the greats do. Steve Smith does it. Joe Root does it. Pope doesn't do it. He believes if he keeps doing it, he will get away with it."

Hussain feels the only way England can avoid slipping 2-0 down in the five-Test series is for captain Stokes - who reached the close four not out from 24 balls - to produce some "genius".

The former England skipper says the tourists' raft of errors across the game at The Gabba are now taking their toll.

He added: "England were out-bowled, out-batted, out-caught, out-thought - completely and utterly outplayed from start to finish.

"But what has happened today is a consequence of what has happened from the first day, when Brook's dismissal opened the door for wickets to fall, wafting at wide delivery outside off stump.

"On the same day, Pope dragged Starc on with an angled bat.

"England then ended up slightly below par on first innings - they should have maybe got 400 and then they are way behind when you add in bowling badly and the dopped catches. Then they are the ones batting under lights.

"Each mistake you make is a small one but as the Test progresses it catches up with you.

"I don't think you can fault England's effort and I have heard some things today that I disagree with about 'giving up' and 'their heads have dropped'.

"I didn't see a side that gave up, which you can sometimes get in Australia. Brydon Carse, for example, ran in every ball and gave it everything. Stokes in searing heat.

"So while I will criticise England for their skills and tactics - they could perhaps have used the off-spinner Will Jacks against Starc, the left-hander, and maybe not spread the field so much - I can't criticise them for their heart and effort."

England need one almighty effort now if they are to pull off a heist at The Gabba.and the knives will be out if this game ends the way we expect.

Tags:

cricket news id:13480035

Share this article

Related Posts

The Ashes: Jofra Archer 'excellent' as Australia rue missed opportunity to bat England out of series

The Ashes: Jofra Archer 'excellent' as Australia rue missed opportunity to bat England out of series

Michael Atherton praised England fast bowler Jofra Archer for spearheading England's impressive performance on day one of the third Ashes Test in Adel...

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

The Ashes 2025/26: Joe Root says England inspired by 2023 comeback vs Australia as batter explains importance of Noosa trip ahead of third Test

Joe Root told Your Site that England are taking inspiration from their Ashes fightback two years ago as they aim to stay in this winter's series as he...

Tributes paid to Bondi shooting victims in third Ashes Test in Adelaide as Australia captain Pat Cummins says events 'hit home pretty hard'

Tributes paid to Bondi shooting victims in third Ashes Test in Adelaide as Australia captain Pat Cummins says events 'hit home pretty hard'

Australia and England players wore black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday's shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach.Fifteen...

The Ashes 2025/26: Steve Smith ruled out of third Test against England in blow for Australia

The Ashes 2025/26: Steve Smith ruled out of third Test against England in blow for Australia

Australian batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide due to illness.Usman Khawaja replaces Smith, who...

The Ashes 2025/26: Harry Brook admits to 'bad' errors in first two Tests against Australia and ready to 'rein it in'

The Ashes 2025/26: Harry Brook admits to 'bad' errors in first two Tests against Australia and ready to 'rein it in'

Harry Brook is prepared to "rein it in" in this week's third Ashes Test, admitting he has been guilty of "bad" errors since arriving in Australia.Broo...

The Ashes 2025/26: Steve Smith ruled out of third Test against England in blow for Australia

The Ashes 2025/26: Steve Smith ruled out of third Test against England in blow for Australia

Australian batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide due to illness.Usman Khawaja replaces Smith, who...