AUS vs ENG

We go to Adelaide next but there is going to be another big gap between now and then as the third test will start after 10 days, on the 17th of December. England have a lot of soul searching to do, they need to do what has not happened in the Ashes since the 1930s and that is to comeback from a 0-2 margin. They will be getting grilled by the media, the Aussies and their own fans all these days now but they need to turn up with answers come Adelaide.

Australia, on the other hand, have been as clinical as ever. Two comprehensive victories in Perth and Brisbane and they are all set to claim the Ashes with three tests to go. Pat Cummins will be back to lead and as Smith said at the post-match, it will be all his. They will now enjoy this break before they come out recharged and recuperated in 10 days time.

So will we, it is time to wrap up proceedings here. Keep following Sportskeeds for all the cricketing action from around the globe. This is Sourabh Agrawal on behalf of Bala, signing off, see you!

What an advertisement this has been for Test Cricket once more, yes the margin would suggest that it was one-sided but there was plenty of thetre and drama all along the four days with the pink ball.

England certainly had their moments, specially when they got past 300 on Day 1 on the back of a maginificent Root century, his first on Aussie soil which certainly put a lot of weight off his shoulders. However, they were poor with the ball and as well as on the field dropping multiple catches and bowling too short and too wide as Australia made merry with all of their 11 batters getting into double digits which is a very rare feat while five of them crossed fities.

Starc was the hero in both the first innings, first with the ball and then with the bat as he combined with Boland for the 9th wicket for the longest partnership of the series so far. They ran England into the ground and got a huge 177-run lead in the first innings and then got to bowl under lights. England made the same mistakes again and threw their wickets away trying to play too many shots as the Aussie bowlers pitched the ball in the right areas.

In the first session today on Day 4, Stokes and Jacks displayed remarkable application and patience to go through the whole session wicketless as England got into the lead with 4 wickets in hand, they showed the top order what needed to be done. However, a blinder from Smith at slip ended the partnership and things crumbled for England once more as Neser got a maiden 5-er on his home turf. Australia needed just 65 to win and they knocked it off in 10 overs losing just the 2 wickets not without some late drama between a charged up Smith and Archer.

Steven Smith (Australia Captain): "Pretty chilled now. That was good fun there for a little bit. Great day of cricket, the guys toiled hard for a little. Really good partnernship between Stokes and Jacks, once we broke that we were able to go through and then chase 60, great day. The conditions were pretty even in the first 2 days. No one got the new ball under lights but the game turned for us when we wer able to extend the batting, everyone got into doble digits, unfortunately no one went on to make a big one but paricualry the tail to bat for 50 overs and extend the time so that we can get the new ball under lights and do some damage. It can be tricky with the pink ball, you are never in, sometimes it feels pretty easy. Ball change at times, the lights come on and it speeds up, got to adapt and the guys being able to get those 50-run partnerships was amazing. He (Neser) did deliver. He also extended our batting down at 8. Also gave us option to bring the keeper up. Very happy for him to get his first fifer, he has been on tours with us and worked really hard. He (Alex Carey) is a freak, the ball seems to end up in his hands somehow. No fear at all up t the stumps. That is the best keeping performance I have seen. (On his catch to dismiss Jacks) Pretty special, can be tough with the pink ball under lights and I was standing wide with Carey up to the stumps, saw it late. It is right up there, will remember it. (On Cummins returning to captaincy) It is all his now. The boys have done a great job in the last couple of games and it is his now."

Ben Stokes (England Captain): "Very disappointing. A lot of it comes down to not being able to stand up to the pressure of the game, this format when the game is on the line. Small passages we have been able to bring the game our way and then let it slip away, we have done it this week here again. Particulary with the amount of talent we have in the dressing room. We need to think harder. If I could put a finger down to it, I would have told you. It is definitely not a skill thing. Not being able to execute your skill is something you can't live with because no one means to bowl away from the plans we had, we knew how to bowl on that wicket but we were not able to do so for long enough and Australia scored very quickly. Jofra and Gus set the tone really well but then me and Carse kind of let the pressure off and then we were not able to execute our skills with the bat. Lots of conversations need to be had in the dressing room. It has been a constant theme, Australia seem to outdo us in pressure moments. Australia is not a place for weak men and we are certainly not weak. I totally believe in the dressing room, the guys and the talent we have. We have to win the rest of the three tests now, we are not going to shy away from the battle on our hands. Need to look at where things have gone wrong if we want the Ashes back in England."

Mitchell Starc (Player of the Match): "Two wins. Hard fought one for both teams. Good to be on the right side of it. Takes a little bit longer in the morning at this age. Wicket is hard, the ball goes soft quickly. The bowling unit bowled well. First innings lead was key. Really pleased for Nesser, playing in front of his family. Still trying to bowl as quick as I can and hit the stumps. No better incentive for bowlers to bat as long as you can. You speak of the tactical side of things, it's better to bowl with the new ball under the lights. The partnerships with Boland and Doggett helped us to prolong that batting innings into the dark."

Steve Smith (Australia captain): "Felt right to play some shots. Bit of a storm coming around. It was good to finish it quickly. High percentage with the short boundary around me. (On the exchange with Jofra Archer) It was good banter. He is a good competitor. Good fun. The boys played exceptionally well. The tail were unbelievable. The batted for about 53 overs. Gave us the opportunity to bat into the dark. And then come out and take six wickets. You never know what will happen with Stokesy at the crease, good to see them off with only 60 to chase."

7:30 PM local time, 3 PM IST: Australia won by 8 wickets and take a 2-0 lead

Jake Weatherald 72(78) & 17*(23) | Mitchell Starc 6/75 & 2/64, 77(141)
Joe Root 138*(206) & 15(36) | Ben Stokes 3/113, 19(49) & 50(152)

Smith is absolutely pumped up, he finishes it off with a dismissive six and then roars. Goes to the other end and hugs Weatherald, he has made a statement right here at the end, he is fired up. Winning runs for the Aussie skipper in Perth and winning runs once more for the Aussie skipper here in Brisbane as Australia win it by 8 wickets once more and they have completely owned England.

Good to see handshakes in the end, the words that were exchanged will remain in the field and after the game is finished, there is only respect all around between the players.

9.6 Gus Atkinson to Steven Smith, SIX! UP and OVER! What a way to get over the line! Smith is in the mood, takes on the short ball and smacks it over the square leg fence. Australia go 2-0 up in the Ashes!

9.3 Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! That's another way to score! Too full from Atkinson. Weatherald drives it straight back past the bowler. Lovely straight blade

8.6 Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, goes for the double bluff with the spread out field. Full and straight on the stumps. Taps it back to the bowler

Stokes having a chat with the ump now, he is askign whether he can have two third men. Yes, two fine legs in place and two third men as well, this is a very strange field set.