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You could have been forgiven for thinking that every hope in English Ashes had been lost in the past eight days.

Ben Stokes’ side was humiliated in Perth, where they were supposed to need to win to have any chance of recovering the urn.

Next up is? The pink ball, which turns Mitchell Starc into a Wasim Akram-Glenn McGrath-Mister Fantastic hybrid, and the Gabba, where England always lose.

You could just as easily set the snooker and set your alarms for the early morning.

Not quite,

There is no escaping the dire state of England’s record in Brisbane, which has historically hosted the series opener.

39 years have passed since they won a Test in the capital of Queensland, a series of nine.

Only two times in its history have England managed to escape defeat without a defeat since 1986, when England scored 517-1 in their second innings in 2010 and lost 517-1 in 1998.

Given their brief (but brief) playing time in Perth, Stokes’ side should be more accustomed to Brisbane’s pace and bounce than previous tours. Australia’s most recent results there indicate hope, too.

They won just two of their past five Tests at the venue, despite going unbeaten in 31 of those between 1988 and 2021.

The only time Australia has lost a day-night Test match was when India won the iconic match in 2021, when West Indies suffered a pink-ball defeat in this location in 2024.

England’s battery of pace bowlers should be suited by those familiar traits of the Brisbane pitch, such as pace and bounce, as they did in Perth’s first innings before things took a horrifying turn.

The Gabba has historically been the world’s most sluggish pitch, surpassing the Perth Stadium, and it is even sluggish.

A “hard length” (balls pitched between 8 and 10 meters from the batter) is also the most successful pitching position on the planet.

Helpfully, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Ben Stokes, and Josh Tongue, who could replace Mark Wood in the injured lineup, bowl on average in this range.

In the first Test, England averaged 12.5 and 19.8, respectively, with good or bad lengths.

Previous pink-ball tests have shown that while playing in the dark, the ball can be challenging to bat for long periods of time.

It is easy to forget how well England bowled in Perth’s opening innings to defeat Australia for 132.

Since 2010, only twice have Australia been bowled out for fewer runs at home.

England had a 25.4 expected bowling average overall, which is comparable to xG in football, compared to Australia’s 28.7 expected bowling average, which was created by CricViz, a metric used by analysts to compare the two teams.

Glass-half-full supporters would agree with that, but it could also demonstrate how England’s batters slammed into themselves when they fell to deliveries they shouldn’t.

There is little to suggest that England’s bowling was hampered by the second innings, looking at the data.

England’s delivery pattern was good from the first innings until the second, with the average length of the delivery pattern remaining largely unchanged in the channel outside off stump.

Travis Head ran a sensational 128 on the back of a low total in search of a low total.

The pace dropped significantly, with England bowling 44% of deliveries above 87mph on day one and only 33% on day two.

England must also acknowledge that the hosts’ batting problems were more extensive than a few sporadic problems.

Other than Head, Marnus Labuschagne was the only other batter to score 26 in Perth despite making 51 not out in the second inning when the pressure had long since worn off.

This year’s eight Test batters from Australia averaged only 27.65.

In the last 35 years, only twice have averages decreased in a calendar year, and one of them was in 2024.

England’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson said: “We left some marks on them; we hit them with pace, and they weren’t comfortable with it.”

You were focusing on Australia in the first innings and thinking there was little to worry about.

Without a doubt, Starc has the title of world’s top pink-ball player with 81 wickets and an average of 17.09 wickets in day-night games.

Although they have each taken 43 wickets, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon rank second and third overall in such games.

Starc is exceptional in every way.

Starc’s day-night record at the Gabba, which includes 15 wickets in seven innings at 31.26, is unspectacularly normal, despite having played three Tests and one pink-ball Sheffield Shield game.

Although this one may bite England once more, we must hold on for the past.

Armand Duplantis, the reigning world record holder, has confirmed that he will play in the London Stadium in July for the first time in eight years.

The Swede, who won two gold medals at the Olympics in pole vault, has won numerous titles both internationally and internationally.

Duplantis, 26, has broken the pole vault world record 14 times since 2020, most recently posting a 6.30m best at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.

At the age of 17, he finished ninth at the World Athletics Championships in his first appearance at the London Stadium.

He came in third at the anniversary games a year later, trailing only France’s Renaud Lavillenie and Sam Kendricks from the USA.

It means a lot to me to return to the Olympic Stadium, where I won my first World Championships in 2017 and even though I was still fairly unexperienced, I could appreciate the incredible atmosphere.

Something about that place just makes it unique. I’m excited to get out there and use the noise from the crowd to my advantage because I’m always amazed at athletes who raise their game in the London Diamond League. Since I’ve never won in London, it’s obvious that’s the main goal.

Duplantis will attempt to break the French Lavillenie of France meeting record of 6.03m, which has been in place since 2015.

Saracens v. Bath was the headliner for The Prem after the autumn international break, but the undercard battle out wide was a fascinating subplot.

Box office success for Henry Arundell and Noah Caluori, who alternate between flying at the same speed as a pogo-ing aerial spring.

Early on, Caluori gained more popularity. In the second minute, he towered over a Ben Spencer box-kick with his first touch of the ball. Arundell was tipped over by Caluori after 60 seconds as Max Malins’ early try was being prepared for.

Within the first ten minutes, Saracens had to make three more kicks and make numerous passes. After Finn Russell had converted Bath’s first points with a penalty, the 19-year-old soared back to win the game.

Six tries in six games were scored to Arthur Green’s impressive score thanks to two quick finishes, the first of which was an 80-meter interception and the second’s match-winning.

The lesser-known stuff was just as significant to Johann van Graan, who compared Arundell’s top-end speed to Bryan Habana, the great Springbok player.

Arundell has so far this season made the most meter runs and line breaks (16) than any other player in the Prem. He also ranks second behind only 25 defenders who have been defeated.

The Bath coach told TNT Sports, “Henry has out-and-out speed, and the main thing for a winger is always finishes, and he can finish.”

“But he has worked both with England and at Bath to strengthen his defense.” We discussed his aerial work, and why he is putting so much effort into improving.

He is both eager to represent his country and for us.

Tom Curry could have probably used a little less of the international spotlight if Arundell had desired it more.

The England flanker was the subject of an Anglo-Argentine clash last weekend after Juan Cruz Mallia suffered a tackle and the Pumas demanded an investigation into Curry’s alleged push against head coach Felipe Contepomi in the tunnel.

However, just five minutes into Sale’s Friday night game against Exeter, Curry collided with Josh Hodge, bringing the Chiefs’ full-back to a halt.

That upright hit, off a complete run-up and legally boundless, has become a kind of Curry trademark.

He caught Tom Lynagh with one while playing for the Lions in the summer. Another Australia 10 – Tane Edmed – was the victim this fall. Similar to the Malia shot

When it succeeds, a coach’s team talk is shaped by its energy, agressiveness, and commitment.

Curry places his fate in the hands of the referee when it doesn’t.

Closed case.

Janse van Rensburg also recorded five turnovers, 21 meters of territory on seven carries, and nine tackles, none more effective than the one that scored the bonus-point try.

After World Rugby determined that Janse van Rensburg’s involvement with the Baby Boks’ under-20s doesn’t tie him to their senior cousins, he will be eligible for England on residency grounds next year.

Due to the match fees the second row had taken advantage of while on England duty in the summer, Arthur Clark’s recent upgrade to an Audi led to.

Ford-Robinson said, “This is what a brief stint wearing the badge gets you.”

West Country car dealerships need to be alert.

Gloucester has a number of backliner kids who have the commitment, paperwork, and time to pick up Test pay packets.

Ben Redshaw, an England age-grade regular, scored a brilliant try in the eleventh minute from the 20-year-old, who was brought in from Newcastle in the summer.

Charlie Atkinson and Jack Cotgreave, both of whom had already played 10 for England A in their two matches last month, scored late goals in Saturday’s 26-15 victory.

With the likes of Clark, Afolabi Fasogbon, and Jack Clement in the lineup, George Skivington’s expansive style will form the foundation of an exciting young England team.

Gloucester ranks third in the table for visits to the opposition 22 and fourth for defensive defeats, despite sitting ninth.

Red Bull is still waiting for its first Prem victory.

However, another 10, 000 plus sold-out crowd allowed them to outdo Leicester and possibly move closer to a top-flight championship victory, which they have lacked for more than a year.