3 England players who can trouble Australia in the pink-ball Test at Gabba | Ashes 2025-26

Table of Contents

A tense atmosphere hangs over the Gabba, Brisbane, as the second Ashes Test will begin tomorrow, a day-night affair that presents a unique challenge to the touring England side. The Ashes 2025-26 series is already off to a dramatic start, with Australia drawing first blood in a low-scoring, rapid-fire contest. The tourists are desperate to level the score, but they face an Australian team that is historically dominant with the pink ball.

The highly anticipated Men’s Ashes 2025-26 kicked off with a bang, but not the one England hoped for. The opening Test at the Optus Stadium, Perth, ended inside just two days, marking a historic and painful defeat for the tourists.

England’s history in day-night Test cricket with the pink ball has been a major source of concern heading into this crucial second Test. They have struggled to master the conditions and the movement the extra lacquer on the Kookaburra ball offers, especially under floodlights.

Crucially, England has never won a pink-ball Test against Australia. Their three previous encounters in Australia-in Adelaide (2017), Adelaide (2021), and Hobart (2022)-have all ended in heavy defeats. Australia, by contrast, holds a formidable record of 13 wins in 14 pink-ball Tests globally.

Despite the gloomy history, England possesses world-class players who have the skill and temperament to turn the tide. Here are three key players who could be the most potent threat to Australia in the day-night Test at the Gabba:

1. Harry Brook (Middle-Order Batter)

Harry Brook represents the future of England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, and his limited but impactful pink-ball record suggests he is untroubled by the format’s idiosyncrasies. Brook has played just one day-night Test, but he made his mark by striking a confident and vital 89 in his single innings against New Zealand in 2023. This single performance gives him a pink-ball Batting Average of 44.50, which is very close to his exceptional career average, underscoring his ability to adapt his high-tempo, attacking game to the conditions.

The pink ball often swings more, especially under lights, but Brook’s aggressive footwork and ability to hit through the line can disrupt a bowler’s rhythm. His fearless approach is exactly what is needed to put pressure on a dominant Australian attack that relies on building pressure. If he can survive the initial movement, his penchant for scoring quickly could take the game away from Australia in a critical session.

2. Joe Root (Top-Order Batter)

Joe Root is the undisputed anchor of the English batting line-up and their most experienced player in the day-night format, having played in all seven of England’s pink-ball Tests. His wealth of experience in managing the tricky twilight periods—where the pink ball often exhibits maximum movement—is indispensable. Root has amassed 501 runs in D/N Tests, with a solid Batting Average of 38.53 that, while lower than his career mark, is crucial resilience against the moving ball. He boasts one century (136) and four fifties, highlighting his capacity to build substantial innings.

His technical skill and patience are key to surviving Mitchell Starc’s lethal spells with the new pink ball. For England to truly threaten Australia, Root must convert his starts into one of his signature monumental scores, providing the stability around which the rest of the aggressive batting order can play.

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: ‘Piece of s*it’ – Usman Khawaja slams ICC over ‘very good’ rating for Perth pitch ahead of AUS vs ENG pink-ball Test

3. Jofra Archer (Pace Bowler)

Jofra Archer is England’s ultimate X-factor in pink-ball cricket. Although his overall pink-ball statistics are limited to one Tests due to injury, they in no way reflect his potential impact. He has taken 1 wickets in D/N Tests at a average of 24.00, but his value lies in the express pace and sharp, unsettling bounce he extracts, which is magnified on the fast Gabba surface and enhanced by the pink ball’s lacquer.

Against an Australian top-order featuring several left-handers, Archer’s ability to angle the ball in and straighten it or make it move away late makes him lethal, particularly with the new ball under lights. His sheer intensity and ability to deliver spells over 145 kph can shatter a settled batting line-up, making him arguably the most critical component of England’s bowling attack if they are to successfully trouble the Australian batters.

Also READ: AUS vs ENG, Ashes 2025-26: England unveils their playing XI for the Gabba Test, no place for Mark Wood