The Ashes series quickly shifts to Adelaide on Thursday for another highly anticipated day/night Test.
Australia took a 1-0 lead in Brisbane thanks to a dominant display with bat and ball, while England will be hoping for an improved performance with a few reinforcements taking their place.
The summer of cricket is well and truly underway, and you can find our best bets ahead of the Second Ashes Test in our preview below.
Australia
You could argue luck was in favour of the Aussies with England winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Gabba.
That decision led to the visitors being all out early on the first day after Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins tore through the order, but there was certainly no luck involved on day two with David Warner and Travis Head dominating with the bat.
There’s no question Australia is the rightful favourite heading to Adelaide, but things might feel a little different this week now that Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out with an oblique injury.
Justin Langer likely plans to use Cam Green in a more prominent role after the youngster took his first Test wicket in Brisbane, followed by an important one of Joe Root on the final day.
Even so, Hazlewood’s absence likely opens the door for Jhye Richardson, who will play just his third Test since facing Sri Lanka in 2019.
There’s also some uncertainty as to whether Warner will take his place in the side.
The Australian opener sat out the final innings last week after taking a ball to the ribs, and with Usman Khawaja ready to take his place, it wouldn’t be surprising if selectors take a cautious approach.
England
There’s no question England made a massive mistake by sitting Stuart Broad and James Anderson ahead of the First Test.
Their experience alone probably would have helped England weather the storm in the first innings, and there’s no doubt Broad would have relished the green top wicket in similar fashion to Starc and Cummins.
Both are set to take their place in Adelaide, taking some of the pressure off Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood whilst giving England some much-needed pace.
There wasn’t a lot to like about England with the bat in Brisbane, other than Ollie Pope’s strong first innings and Joe Root’s crucial 89 on day three.
Both will need to produce in Adelaide, but if England can’t establish a solid total in the first innings, this shapes as another long weekend.
Match Betting
England must clean up their fielding if they are to win the Second Test.
Dropped catches proved costly at the Gabba, none more so than Rory Burns’ crucial drop of Warner in the slips early on day two.
The inclusion of Broad and Anderson makes this a more even matchup, but this is still a big ask for a side that lost by nine wickets only four days earlier.
With the Aussies also hitting spinner Jack Leach for fun, a lot needs to go right for England on a short turnaround.
Tip: Back Australia to Win @ $1.57
Australia Top 1st Innings Runscorer
Happy to stick with Marnus Labuschagne to lead the charge for Australia.
The only poor shot he played in the first innings at the Gabba was his dismissal on 74, an error he’ll no doubt be looking to make amends for.
Labuschagne has played some of his best Test cricket in Adelaide, famously putting up 162 on Pakistan back in 2019.
This is tougher, but the form he’s in right now is impossible to knock.
Tip: Marnus Labuschagne @ $3.50
England Top 1st Innings Runscorer
Ollie Pope is a star in the making for the English team, and we certainly saw a glimpse of his potential in Brisbane.
The 23-year-old scored 35 in a bleak first innings for the tourists, and while that number is nothing to get excited about, his previous outing against India back home was.
Pope scored 81 in the first innings at The Oval, a number he can easily replicate as he continues to improve.
Tip: Ollie Pope @ $7.00
Australia Top 1st Inning Wicket Taker
Pat Cummins couldn’t have asked for a better start to his captaincy.
Cummins finished with seven wickets in the First Test, the same number he posted against India this time last year in Adelaide.
Unlike most new captains, Cummins wasn’t afraid to take chances – the biggest one being his early spell of Starc to set up the crucial wicket of Root.
The lethal accuracy he showed in Brisbane was another reminder why he’s the best fast bowler in the world, and at the current price, Cummins is almost a certainty to be Australia’s leading wicket-taker.
Tip: Pat Cummins @ $3.25
England Top 1st Innings Wicket Taker
It’s been a minute since Stuart Broad last bounced a ball in Australia, but fit and well-rested, he does look a great bet to lead the charge for England.
Broad said during the week that he could have made a difference in Brisbane, and his numbers in Adelaide suggest he should be able to make up for lost time.
Broad has taken six wickets at the Adelaide Oval throughout his career, and with the crowd likely to add to his motivation, he should be in for another big performance.
Tip: Stuart Broad @ $3.75