second test of The Ashes 2025-26 The series, held at the Gabba in Brisbane, began with an emotional tribute as both the Australian and English teams took to the field wearing black armbands. A traditional symbol of respect in cricket, this gesture immediately caught the attention of fans and spectators watching the match. Players from both sides were led by captains ben stokes And steve smith (stands for pat cummins), a moment of silence was observed on the field before the first ball was bowled.
Reason for England and Australian players wearing black bands on the first day of pink ball test at Gabba
Robin Smith Who died unexpectedly in Perth earlier this week at the age of 62. The players and everyone present in the stadium observed a minute’s silence before the start of the game in honor of the great cricketer nicknamed The Judge. Smith died suddenly on 1 December at his apartment in South Perth. His death caused an outpouring of grief in the cricket community, as he was highly praised for his courage at the crease and his strong ability to handle some of the fastest bowlers of his generation.
- International Career: Smith played 62 Test matches for England between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4236 runs at an average of 43.67 and nine centuries. He also scored 2419 runs in 71 ODI matches including four centuries.
- Defining moment: His top Test score of 175 was a bold innings against a strong West Indies pace attack in Antigua in 1994, cementing his reputation as a fearless batsman.
- Home Symbol: At domestic level, he was an icon for Hampshire, where he scored over 26,000 first-class runs and captained the team to major domestic titles.
See also: Ashes 2025-26: Mitchell Starc dismisses Ben Duckett for golden duck on first day of pink-ball Test
Jack Crawley and Joe Root played key roles in England’s recovery after early setbacks against Australia at the Gabba
On the first day of the second Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, England’s batting suffered early turmoil as they lost both ben duckett And Ollie Pope For only 5 runs on the board, both fell Mitchell StarcHowever, jack crawley And Joe Root Steadying the ship with an undefeated partnership led to a strong recovery.
Crawley scored 57 runs in 74 balls and played with patience and hit seven fours. Along with him, Root also remained unbeaten after scoring 32 runs in 59 balls. Together, they took England to 94/2 at the end of the first session. Despite early setbacks, the pair’s resilience under pink-ball pressure was evident, and they kept Australia at bay with steady stroke play and calculating runs between the wickets. Both players ensured that England were saved from further damage and looked to build a big partnership in the coming seasons. harry brook And ben stokes Still to come. Australian bowlers including Starc, Scott Boland And Michael Nesserwere consistent but lacked the penetration needed to break out during this phase. With a season of solid batting ahead, England will be looking for a strong score in this crucial Ashes clash
See also: AUS vs ENG, Ashes 2025-26: Brisbane weather forecast for pink-ball Test
