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Ashes: Toss will be key factor in Brisbane with pink ball

November 29, 2025 09:10 IST
2 Minutes Read

'It is quite important to bat first because even if you are bowled out by tea when it's starting to go dark, you have a brand new ball under lights.'

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes celebrates with teammates after taking his fifth wicket during the first Ashes Test against Australia at Perth stadium, Perth, on November 21, 2025. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters

England fast bowler Stuart Broad said the second Ashes Test, starting Thursday next week, will be a lottery and the toss is a key factor in Brisbane with the pink ball.

Australia have won 13 of their 14 day-night Tests, their only loss coming at the Gabba last year against the West Indies.

England have won just two out of their seven pink-ball matches. They have lost all three in Australia -- a 120 run-defeat in Adelaide in 2017, before 275-run and 146-run defeats in Adelaide and Hobart in 2021.

 

"We know the pink-ball Test, having played a few ourselves, is a bit of a lottery," Broad, who has played in all of England's pink-ball Tests so far, said on 'For The Love of Cricket' podcast. 

"It is all about timing a little bit of when you bowl with the brand new ball.

"Winning the toss and batting is pretty crucial in the pink-ball Test in my opinion."

Australia won the first Test by eight wickets after England batting collapsed twice in Perth, Mitchell Starc taking 10 wickets in the match.

The fast-bowler is also the leading wicket-taker in the pink-ball Tests with 81 wickets, and could pose a threat once again for the visitors' batting unit.

"That's why I think it is quite important to bat first because even if you are bowled out by tea when it's starting to go dark, you have a brand new ball under lights," Broad said.

"And if you bat well you can control when you bowl in the game and in the day."

Australia, 1-0 up in the series, will again be captained by stand-in skipper Steve Smith as Pat Cummins and fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood are again ruled out due to injuries.

Source: REUTERS
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