Braydon Carse is confident England can speed up Australia again in the second day-night Ashes Test in Brisbane as the tourists look to level the five-match series.
England batted in both innings in Perth last week as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the space of two days – but the five-wicket attack rocked Australia in the first innings, bowling the tourists out for 132 at a combined average of 88mph.
Carse is joined in the side by fellow seamers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes, with all but Wood (knee injury) likely to be deployed for Thursday’s pink-ball game at The Gabba (kick-off 4pm UK time).
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Atherton says England must bounce back in the second Ashes Test or the series is essentially over
Kars, who took four wickets in Perth, said: “I’d like to think there will certainly be moments, in this game, and throughout the series, where we can have that impact on Australia’s batting line-up.”
“We have to gain a huge amount of confidence from that first day in Perth. As a group of seamers, we all offer different skills and attributes, so hopefully we can continue to trouble some of the Australian batsmen.”
“It’s special to be part of such a rhythm attack, we certainly have players and bowlers who are exciting and hopefully they can change the game.”
Who replaces Wood for Brisbane Test?
England could replace Wood like-for-like by picking fellow seamer Josh Tong or perhaps pick a spinner in Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks.
Australia’s left-arm fast Mitchell Starc is the most prolific bowler in day-night Tests with 81 wickets in 14 games at an average of 17.08, but off-spinner Nathan Lyon scored 43 in 13 at 25.62 to prove that slow bowlers can make an impact in pink-ball games.
Shoaib Bashir is a candidate to play in Brisbane if England select a spinner
ski sports Michael Atherton said: “You’ll still have three-and-a-half hours under daylight before the lights come into effect, so I don’t think the spinner is out of the equation.
Speaking last week, Atherton’s colleague Ski Sports Pundit and former England captain Nasser Hussain said of Tongu, who has taken 31 wickets in six Tests at an average of 30 with two five-wicket hauls: “He can spray the ball around when he moves, but he has that knack of taking wickets and getting good players out.”
“He’s quick enough, clears the short ball well. He goes offside and the ball looks like it’s going in, then he breaks away and gets tackles that are caught in the slip.
“He creates good angles, is a real player and would add to any side.”
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Australia have won 13 of their 14 day-night Tests – including all three against their Ashes rivals – to England’s record two wins and five defeats in seven pink-ball games.
Kars added: “It will be interesting to see how it goes. Generally speaking, the ball works a bit more in the twilight period.”
“Looking back at a few highlights from previous matches played in Australia, it’s certainly admirable how their bowling is going with the new ball.”
“They played some really good pink-ball cricket and I’d like to say we’ve looked at some of the things they’ve done in previous years.”
“As soon as we get out, we’ll assess those conditions. I’ll still be adaptable to whatever the situation brings.”
Braydon Kars has been training with the pink ball since Thursday ahead of Brisbane’s day night
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times Great Britain and Ireland
- First Test (Perth – November 21-25): Australia beat England by eight wickets
- Second test (day/night): Thursday 4 December – Monday 8 December (4am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third test: Wednesday 17 December – Sunday 21 December (11.30pm) – Oval Adelaide
- Fourth test: Thursday 25 December – Monday 29 December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth Test: Sunday 4 January – Thursday 8 January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground