Under the blazing sun at the Gabba, England found themselves wilting during a challenging opening session on Saturday afternoon. The oppressive heat seemed to mirror the frustration of the visitors as they struggled to make inroads against a resilient Australian side.

Australia resumed the third day of the Second Test with a score of 378-6, already holding a 44-run lead over England’s first innings total. By the time the session concluded, the hosts had pushed their score to 450-8, extending their lead to a formidable 116 runs. This growing advantage loomed large over England, making their task appear increasingly daunting.

In the stifling 90-degree temperatures, Ben Stokes offered a glimmer of hope by dismissing Michael Neser with a catch behind the stumps, just before the end of his second over. Meanwhile, Alex Carey’s solid innings came to an end at 61, providing Gus Atkinson with his first wicket of the series.

England toiled in the heat in the first session on day three of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane

Australia fought their way to 450-8, an advantage that is looking more and more daunting

England struggle to sparkle in searing heat 

Despite these efforts, the session proved sluggish for England, a lethargy that did little to aid their cause. The team urgently needed a spirited start to counteract the relentless Australian pressure and the merciless heat that turned the Gabba into a virtual furnace.

England desperately needed a fiery first session to match the searing mid-afternoon heat that left the Gabba feeling like scorched earth. 

Instead, the Aussies dug in and dug in and made England toil. Even when there were breakthroughs, when Neser and Carey departed, most England players barely celebrated. 

With both dismissals, there was so little reaction from the fielding side that it took the crowd a few moments to realise they were out.

Australia dug in and put more overs in the legs of the England bowlers who were made to toil

Familiar issues haunt England 

England’s fielding on Friday was so bad it was almost comical and it did not get an awful lot better on Saturday. 

Australia had ground their way to 426-8 when Mitchell Starc slashed a ball from Brydon Carse high into the air over Carse’s head. 

On Friday, Archer had been sinned against – drops cost him two wickets – but this time, he seemed was at mid-off and seemed slow to react. 

The ball was a long time in the air but it dropped apologetically between a horrified Carse and a startled Archer. Archer managed a bitter laugh. Carse did not.

England’s fielding continue to let them down and one chance landed between Jofra Archer (above) and Brydon Carse  

Moment that summed up England’s malaise 

An example of England’s first session malaise – as Starc tried to manipulate the strike to keep Scott Boland at the other end, Boland finally found himself facing the possibility of a full over against Stokes and the field was set accordingly. 

Except on the first ball, Boland prodded defensively into the offside and Archer, fielding at extra cover, could not prevent a quick single. 

Stokes did not even try to contain his fury.

How England’s flaws were laid bare 

Not for the first time in this Test, watching Australia patiently eke out runs on Saturday afternoon, building and building their total until a four from Starc 15 minutes before the first break took them more than 100 runs ahead of England’s first innings total, was a painful reminder of precisely what England seem incapable of doing.

England were not at their best and Australia’s patience left Ben Stokes and his side frustrated

Who was first in the nets? 

Zak Crawley was the first England player in the nets at the Gabba this morning. 

He arrived to practise more than two hours before the start of play. If England are to have any hope of surviving this Test, they will need a performance from England’s opener that at least matches his first innings showing.

England’s parkrun contingent 

More than 300 members of the Barmy Army, England’s travelling fan base, swelled the numbers taking part in the South Bank parkrun along the banks of the Brisbane River on Saturday morning to more than 900 people. 

The run started at 7am but the heat was already fierce. ‘It’s a lot warmer than Manchester,’ one England fan said to a marshal as she crossed the line.

Richie still stands above the rest 

The Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper published the results of a poll on Saturday morning that it had commissioned to find the greatest cricket commentator of all time.

Its readers voted for Richie Benaud at the top of list. Australian or English, I don’t think many who ever heard the great man commentate and thrilled to his analysis and his dry wit, would disagree. 

The highest English commentator on the list was Isa Guha, who came in at sixth, followed by Tony Greig at seven, Michael Vaughan at 13, Jonathan Agnew at 14 and Michael Atherton at 18.

The late great Richie Benaud was voted as the best cricket commentator of all-time in a poll

The Gabbatroopers 

As if England did not have enough to contend with on Saturday, one of the lower tier sections of the Gabba was colonised by hordes of Aussie fans dressed all in white – complete with white helmets – and calling themselves the Gabbatroopers. 

They had their names specially printed on their backs and BBQ Dan, Willsy, Eeyore, Chrisso, Jobbo, Willo, Vando, Davo, Wombat Willi, Adopted Convict, Butcher, Barney, Clem Fandango, Gabbatooter and Beardy scored an early victory when former Aussie great fast bowler Brett Lee wandered over and asked if he could have his picture taken with them. 

Cue a trumpeter playing the Star Wars theme and Darth Vader necking a pint of lager in one.