Ashes 2025, AUS vs ENG 2nd Test: The players of Australia and England came out wearing black armbands during the second Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025, which kicked off on Thursday, December 4 at The Gabba in Brisbane.
England won the toss and opted to bat first with an aim to bounce back in the five-match Test series.
Australia and England players paid tribute to the Robin Smith, the former England batting great who passed away earlier this week. England Cricket confirmed on X that the team would wear black armbands in honour of Smith ahead of the second Test at the Gabba on Thursday.
Smith, aged 62, was a vital figure in England’s Test team between 1988 and 1996. He passed away at the age of 62. Having made his debut against the West Indies in 1988, the right-handed batter went on to score 4236 runs off 62 Test appearances at an impressive average of 43.67. In addition, he also played 71 ODIs for England, returning with 2419 runs.
Earlier, the ECB chair Richard Thompson paid his tribute to Smith with a statement. “Robin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience.
“He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride, and no shortage of entertainment.
“He was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993,” he added.
Nicknamed “The Judge”, the South African-born batter Smith had only recently met with the England Lions squad in Perth at the invitation of coach Andrew Flintoff.
England headed into the second match with an aim to produce an improved effort in Brisbane in the pink-ball Test and bounce back in the five-match series. They lost the first match in Perth by 8 wickets in the low-scoring contest. The visitors brought in Will Jacks in their playing XI to replace the injured Mark Wood. On the other hand, Michael Neser and Josh Inglis replaced Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon.
Australia vs England 2nd Test Playing XIs, Ashes 2025:
Australia (Playing XI): Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey(w), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer