The second Ashes Test between Australia and England kicks off on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at The Gabba in Brisbane as a day-night pink-ball clash running through December 8. Australia enter leading 1-0 after an eight-wicket victory in Perth, where Travis Head‘s explosive century sealed the opener, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle under lights at the iconic venue. With Usman Khawaja sidelined by a back injury, Head shifts to open alongside Jake Weatherald, while England replaces injured Mark Wood with Will Jacks for spin-bowling depth, aiming to level the series in this format where Australia boast an unbeaten pink-ball record at home against England.
Is Pat Cummins available for Brisbane Test?
Pat Cummins remains a potential participant in the second Ashes Test against England at The Gabba, starting December 4, 2025, despite not being named in Australia’s initial 14-man squad announced on November 27 due to a lingering back injury.
Cummins has been sidelined since July 2025 with a bone stress injury in his lower back, missing the Perth opener where Australia won by eight wickets under stand-in captain Steve Smith. Recent net sessions in Perth, Sydney,and Brisbane showed him bowling at full speed with the pink ball, prompting selectors to delay naming the playing XI until pitch inspection on December 3 afternoon or toss time on December 4. Smith noted Cummins “looks pretty good” and understands his body well, but match intensity differs from practice; inclusion would likely replace Brendan Doggett, with Josh Inglis favored over Beau Webster for Khawaja’s injury spot.
A final decision hinges on fitness tests and Gabba conditions, keeping fans on edge as Australia eyes a 2-0 lead in this day-night pink-ball fixture.
Brisbane weather forecast for the pink-ball Test
Brisbane’s forecast promises mostly clear conditions early in the Test, favoring uninterrupted play and pace-friendly bounce on the Gabba pitch, though humidity and winds could influence swing under floodlights.
Day 1 (Thursday, December 4) features partly sunny skies with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C, just 25% rain chance, ENE winds at 17 km/h, and extreme UV index of 12.0—ideal for Australia’s seamers like Mitchell Starc to exploit in the evening session.
Day 2 (Friday, December 5) stays partly to mostly sunny and breezy, peaking at 30°C/19°C with only 1% precipitation risk, NE winds at 17 km/h, and extreme UV, supporting steady batting but testing fielders in afternoon gusts.
Day 3 (Saturday, December 6) offers plenty of sun and breezy conditions at 31°C/19°C, 1% rain odds, NNE winds at 19 km/h, RealFeel® 34°C, extreme UV—prime for aggressive strokeplay as the pink ball skids on.
Day 4 (Sunday, December 7) turns very warm at 32°C/22°C with sun yielding to increasing clouds, 6% rain chance, breezy NNE winds at 20 km/h, and very high UV of 10.0, potentially slowing the surface and aiding spinners like Nathan Lyon late.
Day 5 (Monday, December 8) shifts dramatically to cloudy, humid weather at 30°C/21°C with 91% rain probability including soaking showers, NW winds at 11 km/h, , and moderate UV of 5.0— a major threat to any finish, reminiscent of past Gabba interruptions.
This outlook underscores Australia’s pink-ball fortress advantage, but England’s bounce-back hopes hinge on exploiting early perfection before Monday’s deluge risks a truncated decider.
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