The Ashes 2025: One two-day Test down, time for a break for England

England have arrived in Brisbane for the second Test but the Ashes tour will take a surprise detour when the squad heads to Noosa after the match for a brief break.

Chilly Canberra is off the agenda for England’s Test players but nourishing Noosa has got a tick.

England have arrived in Brisbane for the second Test but the Ashes tour will take a surprise detour when the squad heads to Noosa after the match for a brief break.

Going to such an exotic holiday location is a delicate gamble and not just because the squad’s British sun tans have the potential to scare the area’s local wildlife suddenly in world focus after Robert Irwin’s victory in Dancing With The Stars.

If England go down 2-0 there may be questions asked over the point of a bonus holiday.

But the intensity of this series – which so far has featured just two days – already feels draining on everyone involved in it.

The England captain Ben Stokes.

Jofra Archer arrives in Brisbane. Pictures: John Gass

England seemingly have much to sort out with their misfiring top order but, in a sense, nothing will change.

“This is not the crossroad for Bazball,’’ said former England Test quick Steve Harmison.

“They will keep playing the same aggressive way. I sense it will win them Tests this series but they won’t win enough of them to win the Ashes.’’

England’s Joe Root walks off the field after losing the first Test. Picture: AFP

A small group of fans turned up to Brisbane Airport and the players willingly posed for selfies despite the marathon trip from Perth.

The team has earnt the ire of former players and fans over their two day loss in Perth but are too far committed to their aggressive philosophy to start winding it back.

England captain Ben Stokes signs an autograph for a fan after arriving in Brisbane. Picture: John Gass

The pressure continues to rise with the decision not to send the Test players to a two-day pink ball trial game in Canberra which could have helped their Test preparation.

Australia will review data from the Tests which showed that England’s batsmen do not enjoy letting the ball go and that presents endless opportunities for old fashioned thimble and pea tricks outside off-stump.

England will not train at the Gabba until next week and will have several sessions at Allan Border Field this week.

Originally published as The Ashes 2025: One two-day Test down, time for a break for England