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ENGLAND BATTLE HISTORY and pink-ball woes All day-night Tests, which use a pink ball, have produced a result, and England’s record under lights offers little reassurance. They have lost five of their seven pink-ball matches, including all three against Australia. Mitchell Starc, already the most prolific bowler in day-night Tests with 81 wickets at an average of 17.08, needs three more dismissals to surpass Wasim Akram’s 414 and become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test history.

No England side has come back from 1-0 down to win the Ashes in Australia since the 1950s, and none have won a Test at the Gabba since Mike Gatting’s team in 1986.

Australia, by contrast, dominate the day-night format with 13 wins in 14 Tests.

Their only pink-ball defeat came at the Gabba in 2024, against the West Indies.

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith said regular captain Pat Cummins may still feature despite being left out of last week’s squad due to a back injury.