The Ashes 2025: Stuart Broad says day-night second Test in Brisbane is a pink-ball ‘lottery’

England’s hopes of settling the Ashes in Brisbane depend on the pink ball ‘lottery’, says former bowler Stuart Broad.

The second Test, which begins on December 4, is a day-night fixture at the Gabba and follows Australia’s eight-wicket win in the first match.

This means that each day begins in natural light but ends under floodlights, and a pink ball is used instead of the traditional red ball in a Test match.

“We know that the pink-ball Test, having played some ourselves, is a bit of a lottery,” Broad said on the For The Love of Cricket podcast., external.

“Ultimately, the better team generally wins Test matches, but this one is a bit on the brink.”

England lost all three of their day and night Tests in Australia.

They were beaten by 120 runs in Adelaide in 2017, before defeating 275 runs and 146 runs in Adelaide and Hobart on their last outing in 2021.

“If you can get a brand new ball under the floodlights at the Gabba, you should take a wicket and you can open the game,” Broad said.

“It’s all about timing when you bowl the brand new ball.

“That’s why I don’t like bowling first in pink-ball cricket because you’re playing with a brand new ball in broad daylight and you’re not doing much.

“By the time you get to twilight, the ball is 60 years old and not doing anything – and the new ball comes in very late in the day.

“Winning the toss and batting is crucial in the pink-ball Test in my opinion. That’s how I feel in pink-ball cricket. It’s going to be a hell of a challenge.”