Brisbane’s cauldron simmered with Australian dominance on December 7, 2025, as Day 4 of the second Ashes Test saw the hosts inch closer to a series-clinching win, enforcing the follow-on and reducing England to 45 for 3 by stumps—still a daunting 267 runs short of an improbable escape. Steve Smith’s tactical acumen, filling Pat Cummins’ void with seam-heavy precision, dismantled England’s top order in a pink-ball masterclass, leaving Ben Stokes’ side scrambling for survival.