Are England back in this Test match? After two nightmarish days to kick off the Ashes, the visitors bounced back on day three to finish proceedings on 220-2 in their second innings.

Leading the way is skipper Joe Root, unbeaten on 86, and with the deficit cut to 58 runs, an escape is not out of the question.

For many, the last few days have been a sort of throwback to how England fared at the start of the 2010/11 Ashes, a series which ended up with the tourists securing a famous 3-1 series win.

So, England fans, we’ve decided to give you a bit of hope – here’s a look at the similarities between the 2010 Gabba Ashes Test and the series opener this time round.

0-1 inside the opening over and all out on day one

Just like Rory Burns, Andrew Strauss – who won the toss and chose to bat first – was sent on his way for a duck inside the opening over of the series, departing to Ben Hilfenhaus from the third delivery of the match. England did pass 147 on that occasion, but they were derailed by a Peter Siddle hat-trick to be bowled out on the opening day for 260.

Australia take a lead of more than 200, with their No.5 racking up a big ton

In 2021, it was a lead of 278 runs. In 2010, it was 221. While Travis Head top-scored for Australia in their innings with 152, 11 years ago it was Mike Hussey who did the damage with an innings of 195. The comparison here is somewhat striking too. Ahead of this series, there was debate over whether Head, who was dropped from the Test XI during the last Australian summer, would be edged out by Usman Khawaja in the No.5 slot. Hussey too entered the Gabba opener with question marks over his place in the side after a difficult series against India. Funnily enough, one of the men being tipped to replace him was… Khawaja.

England come to the party in their second innings

Facing a huge second-innings deficit, England bounced backed spectacularly in 2010. Strauss recovered from his first-innings duck to hit a century and he was the only wicket to fall in the innings, with Alastair Cook (235) and Jonathan Trott (135) both going big. England would declare on 517-1 and went on to secure a famous draw.

This time round, England’s two openers departed relatively early, but Root and Dawid Malan are giving England hope. Their partnership currently stands at 159, and both are in the eighties. For Malan, 20 more runs will help him secure a second Test hundred in Australia; for Root, 14 more will give him a maiden Test hundred in the country. Securing a draw this time round will surely trump The Great Escape of 2010.

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