England battle to avoid ‘pink slip’ at Brisbane’s Gabba

ENGLAND head into tomorrow's day-night second Ashes Test against pink-ball masters Australia needing a rare victory at Brisbane's Gabba to get back into the five-match series.

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Travis Head's whirlwind century as a makeshift opener carried Australia to an eight-wicket victory inside two days in Perth, giving them a 1-0 lead.

The hosts are again without captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood, leaving swing king Mitchell Starc - expected to be a force in humid Brisbane under lights - to carry the attack.

England, who capitulated in four frantic hours in Perth from a winning position, cannot afford to slip 2-0 down with three matches to play, if they are to have realistic hopes of regaining the urn.

They will be without their own pace spearhead, Mark Wood, who is nursing a knee injury. He has been replaced by off-spinner Will Jacks, who will bolster the batting, in an otherwise unchanged team named yesterday.