Australia A exposes England's lack of Ashes depth

England's alarming lack of Ashes depth has been further emphasised, after their Lions side were flogged by an innings and 131 runs by Australia A in Brisbane.

Fresh off the tourists' heavy loss at the Gabba on Sunday leaving them 2-0 down in the Ashes, the Lions were humiliated 10 minutes down the road at Allan Border Field on Monday.

After being bowled out for 166 on Friday, England's batting managed slightly better in their second innings before being all out for 295.

Youngster Asa Tribe, who has played five ODIs for ICC affiliate Jersey, finished unbeaten on 129, but Fergus O'Neill's 4-53 for Australia A ensured there was no chance of a final-day draw.

Those innings were sandwiched by Australia A's 8-588 declared, with Nathan McSweeney using the match to push his Test claims with an unbeaten 226.

The defeat follows a loss to a Cricket Australia XI last month, but most players featured in a first-innings win over a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

England's senior side desperately need change ahead of next week's third Ashes Test in Adelaide, but realistically their options are limited.

Ollie Pope is under mounting pressure to keep his spot at No.3, after failing to reach 50 in any of his first four innings of the series.

But the man most likely to replace him, Jacob Bethell, is still yet to hit his maiden first-class hundred in a career spanning 25 matches.

Bethell showed some signs of promise with a 71 against Australia A on Sunday, but his returns for the tour are now 3, 70, 44, 16, 19 and 71.

Tribe's century in the third innings in Brisbane has been the only hundred of the tour from an England Lions player, with no one sticking their hand up for selection.

The bigger concern for England could be spinner Shoaib Bashir, after years of preparing him for this Ashes summer.

The 22-year-old went for 0-115 from 25 overs against Australia A, with McSweeney pulling his first two balls for four on day one, and the match barely getting any better.

Will Jacks was picked ahead of Bashir for the Gabba Test and took the wicket of Brendan Doggett, while offering some value with the bat.

England's back-up quicks Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts did not play in this Lions fixture, with Nathan Gilchrist taking 4-128 and Josh Hull 3-103.

2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men's Ashes

First Test: Australia won by eight wickets

Second Test: Australia won by eight wickets

Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 10:30am AEDT

Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10:30am AEDT

Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10:30am AEDT

Australia squad (second Test only): Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood