Take away Starc and Australia's attack is 'second division' - Agnew

Australia's attack in the second Ashes Test is their "worst since 2010-11" and is "really second division" if you exclude Mitchell Starc, says BBC's chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew.

Left-armer Starc, who took 10-113 in the first Test win in Perth, delivered again on day one in Brisbane with 6-71.

Despite that England posted 325-9 with Joe Root hitting his elusive first century in Australia with an unbeaten 135.

Australia are without premier pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood through injuries and they opted to leave spinner Nathan Lyon, the seventh-most successful Test bowler in history, out of their XI for the day-night Test.

Starc has been joined by seamers Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser.

Boland has been Australia's reserve bowler in recent years and averages an impressive 18.01 in 16 Tests, but Doggett only made his debut in the first Test and Neser, who is playing in his third Test, is included for the first time since December 2022.

"The bowling attack of Australia's is the worst I've seen since 2010-11," said Agnew.

"Mitchell Starc is brilliant, a world-class bowler. The rest of it is really second division and it looked it [on day one]. It's not what they are used to doing.

"You could say that was the case for Perth as well.

"We know Australia are vulnerable, their batting and bowling is vulnerable and that's what was frustrating about Perth."