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- AUS vs ENG Highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 2: Australia finish on 378/6, take 44-run lead at stumps
AUS vs ENG Highlights, 2nd Ashes Test Day 2: Australia finish on 378/6, take 44-run lead at stumps
Weatherald, playing only his second Test, impressed with 12 fours and a six before falling lbw to Jofra Archer. Labuschagne continued his rich vein of form with a confident 65, though he fell just short of a century thanks to a sharp nick to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes. Steve Smith, who had looked solid at the crease, was dismissed by Brydon Carse after attempting a hook shot, highlighting England’s brief resurgence under the lights. Carse had earlier removed Cameron Green (45) and Smith (61) in quick succession, sparking hope for the visitors.
Despite the breakthroughs, England’s bowlers struggled with consistency, gifting Australia scoring opportunities with loose deliveries and four dropped catches. Travis Head, retained as opener in place of the injured Usman Khawaja, managed 33 before tea, while Alex Carey remained unbeaten on 46 alongside Michael Neser at 15.
England had resumed on 325-9, with Joe Root carrying the team with a gritty 138. Root added nine more runs before being dismissed in a spectacular catch by Labuschagne, ending a 10th-wicket partnership of 70. Mitchell Starc led the bowling effort with 6-75 in the first innings.
Both Weatherald and Labuschagne praised the atmosphere and the crowd at the Gabba, with Weatherald remarking, “It’s really enjoyable.” Labuschagne added, “Obviously the boys played well… it’s a nice day.” As Australia heads into Day 3, the hosts are well-placed to assert control in this pivotal Ashes clash, but England will hope to exploit the pitch under lights and fight back.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Short again and outside off, Cameron Green backs away and cuts it towards deep point for a run.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Hard length and around leg, Steve Smith hooks it away towards fine leg for a single.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, SIX! Just over! Brydon Carse bangs in a good bouncer, on off. Steve Smith steps across and tries to pull it away but gets a bit hurried. It takes the top edge and flies over the keeper's head. Ollie Pope is stationed at a straightish third man and thinks he is in the game. However, the ball just sails over his head for a biggie. Smith had his heart in his mouth for a moment, but gives a thumbs up in the end.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Back of a length and on middle and off, Cameron Green makes room again and slaps it over extra cover. The ball holds up in the outfield but the batter gets three runs.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, FOUR! Cameron Green does not mess around and shows intent right away. Short of a length and around off. Green backs away to access the off side and bludgeons it well over mid off for a boundary.
- Steve Smith 52 (74)
- Cameron Green 35 (48)
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Bangs this into the pitch, on off, Steve Smith pulls it away but fails to beat mid-wicket.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Almost chopped on! Short of a length and on off, nips back in a bit. Steve Smith looks to punch it away but gets an inside edge just past the stumps towards backward square leg. Two taken. Gus Atkinson is getting closer and closer.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Back of a length and on the sixth stump line, Steve Smith lets it go and does a 360 around his crease.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, BEATEN! A scrambled seam delivery, on a good length and on off, holds its line. Steve Smith goes for the big drive on the up but the ball zips past the outside edge.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, On a length and on middle, Cameron Green flicks it through square leg for a single.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Starts with a bumper at 139.1 clicks, on middle, Cameron Green ducks under it.
- Steve Smith 50 (70)
- Cameron Green 34 (46)
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Touch fuller and on off, Steve Smith stays deep inside his crease and gets his bat away from his body to block it out.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Another bouncer, on middle, angling in, Steve Smith ducks underneath it.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Back of a length and around off, Steve Smith looks to cut it away but ends up chopping it down to the off side.
Jofra Archer to Cameron Green, Short of a length and on off, Cameron Green rides the bounce and steers it through point for a run.
Jofra Archer to Cameron Green, Jofra Archer bangs in a sharp bouncer at 144.8 clicks, on middle and off, Cameron Green ducks under it.
Jofra Archer to Cameron Green, Good length and on middle, Cameron Green works it towards mid-wicket.
- Cameron Green 33 (43)
- Steve Smith 50 (67)
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, On a length and on middle, Cameron Green clips it towards mid-wicket for one more.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, FIFTY FOR SMITH! A captain's knock, and he brings up his 44th half-century in Test cricket. Back of a length and on off, Steve Smith dabs it towards point for one.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, FOUR! Good effort, but in vain! Full again and on middle, angling in, Steve Smith gets under it and drills it away past mid on. Brydon Carse chases after it and dives to push it back inside. Looks like he has done well, but the replay shows that the ball clipped his trailing leg when he was in contact with the boundary cushions. Another boundary.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Pitched up and on middle, angling in sharply. Steve Smith misses his flick as the ball deflects off his pads and goes towards gully. Green wants the run but is sent back.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, FOUR! Excellent shot! Short of a length and outside off. Steve Smith gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through the vacant backward point region for four more runs. Australia trail by 74 runs now.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Fuller in length and on off, Steve Smith drives it away to mid off.
- Cameron Green 32 (42)
- Steve Smith 41 (62)
Jofra Archer to Cameron Green, FOUR! More runs! This is on a length again and just around off. Cameron Green opens the face of his bat and guides it through the same gap between gully and backward point for another boundary. Jofra Archer has been leaking runs from this end.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Hard length and around leg, Steve Smith flicks it through square leg for a run.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Good length and on middle and leg, Steve Smith tucks it to the leg side.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, FOUR! Deft touch! Back of a length and around off, Steve Smith lets it come to him. He opens the face of his bat and uses the pace to steer it between gully and backward point for a boundary. 250 up for Australia.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Much fuller and on middle, Steve Smith stays back in his crease and blocks it out.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Nice bowling! Short of a length and on off, takes off a bit after hitting the deck. Steve Smith gets a bit squared up but adjusts well to ride the bounce. However, he too cops a blow on his right thumb as the ball rolls towards backward point.
- Cameron Green 28 (41)
- Steve Smith 36 (57)
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Bangs in a bouncer now, on middle, Cameron Green ducks under it.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Well managed! Good length and on off, keeps a bit low now. Cameron Green gets his bat down in time to keep it out towards point.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Oh..close! Gus Atkinson pitches it up, on middle and off, shaping it in sharply. Cameron Green looks to drive it away but just manages to get an inside edge onto the pads. That saves him there or else it would have been plumb.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, On a length and on middle, Cameron Green blocks it out.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Goes fuller and on middle, angling it in sharply, Steve Smith opens up his stance and tries to flick it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball goes towards point and the batters cross.
The physio is out to check on Cameron Green, who has copped a blow on top of his right thumb. It looks like there is a small cut, and he is getting taped up. Green puts on a fresh pair of gloves, and he is ready to resume.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Nasty! Back of a length and on off, jags back in sharply with some extra bounce. Cameron Green tries to play it from the crease but gets hit on the right thumb as the ball rolls towards gully. A single taken. That will sting a bit for Green. Also, the 50-RUN STAND comes up between these two batters.
- Steve Smith 35 (56)
- Cameron Green 27 (36)
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Touch fuller and in that channel outside off, shapes in a touch, Steve Smith leaves it alone.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Jofra Archer bowls a yorker now, on off, Steve Smith opens the face of his bat and squeezes it out but straight to point.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Keeps the length on the shorter side and around off, Steve Smith dabs it down towards point.
Jofra Archer to Cameron Green, Back of a length, angling into the body of the batter, Cameron Green rides the bounce well and tucks it towards square leg for a single.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Good length and on middle, jags back in a bit, Steve Smith fails to flick it away as the ball goes off his thigh pad to the leg side. A leg bye taken.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Short of a length but way down the leg side, Steve Smith lets it go to the keeper.
Halt! The seam has come loose on the ball where the stitching holds it together. The fourth umpire is out in the middle with a box of replacement balls. The replacement has been picked and we are ready to go.
- Cameron Green 26 (35)
- Steve Smith 35 (51)
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Touch fuller and on the fifth stump line, holds its line. Cameron Green prods forward to defend but gets an outside edge along the ground towards gully. Maiden over!
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Short of a length but angling down the leg side, Cameron Green misses his flick.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, A bouncer now, just outside off, Cameron Green sways away from it.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Hits the length hard and on off, Cameron Green stays back and keeps it out on the pitch. The ball bounces up and Green kicks it to stop it from going anywhere near the stumps.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Back of a length and on middle, skids through a bit. Cameron Green moves back to pull but gets hurried and miscues it off the bottom of the bat to short mid-wicket.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Fuller and on middle, angling in, Cameron Green blocks it out solidly.
- Steve Smith 35 (51)
- Cameron Green 26 (29)
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Jofra Archer responds with a quick bouncer, on middle and leg, Steve Smith ducks under it. 10 runs off the over.
Weatherald impressed in only his second Test, hitting 12 fours and a six before falling to Jofra Archer, while Labuschagne’s composed 65 ended with a nick to Ben Stokes. Steve Smith looked set for a big score but was caught by Will Jacks off Brydon Carse, who also dismissed Cameron Green in the same over. Alex Carey remained unbeaten on 46, providing a steady finish alongside Michael Neser.
England’s bowlers struggled with discipline, conceding 51 boundaries and dropping four catches, though Carse’s short-ball tactics sparked a brief revival. Travis Head managed 33 before tea, showing restraint after his explosive century in Perth.
England resumed on 325-9, with Joe Root guiding them to 138, adding nine more before a diving Labuschagne catch ended a 70-run last-wicket stand. Mitchell Starc led the earlier bowling effort with 6-75.
Weatherald and Labuschagne praised the Gabba’s atmosphere, highlighting the enjoyable conditions. With Australia in control, Day 3 promises a tense contest as England looks to exploit the lights and shift momentum in this pivotal Ashes clash.
Match Statistics
Venue
The Gabba, Brisbane
