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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.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, SIX! Oh..wow! What a shot. This is more like the Steve Smith we know. Jofra Archer bangs this into the pitch, on middle, but not enough to trouble the batter. Smith bends his back to sway away and nails the upper cut over the keeper's head for a biggie.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Touch fuller but going down the leg side, Steve Smith fails to glance it away.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Hard length and on middle, angling in a bit, Steve Smith keeps it out on the pitch.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, EDGED AND FOUR! Very unlike Steve Smith! Jofra Archer lands this back of a length and around off, gets some kick off the surface. Smith stays back and tries to pull it away but gets a top edge that flies over the slip cordon for a boundary. Australia trail by under a 100 runs now.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Short of a length but way down the leg side, Steve Smith makes a comfortable leave. A real loosener from Jofra Archer.
Jofra Archer (12-2-38-1) will bowl from the other end.
- Cameron Green 26 (29)
- Steve Smith 25 (45)
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, FOUR! Put away! Gus Atkinson bangs this into the pitch, on middle. Cameron Green picks up the length early, swivels and pulls it over square leg as the ball trickles to the fence for a boundary. Australia trail by 101 runs now.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Much fuller, on middle, shaping it in, Cameron Green steps across and knocks it to mid on.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Length again and on off, Cameron Green stays back and pats it down to short cover.
Gus Atkinson to Cameron Green, Good length and around middle, Cameron Green gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Full again and on middle, Steve Smith drills it firmly wide of mid on. Brydon Carse moves to his left and dives to make a half-stop. A single taken.
Gus Atkinson to Steve Smith, Gus Atkinson starts with a full delivery, on middle, angling it in. Steve Smith drives it off the toe-end of the bat towards mid on.
All in readiness for the final session of the day to get underway. The two umpires and players make their way out to the centre. Gus Atkinson will kickstart proceedings with the ball. Steve Smith is on strike. Two slips and a leg slip await. Here we go!
... DAY 2, SESSION 3 ...
The final session of Day 2 promises to be an enthralling one, with the game in the balance and plenty at stake. Will England's bowlers rise to the challenge under lights, or will the Aussies continue to dictate terms? The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the day's play, and cricket fans are in for a treat. Do join us back for the final session at 9 am GMT.
As the teams head in for the break, the Aussies are understandably pleased with their progress. The English bowlers will need to regroup and come up with a plan to stem the tide in the next session. The pink ball is expected to do more under lights, which could be a game-changer, and England will be hoping to exploit this to get back into the game. The Aussies, on the other hand, will be looking to keep their momentum going, get past the English total and try and have a go at putting the game beyond England's reach.
Jake Weatherald was in fantastic form, scoring 72 before falling to Jofra Archer's trap, while Marnus Labuschagne looked set for a big score before Ben Stokes dismissed him on 65. The Aussie duo of Smith and Green have been positive but calculated in their approach, and it's paying dividends. England's bowlers have been a bit better in this session, but they've still conceded almost 100 runs again, though the likes of Archer and Atkinson have looked threatening at times.
DINNER BREAK! The Aussies have dominated the session, piling on 98 runs in 24 overs for the loss of 2 wickets, and they're looking formidable. After resuming at 130 for 1, they kept the pedal to the metal, with Jake Weatherald setting the tone. Although they lost Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne in the session, the partnership between Steve Smith and Cameron Green has been a revelation as they're adding runs at a healthy clip, and their partnership has boosted Australia to an even commanding position. The Aussies now trail by 106, and with Smith and Green looking comfortable at the crease, England's task is getting tougher by the minute.
- Cameron Green 22 (25)
- Steve Smith 24 (43)
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, FOUR! A loose delivery and it gets the treatment. Stokes goes searching for the yorker but ends up dishing out a low full toss, on off. Green opens the bat face and slices it to the left of backward point for a boundary. Time for a Dinner break on Day 2 with Australia trailing by 106 runs.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Stokes serves it full, on off, Smith gets his hands through the ball and firms the drive through covers. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and Steve picks up three runs.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Lands it on a short of a length, on top of off, Smith hangs back and drops his bat down on the ball.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, A bit of nip back, on the fuller side, in the channel, Smith leaves it all alone.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, This is on a hard length, on off, Smith stands tall and taps it to cover.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Attacking the stumps, on a length, Steve gets behind it to defend.
- Steve Smith 21 (38)
- Cameron Green 18 (24)
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, On the pads, on a length, Smith walks across and clips it through square leg for a single.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, A bit too full, on off, Smith angles the bat face and drives it to the right of backward point for a brace.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Full and on off, Green presses forward and drives it all along the ground through the 8-metre gap between the two catching cover fielders. Ben Stokes gives it a chase from mid off and saves a run for his side.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Pushes the length up, seaming back in, around the sixth stump, Cameron Green shoulders arms.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, On a hard length, over off. Green rises with the bounce and dabs it back on the deck.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Carse goes short and gets it high enough, around the left shoulder. Green shapes up for the pull initially but then bails out.
- Cameron Green 15 (20)
- Steve Smith 18 (36)
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Banged in short, over middle, pulled down to deep fine leg for a single.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Stokes goes wide on the crease and this is fuller, on the off pole. Cameron Green watchfully defends.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Around off, on a short of a length, tapped to backward point.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, FOUR! Off the edge! This is angled in, on a good length, on off. Cameron Green looks to block it out with a straight bat but the ball straightens to catch the outside edge. The ball goes down off the bat and through the gap between second slip and gully for a boundary.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Slightly fuller in the corridor, Cameron Green makes the leave.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Not all that short, on middle, Smith swivels and pulls it down to deep fine leg for one.
- Cameron Green 10 (15)
- Steve Smith 17 (35)
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Bowled from a bit wide of the crease, on top of off. Green covers the line and blocks it out.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, In the channel, on a good length, left alone by CG.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Goes very full, outside off, Green firms the drive but can't beat one of the two catching cover fielders in Ben Duckett. Duckett moves to his right and sticks out his right hand to make the stop.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, On a back of a length, on off, Cameron keeps it out off the back foot.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Drifts in at the hips, on a back of a length, Green plays it to mid-wicket.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, A flash and a miss! This is on a short of a length, outside off, Green looks to hit this one on the rise but is beaten past the outside edge.
- Steve Smith 17 (35)
- Cameron Green 10 (9)
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, In the channel, on a good length, left alone by Steve. The ball dies down on its way to the keeper and Jamie Smith collects it on the bounce.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, On top of off, Smith walks across and turns it to mid-wicket.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Into the surface, over off, Smith stands tall and drops it beside the strip on the off side.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Pulls the length back, outside off, Green chops it down wide of point for a single.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, FOUR! Fine shot! Stokes lands it full, on off, Green transfers the weight on the front foot and leans on. Drives it all along the ground past the catching cover fielder to his left for a four.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, On a good length, on off, Cameron blocks it out close to his body.
- Steve Smith 17 (32)
- Cameron Green 5 (6)
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Carse bangs it in short, on off, Smith swivels for the pull but ends up with an inside edge onto the pads. Carse falls over on his follow-through but gets back up quickly.
Brydon Carse to Cameron Green, Full and attacking the stumps, Green pushes it in front of mid off for a quick single.
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
