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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 Steve Smith, Fractionally short, on off, Smith leans back and angles the bat face to get the placement right. Punches it with a high elbow to the right of backward point. Will Jacks goes after it and hauls it in. Smith collects three runs.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Banged in short, over off, Steve Smith ducks under it.
Another halt in play and this time to a hit that Steve Smith has received on this delivery around his right elbow. The physio has rushed out in the middle along with the magic spray. Smith, after getting treated is good to continue.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Ouch, that has hurt! Slanting in and then straightening off the deck with a bit of lift off the surface. Steve Smith looks to get behind the line of the ball and brings his bat out in front. Gets squared up due to the seam movement and the Aussie skipper cops a blow on the right elbow.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Delivers it on a back of a length, on off, Smith defends it off the back foot.
- Cameron Green 4 (5)
- Steve Smith 14 (27)
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, FOUR! Easy pickings! A loose ball from Stokes, drifting down leg, on a back of a length. Green just helps it off the hips down to deep fine leg for a boundary. 200 comes up for Australia and the deficit is now 134.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Pitched up, on off, Cameron Green leans ahead and drives it between cover and mid off. Jofra Archer moves to his left at mid off and tumbles away to prevent the ball from going past him.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Lands it on a good length, angled in around the off stump. Green shoulders arms.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Gets the yorker in, outside off, Green digs it out beside the strip on the off side.
Ben Stokes to Cameron Green, Honing in on the off pole, on a length, Green blocks it out watchfully.
Cameron Green walks out next to bat.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ben Stokes breaks through for England, like he always does. In the corridor on off, on a back of a length. Labuschagne waits back and looks to cut it behind square but the ball is a bit too close to his body. Gets an outside edge that just about carries behind. The keeper, Jamie Smith gets low in front and snaffles it. Marnus falls for 65 (78). Australia are now 196/3, trailing by 138 runs.
Halt! The pink ball's getting a bit of attention from Smith and Stokes, looks like they've spotted some loose stitching, which the umpire chops off.
- Steve Smith 14 (27)
- Marnus Labuschagne 65 (77)
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, On the fuller side, outside off, Smith drives well but picks out Pope at cover.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, On a hard length, on off, Steve hangs back for the block.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Too short and there is width for Marnus to work with. Labuschagne arches back and cuts it between cover and point. Ollie Pope gives it a chase and cuts it off. Three runs taken and the 50-run stand comes up between this pair.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Fuller in the channel, Labuschagne lets it be.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Nipping back in, around the off pole, Marnus shoulders arms.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Not in complete control but Labuschagne will take it! Carse digs it in short, around the helmet of the batter. Marnus swivels for the hook but gets more of a top edge that sails down to the deep fine leg fence for a four.
- Steve Smith 14 (25)
- Marnus Labuschagne 58 (73)
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Tailing back in, attacking the front pad, on a length. Smith pushes it to mid on.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Drags the length back, on off, Smith shuffles and taps it back on the deck.
Ben Stokes to Steve Smith, Hurls it full, around off, Steve walks across and defends it out.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, At 136.6 kph, on a nagging length, on middle and leg. Marnus tucks it down to deep fine leg for one.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Fuller now, on off, this is caressed wide of cover for a brace by Marnus.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Stokes is welcomed with a boundary! A hit-me ball, over middle, at waist height. Labuschagne swivels and rolls his wrists over the ball to pull it. Gets it wide enough of the sliding deep fine leg fielder to his left for a boundary.
Ben Stokes brings himself back into the attack.
- Steve Smith 14 (22)
- Marnus Labuschagne 51 (70)
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, On a back of a length, outside off, Smith hops closer to the line of the ball and punches it through covers for a couple of runs.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Banged in short but the line is down leg, around the hips, Labuschagne swivels and helps the pull down to deep fine leg for one.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, On a good length, outside off, left alone by Marnus.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Around the off pole, on a length, stabbed down.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! A streaky boundary but that takes Marnus Labuschagne to his FIFTY. Labuschagne has carried on from where he left off in Perth and will be eyeing a big score in front of his home crowd. Fractionally short, on off. Labuschagne swivels for the pull but the ball jumps on him. Catches the top edge and flies over the keeper for a boundary.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Not close enough to make the batter play, on a good length. Labuschagne offers no shot.
DRINKS BREAK! England have given a much better account of themselves with the ball compared to the first session. Jofra Archer, in particular, found his rhythm and got the ball to talk. With Archer having most likely bowled the last over of his long spell, it will now be up to the change bowlers to carry on the good work. More than anyone, England will need Brydon Carse to step up. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will feel they have weathered a challenging spell from Archer and can now look to cash in, but they will still need to be watchful with the twilight period looming.
- Marnus Labuschagne 46 (65)
- Steve Smith 12 (21)
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and wide outside off, Marnus Labuschagne drives this towards the right of backward point for a single.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length around off, Marnus Labuschagne blocks this out.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length wide of off, Marnus Labuschagne shoulders his arms at it.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Marnus Labuschagne is growing in confidence with each stroke. Back of a length, down the leg, Marnus Labuschagne gets inside the line of it and just dabs this through the fine leg region for four runs.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length around off, Marnus Labuschagne dabs this to second slip.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length on off, Marnus Labuschagne gets squared up and is beaten on the outside. Marnus is hit high on his thigh pads.
- Steve Smith 12 (21)
- Marnus Labuschagne 41 (59)
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, FOUR! That's classic from Steve Smith. Pitched up on the pads, Steve Smith gets inside the line of it and flicks this through the gap between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary. Smith moves to 12 off 21.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Good length wide of off, Steve Smith leaves it all alone.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, On a length around off, Steve Smith blocks this off his back foot.
A slight hold up as Steve Smith is not happy with the crowd movement over the sight screen.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, NO BALL! Good length on the pads, Steve Smith flicks this through square leg and he takes two. Brydon Carse has overstepped and the umpire calls it a no ball.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Back of a length on middle and off, Steve Smith blocks this.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Good length wide of off, Steve Smith pushes this to mid on for no run this time.
Brydon Carse to Steve Smith, Full and on middle and leg, Steve Smith pushes this down the ground to mid on. A slight misfield by Gus Atkinson and the batters take two as the ball gets parried wide of mid off.
- Marnus Labuschagne 41 (59)
- Steve Smith 4 (14)
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, SIX! Marnus Labuschagne was looking for some runs and he got six of those with this top-edge. Short and around middle and leg, Marnus Labuschagne looks to slap this to fine leg but gets a top-edge that goes over the fence towards the fine leg region for a biggie.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Jofra hits hard length, on off, Marnus Labuschagne defends this off his back foot.
Jofra Archer to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length wide of off, Marnus Labuschagne steps deep inside the crease and shoulders his arms at it.
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
