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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.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Ben hits the deck hard, on off. Jake Weatherald tucks this through mid-wicket for one.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Good length, wide of off, Jake Weatherald leaves it all alone.
- Marnus Labuschagne 6 (15)
- Jake Weatherald 40 (39)
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! A beautifully crafted boundary for Marnus Labuschagne. Short and wide of off, Marnus Labuschagne leans back and cuts this precisely in the gap between gully and backward point for a boundary.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length around off, Marnus Labuschagne keeps it out.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length on off, Marnus Labuschagne blocks it out.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Consider this a good leave if you are rooting for the Aussies and just missed if you are all in for England. Good length, angling into the batter just wide of off. Marnus Labuschagne doesn't offer any stroke at it and the ball almost nips back enough to bring the stumps into the action but it just misses the top of off.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and on off, Marnus Labuschagne pushes this to mid off for no run.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length wide of off, Marnus Labuschagne lets it sail back to the keeper.
- Jake Weatherald 40 (39)
- Marnus Labuschagne 2 (9)
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Now this is much better from Ben. Good length, around off, straightening after pitching. Jake Weatherald looks to get bat on ball but is beaten on the outside.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Good length around off, Jake Weatherald gets right on top of the bounce, keeps himself crouched low and blocks it.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length around middle and leg, Marnus Labuschagne pulls this flat to deep backward square leg for one.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length on middle and off, Marnus Labuschagne remains rock solid and blocks again.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, OUCH! That's got to hurt Marnus Labuschagne. Ben Stokes hits the hard length, around off, the ball lands and shoots up at the batter. Marnus Labuschagne was in the mood to shoulder his arms at it but the ball keeps rising and it hits ML around his right elbow and bumps behind the stumps.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, NO BALL! Good length on the pads, Marnus Labuschagne tucks this to mid-wicket. Ben Stokes has overstepped and it is called a no ball.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Bumper, around off, Marnus Labuschagne leaves it all alone.
- Jake Weatherald 40 (37)
- Marnus Labuschagne 1 (4)
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, Back of a length on off, Jake Weatherald gets right behind the line of it and dead bats it.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length around off, Marnus Labuschagne pushes this to the right of the fielder at point and gets off the mark with a single.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length, on top of off, Marnus Labuschagne defends this off his front foot.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Carse hits the hard length, around middle and leg. Marnus Labuschagne finds mid-wicket.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length on the pads, Marnus Labuschagne tucks this to mid-wicket.
Marnus Labuschagne walks in at number 3.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, OUT! CAUGHT! Brydon Carse provides the much-needed breakthrough for the visitors. On a length, on the pads, from round the wicket. Travis Head looks to flick this towards the space around deep mid-wicket but he just closes the bat face early. Ends up spooning it over Gus Atkinson at a deepish mid on. Gus Atkinson backpedals and grabs it around his face. Travis Head is gone for 33 off 43. Australia are 77/1, trailing by 257 runs.
- Travis Head 33 (42)
- Jake Weatherald 40 (36)
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, On a length around middle and off, Travis Head nudges this towards the left of mid-wicket and takes one. 11 off this over from Ben Stokes.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, On a length wide of off, Travis Head strides to the pitch of it and drives this through cover for a couple.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Good length on middle and leg, Travis Head pushes this to mid-wicket.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, FOUR! Floodgates have been opened from both ends now and England are left with no answer on how to cope with it. On a length around the pads, Travis Head leans over and flicks this up and over the fielder at mid-wicket for a boundary. Head always wanted to flick this aerially and over the fielder and he did that with perfection.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Back of a length around off, Travis Head pulls this on the bounce to mid-wicket.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, FOUR! TRAVBALL TIME! Pitched up, around middle and leg, Travis Head moves a shade towards his leg and pumps this down the ground, all along the ground as well and the ball races to the long on fence for four more.
- Travis Head 22 (36)
- Jake Weatherald 40 (36)
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, On a length, wide outside off, Travis Head cuts this to Will Jacks at a deepish backward point for another single.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, Short and just wide of off, Jake Weatherald peppers the backward point region again for a single.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, Good length around off, Jake Weatherald gets right on top of the bounce and defends it.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, SIX! Jake Weatherald is in proper T20 mode right now and he is just bossing the game. Short and wide of off, Jake Weatherald stays onto his back foot and just helps this, using the pace, up and over the keeper and even the fence towards the third man region for a biggie.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Good length around off, Travis Head leans low and cuts this to a deepish backward point for one.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Short pitched, around off, Travis Head rides the bounce and jams this out.
DRINKS! Aussies are absolutely on fire right now. They were pinned back initially, but they've turned the innings around in a big way, reaching 57 in just 11 overs. Travis Head had a bit of a rough start against Jofra Archer, even getting a dropped catch, but he's looking confident now. Jake Weatherald has been solid at the crease too. England really needs to break this partnership and wrestle back some control. This is some start by this opening duo.
- Jake Weatherald 33 (33)
- Travis Head 20 (33)
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, On a length, outside off, Jake attempts the cut but the ball is not that wide for the shot. Ends up chopping it down towards the slip cordon.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Stokes goes wide on the crease and angles it in, on a good length, on middle. Jake turns it off the back foot to mid-wicket.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Very full, outside off, Jake looks to drive it away but ends up squeezing it out off the outer half to gully.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Thrashed! Short and wide on off, Weatherald needs no second invitation. He hangs back and cuts it to the right of backward point for a boundary.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, In the channel on off, on a length, Weatherald lets it be.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Stokes starts with a loosener. Low full toss, on the pads, Head just flicks it to the left of mid-wicket and picks up three runs more.
Change from both ends as Ben Stokes has brought himself into the attack, replacing Jofra Archer.
- Travis Head 17 (32)
- Jake Weatherald 29 (28)
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, 50 comes up for Australia! Runs are flowing nicely for the home side. Carse goes into the wicket again, over off. Head hops and slices it over point. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and it is mopped up. Three runs taken.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, SIX! All the way! On a hard length, closer to the off stump. Travis gets on his toes and flays at it. Gets more of a thickish outside edge and with the pace with which Carse is bowling, the ball sails over the vacant deep third fence for a flat six.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, FOUR! Carved away! Going across the left-hander, on a good length, Head stays low to get under the ball and pumps it over point for a four.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, And again! Into the surface, too wide on off. Travis throws his hands at the ball but ends up bunting it on the off side.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Short and wide on off, there to be put away, Head reaches out to slap it away but toe-ends it to cover.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, Nails the yorker, on middle, Weatherald digs it out wide of mid-wicket for a single.
Change? After 3 maidens on a trot, Australia have just stepped on the accelerator and have breezed to 36 after 9 overs. Jofra Archer has been good but Gus Atkinson has gone for a few and he is going to be replaced by Brydon Carse.
- Jake Weatherald 28 (27)
- Travis Head 4 (27)
Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, On a back of a length, on middle, Weatherald works it square on the leg side for a 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
