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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 Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Flayed away! Into the surface, outside off, Weatherald gets the width to free his arms and he slashes it behind square on the off side for a boundary.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On a shortish length, at the ribs, Travis fends it down behind square on the leg side for a run.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On middle and leg, on a nagging length. Travis drops it beside the strip on the leg side.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, DROPPED! That should have been taken. A massive moment in the game. How costly is that going to be? On a hard length, angling in and then it straightens to square Head up as he tries to keep it out off the back foot. The ball grazes the outside edge and flies through towards the keeper, Jamie Smith. Smith moves to his left and gets both hands high at shoulder height. Gets beaten for pace as the ball bursts through his gloves. It gets parried behind Harry Brook at second slip and drops on the ground before he or anyone close to him can react. Archer had started to celebrate, but disappointment followed.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Quick work from Pope! Full and attacking the sticks, Head whips it off the front foot to the right of mid-wicket. He sets off for the run before waiting to see if the ball is going past Ollie. Pope dives and makes a clean stop. He is quick to fire in a throw at the batting end but misses. Travis gets home with a dive.
- Jake Weatherald 23 (25)
- Travis Head 3 (23)
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Drags the length back, outside the off stump. Weatherald shoulders arms.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Third boundary of the over, but this is the best of the lot. In the corridor of off, full in length, Weatherald extends his hands and plays a punchy drive through covers for another boundary.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Good wristwork! Atkinson angles it into the pads, on the fuller side. Weatherald stays balanced at the crease and wrists it to the left of mid-wicket for four more.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, On a back of a length, on off, Weatherald arches back and guides it to gully.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Honing in on the off pole, on a good length, Jake lets the ball come to him and plays it late towards gully.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Lovely stroke! A bit too full from Atkinson, on off, Weatherald does not miss out as he leans on and drives it to the right of mid off for a boundary.
- Travis Head 3 (23)
- Jake Weatherald 11 (19)
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, A sharp nip-backer from Jofra, on a back of a length, on middle. Travis Head hops to deal with it but the ball cuts back to go past the inside edge and catches him on the thigh pad.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Banged in short at 145.8 kph, under the left armpit. Head gets into an uncomfortable position on the pull and is tucked up for room. Ends up fending it awkardly in front of mid-wicket.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, In the corridor on off, on a short of a length, Travis stands tall and knocks it to point.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Play and a miss! Archer goes a bit wide on the crease and hits the hard length, over off. Head stays leg side of the ball and pokes at the delivery. Gets beaten on the outside edge.
Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, Bashes the hard length, on off, Weatherald hops and shovels it behind square leg for a single.
Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, Serves it full, on off, Weatherald defends it on the off side.
- Jake Weatherald 10 (17)
- Travis Head 3 (19)
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Weatherald tucks it in front of mid-wicket for a single.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Fuller and on off, blocked out by Jake.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Oh, did that hit a crack? On a length, on middle. Jake Weatherald looks to get forward but the ball jumps on him and raps him on the glove. Well, it looks like the ball hit the edge of the crack and disturbed the surface.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Going away from the left-hander, Weatherald offers no shot.
Gus Atkinson to Travis Head, At the hips, on a back of a length, Head gets on his toes and drops it beside the strip on the leg side for a single.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Short of a length, on off, tapped in front of mid on for a single.
- Travis Head 2 (18)
- Jake Weatherald 8 (12)
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On a shortish length, on middle. Head rises with the bounce and fends it down.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, That's more like it from Archer! Angled in from around the wicket, on a good length, around the off pole. Head hops back and brings his bat out in front for the block but the ball straightens to whistle past the outside edge.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, FOUR LEG BYES! Wayward from Archer. Sprays it down leg, on a length. Head fails to lay any bat on the glance. The ball clips his thigh and goes down to the deep fine leg fence.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On middle and leg, on a good length, Head brings his wrists into play and works it off the pads to the left of mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, In the channel, into the surface, Travis stabs it down on the off side.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On a hard length, coming back in and tucking the batter up for room. Head hops to fend it down but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the body.
- Jake Weatherald 8 (12)
- Travis Head 0 (12)
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Streaky! Atkinson bends his back and bangs it in short, outside off. Weatherald stays low in his stance and then gets up as he swivels to unleash the pull. The ball gets big on him and a top edge is found. It sails over the keeper's head and even though Jamie Smith gives it a chase, he fails to get there as the ball trickles into the fence.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Goes fuller, outside off, Weatherald lets it pass.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Angling away, on a back of a length, Weatherald makes the leave.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Jake Weatherald and Australia are finally underway! On the shorter side, outside off, not that wide but enough for Weatherald to cash in. He hangs back and rides the bounce. Plays it late to the right of backward point for a boundary.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Going across, on a good length, Weatherald offers no shot.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Over the top of off, on a back of a length. Jake lets it go. The ball keeps rising on its way to the keeper and Jamie Smith collects it around his right shoulder.
- Travis Head 0 (12)
- Jake Weatherald 0 (6)
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Into the surface, outside off, Head hops and extends his hands to push it to cover.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Better from Archer. Full, on off, drawing the batter on the front foot. Head does not quite commit on the front foot and punches it to point.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, A bit too straight, on a back of a length, around the pads. Travis gets on his toes and drops it in front of mid-wicket.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, On a good length, on middle and leg. Head stays deep in the crease and gets slightly squared up but manages to block it off.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, At 142.4 kph, angled in at the hips, Head brings his bat out in front and nudges it to mid-wicket.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Archer goes full, outside off, and gets the ball to curve away from the batter. Travis shoulders arms.
- Jake Weatherald 0 (6)
- Travis Head 0 (6)
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Lands it on a short of a length, outside off, Weatherald is tempted by the width and initially thought about the cut before bailing out.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, One that leaves the left-hander, on a good length. Weatherald lets it be.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Bashes the hard length, over middle. Jake tucks it off the back foot to square leg.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Slightly fuller, angling away, Weatherald leaves it all alone.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Around the top of off, on a back of a length, Jake Weatherald makes a watchful leave.
Gus Atkinson to Jake Weatherald, Rapped on the pads but looks high! Gus serves it full, in line of the off stump. Jake Weatherald leans low for the block but the ball seams back a bit to go past the inside edge. Jake wears it high on the back thigh.
- Travis Head 0 (6)
- Jake Weatherald 0 (0)
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Fuller and sliding onto the pads. Head flicks it well but straight to Ollie Pope at mid-wicket.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Switches to around the wicket and makes Head play. Angled in, on a short of a length, on middle. Travis hops and taps it beside the strip on the leg side.
Jofra Archer to Travis Head, Short pitched, on off, Travis Head rides the bounce and jams this out.
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
