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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.
Harry Brook walks in next, at number 5, replacing Zak Crawley.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! The pressure of dot balls tells and Neser gets his second wicket in the span of 14 balls. Before this delivery, Australia strung a set of 11 dot balls. While that may not sound a lot in a Test match, it does affect those who are in rhythm. Factor this - before Pope's dismissal, Crawley was batting on 42 (53). After his dismissal, he faced just 5 balls and scored just 2 runs of the 21 balls bowled prior to this one. Full and outside off, Crawley looks to punch this down the ground, but just like Pope, cannot quite keep it down. In fact, because it is not hit hard, the ball goes low towards the bowler. But Neser shows excellent reflexes to take the catch low to his right. That's two set batters dismissed in fairly quick succession. Crawley departs for a fine 44 and from 90/1, England are 97/3! The deficit reads 80 runs.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, On a length, around off, coming in with the angle, Zak Crawley works it behind square leg and gets a couple.
- Joe Root 5 (19)
- Zak Crawley 42 (57)
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Full and straight, once again Joe Root falls over in his attempt to flick. Mistimes it to mid on. A maiden for Doggett - his second and he is the only bowler in this innings to string 6 consecutive dot balls in an over in this innings.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, On a good length, outside off, JR comes forward to play at that but takes his bat away from the line. Good carry on that one.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Full and straight, Joe falls over a touch and flicks, but finds mid on.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Short and just outside off, Root stays back and pushes it towards cover.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, On a length, outside off, Joe Root thinks about playing at that one before bailing out in the end.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Full and outside off, left alone.
18/1 in the last 5 overs. Once again, Australia shifting to that effort of trying to be stump to stump. In fact, it has only been Mitchell Starc who has gone for a tour around the park, in his search for swing and early wickets. And that's another box ticked for England - do not allow Starc any rhythm and the whole rhythm will be yours.
- Zak Crawley 42 (57)
- Joe Root 5 (13)
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, On a length, outside off, 135 kph, ZC gets across and lets it pass.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Full and just outside off, Zak defends solidly.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Landed just outside off, Crawley pushes it towards cover.
Michael Neser to Zak Crawley, Full, outside off, 132.8 kph, Zak Crawley pushes it towards mid on.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, On a length again, a bit too straight, 130.5 kph, Root clips this through square leg for a single.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, The keeper is upto the stumps now. On a length, outside off, Joe Root hangs back and pushes it towards point.
- Joe Root 4 (11)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, outside off, Joe swivels and pulls it all along the ground towards deep backward square leg for a single.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Back of a length, around off, Root rises with the bounce and dabs it towards point.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, outside off, Joe Root arches away from the line.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, On a length, around off, pushed towards cover.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, Full, outside off, driven towards cover.
Brendan Doggett to Joe Root, A short ball, around off, kept out.
- Joe Root 3 (5)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length on the pads, Joe Root milks this through square leg for a single to close a successful over for the Aussies. 3 runs and a wicket for Michael Neser.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Back of a length, wide outside off, Joe Root watches it all along and leaves it.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length, going down the leg, Joe Root flicks this through backward square leg and takes two.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Back of a length on middle and off, nipping back into the batter. Joe Root blocks this off his back foot.
Michael Neser to Joe Root, Good length on off, Joe Root defends this off his front foot.
The centurion of the first innings, Joe Root, walks in next, at number 4, replacing Ollie Pope.
Michael Neser has been given the ball. 3-0-14-0 so far.
Michael Neser to Ollie Pope, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Michael Vaughan predicted this just an over ago. He felt that given the way Pope was batting, he won't be surprised if there is a wicket around the corner. And the wicket does come. Reckless cricket from Pope. Full, outside off, Ollie Pope looks to hammer this straight back down the ground. However, neither can he keep the ball along the ground, nor can he get enough elevation to clear the bowler. It goes straight back to Neser who does not make a mistake this time, having dropped Duckett earlier. The 42-run stand is broken and Pope departs for a frenetic 26, which mostly came through risky shots. England are 90/2 and trail by 87 runs.
Another boundary? Or a good save? Scott Boland has put in a decent effort at the square leg fence but the effort has been referred upstairs. Called a good effort.
- Ollie Pope 26 (31)
- Zak Crawley 42 (53)
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, Excellent effort from Scott Boland at deep square leg. Overpitched, around middle and leg, Ollie whips this through square leg. The ball races away and so does Boland. Gets to the ball, puts in a dive and pushes the ball away. But at the same time, he also touches the ropes. Hence, the third umpire is called into question. After a couple of looks, it does appear that Boland first pushed the ball away and then touched the ropes. The effort is recognized and three runs are added to the total. 12 from the over!
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, EDGED, FOUR! Australia getting some taste of their own luck. The ball was evading the fielders when they were batting and now, the same luck is going towards England. Full and wide outside off, Pope throws his bat hard at it and gets a thick outside edge. Flies over a leaping second slip to the deep third fence.
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, A miscalculated leave from Pope but he survives. On a length around leg, Ollie Pope shuffles inside the line of it and offers no stroke as this appeared to be going down leg. The ball tickles the outside of Pope's front pad and goes back to the keeper.
Brendan Doggett to Ollie Pope, FOUR, JUST OVER! And it might be problems for Josh Inglis too. Full and wide outside off, Ollie Pope goes hard on the drive and hits it aerially over cover. Is not in total control and hence, the ball kind of skews away. Inglis leaps full stretch at cover but the ball goes over him. Inglis then lands awkwardly on his right shoulder and gets up very gingerly, holding his right shoulder. He is definitely feeling some pain but is continuing for now.
Brendan Doggett to Zak Crawley, Good length, going down leg. Zak Crawley misses out on the flick and gets it brushed off the pads toward short fine leg for a leg bye.
Brendan Doggett to Zak Crawley, Hard length around off, Zak Crawley rides the bounce and pushes this to mid on for no run.
One more for Starc in this spell? 3-0-11-0 so far. It might sound odd but batting for that long has actually taken some gas off him. He is bowling with pace but the accuracy is missing. Might be better off with some rest and come around after an hour or so, in the dying moments of the day. Smith feels the same way and brings back Brendan Doggett. 2-1-1-0 so far. It will be challenging for him to maintain the rhythm that he had generated at the start of the session.
- Ollie Pope 15 (27)
- Zak Crawley 42 (51)
Scott Boland to Ollie Pope, Good length on middle and off, Ollie Pope blocks this well.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, On a length around middle and off, Zak Crawley flicks this towards the right of Michael Neser at mid on. Neser puts in a dive, gets a bit of hand to it and takes the sting out of it. Just a single taken.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length, wide of off, Zak Crawley strides out in front and leaves it all alone.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Full and wide outside off, Zak Crawley drives this on the up to cover. There were runs for the taking had Zak beaten the fielder on either side.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Good length around off, Zak Crawley looks to pounch this off his front foot but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Back of a length around off, Zak Crawley blocks this around silly point.
Good observation by Michael Vaughan on air. He says that the best way to play Starc with the pink ball is to watch the seam position. If he is going for the outswinger, he uses the scrambled seam. Conversely, if he is looking to swing the ball back in, he uses the conventional seam position. These two batters seem to be doing just that. 27 runs have come in the last 5 overs and after a slow start to his innings, Pope is gelling well along too.
- Ollie Pope 15 (26)
- Zak Crawley 41 (46)
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, On a length, wide outside off, Ollie Pope leaves it all alone.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, On a length around middle and off, Ollie Pope pushes this straight to cover.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Full and wide of off, Ollie Pope goes for the big booming drive through cover but gets beaten by pace. He was significantly late on getting the bat down.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Full and wide outside off, Zak Crawley accepts the width on offer and drives this towards Jake Weatherald's left at deep point for one.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Good length on off, Zak Crawley leans low and keeps it out. Zak is looking good.
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
