Australia ended Day 2 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba with a 44-run first-innings lead, reaching 378-6 by stumps after two days of competitive cricket. The hosts’ top order all made solid starts, while England’s fielding lapses and inconsistent bowling allowed the Australian batters to capitalise.
Opener Jake Weatherald led the way with 72 from 78 balls, followed by Marnus Labuschagne with 65, and stand-in captain Steve Smith who scored 61. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey, despite being dropped twice, remained unbeaten on 46, while Michael Neser added 15* in a 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
England’s fielding woes give Australia extra lives in Ashes
Australia’s innings was punctuated by a series of dropped catches. Carey survived early chances, Neser was let off when on six, and Josh Inglis also benefited from a missed chance by Ben Duckett. These reprieves allowed Australia to inch closer to England’s first innings total of 334, keeping the contest finely poised.
Brydon Carse briefly turned the game with two quick wickets, including Cameron Green (45) and Josh Inglis (23), but England could not consistently maintain pressure, with Archer, Stokes, and Carse bowling long spells without much success.
Joe Root was the standout for England, scoring 138, his first Ashes century in Australia*. England resumed at 325-9 and added nine more runs before Jofra Archer was dismissed. Root’s innings, combined with a 70-run last-wicket partnership, underscored his class even as the team fell short of fully capitalising.
Australia’s top order shines amid uneven bounce in Ashes Day 2
Travis Head added 30 runs after being dropped early but eventually fell attempting an aggressive shot off Carse. Weatherald made batting look effortless, racing to 50 from 45 balls with nine boundaries and a six. Smith faced boos from the Barmy Army but weathered Archer’s 147 kph bouncer and stitched a crucial partnership with Labuschagne until the latter was dismissed trying a pull shot.
Australia will go into Day 3 with momentum on their side, holding a slim lead but with wickets in hand to press their advantage.
(By PTI Inputs)
