An unrelenting Australia took a 44-run lead over England thanks to aggressive opener Jake Weatherald and captain Steve Smith in the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Friday.
In front of a sizable and boisterous crowd at a sweltering Gabba, the hosts finished a taxing day two on 378-6 after racing ahead of England’s first-innings 334.
Given that the pitch is expected to deteriorate over the next several days, a respectable lead is becoming increasingly important.
“That was a crucial last hour there for us. To get to the end of play six down gives us a bit of time in the morning in that day session,” said Marnus Labuschagne, who cracked 65.
In the evening session, England’s pace cartel made progress under lights, but Alex Carey, who was dropped on the first ball and again on 25, was not-out 46 at stumps with Michael Neser on 15.
England’s short-ball strategy paid off as Australia was cruising at 291-3 until the costly Brydon Carse removed Smith (61) and Cameron Green (45) in four deliveries to restore hope.
However, Australia plundered 51 boundaries and four easy catches were put down due to the bowlers’ lack of consistency and excessive number of sloppy deliveries.
In just his second Test, Weatherald hammered 12 fours and a six until Jofra Archer’s angled yorker trapped him leg before wicket.
As the shadows passed across the ground, Labuschagne, Australia’s in-form batsman with numerous hundreds in domestic cricket, was equally confident. However, England captain Ben Stokes made the critical breakthrough with a nick to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith as he appeared poised for another century.
“Obviously the boys played well,” said Labuschagne. “We probably let them in a little bit there through that middle session, but it’s a nice day.”
The big wicket was Steve Smith, who had black sticky anti-glare strips under his eyes to cope with the Gabba lights. The seasoned captain seemed unmoved once he entered, but Carse lured him into a hook shot that Will Jacks expertly caught at backward square leg.
Before tea, Australia’s wrecking-ball hero from the first Test victory at Perth, Travis Head, was dismissed for 33.
Earlier, Joe Root was the final man standing at 138 when England was dismissed in the second over of the day.
In a thrilling first day, Root led from a precarious 5-2 with his first century on Australian soil and 40th overall, and they resumed on 325-9. Together with partner Archer, he added nine to the overnight total until the number 11 was dismissed for a career-high 38, which was expertly taken in the deep by a diving Labuschagne, ending a crucial 10th-wicket partnership of 70, as Mitchell Starc finished with 6-75.
Head, who was kept as opener in place of the injured Usman Khawaja, was more cautious this time after smashing an explosive 69-ball century to help Australia upset England by eight wickets in Perth.
Before making a spectacular escape on three when Smith fluffed a sitter off an edge from Archer, it took him fifteen balls to get going. He let loose in the following over after being awakened by the scare, but his luck ran out when he sent an edge high to Gus Atkinson off Carse. England exhaled a sigh of relief as he left.
With a string of early boundaries, Weatherald found his groove and drove and sliced with ease. Before Archer worked his magic, Atkinson scored an amazing 50 runs from 45 balls, three of which came in five balls across the fast outfield.
“Obviously it’s a pleasure to be out here at the Gabba, such a nice place to bat,” said Weatherald. “Awesome atmosphere. It’s really enjoyable.”
With 10 boundaries in his 65, Labuschagne continued where he left off, scoring his 25th Test half-century. After that, it was down to Smith, who made a string of excellent shots to reach 50 for the 44th time. He exuded confidence and appeared ready for a big score before Carse struck again and Stokes dismissed Josh Inglis (23).
