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Australia open lead on day two of second Test as dropped catches cost England in Brisbane
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Updated 05/12/2025 at 12:27 GMT
England need to fight back in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane after Australia moved ahead on the second day. Ben Stokes' side dropped five catches as Australia ended the day with a 44-run advantage. Australia lead the series 1-0 after victory in Perth, leaving Ben Stokes’ side in need of a positive result in the pink-ball Test. Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Watch highlights: Advantage Australia as dropped catches cost England
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Sloppy England toil as Australia take control
It was Australia’s day in Brisbane as they put England’s pace attack through their paces at the Gabba, ending day two with a lead of 44 runs and four wickets still in hand.
The day started with England’s final-wicket pair returning to the middle, but the innings did not last much longer, with Jofra Archer dismissed for 38, leaving England all out for 334.
And Australia saw off the new ball before slamming their foot down and scoring at an electric run rate through the day, putting England’s quick bowlers to the sword, with Brydon Carse (3-113) and Ben Stokes (2-93) particularly expensive and the runs coming at 5.17 per over across the three sessions.
England did recover a bit of momentum after dinner, with Carse and Stokes getting amongst the wickets, including a double-wicket over from the former that included a stunning catch from Will Jacks to remove Steve Smith.
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'Take a bow!' - Jacks makes 'outstanding' one-handed catch to dismiss Smith
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But that catch was the exception for England on a day when their fielding let them down, with a number of chances missed, including two particularly poor drops off the bowling of Archer bookending the day.
Australia will resume on day three with a lead of 44 and the chance to push on, both on the scoreboard and on the clock, leaving England facing the prospect of potentially having to come out to bat in the toughest part of the day with a deficit to overturn.
The second Test is not over yet, but this was Australia’s day. They are clearly in the stronger position and will be eyeing up a 2-0 series lead.
Dropped chances and wayward bowling hurt England
England will try and keep spirits high internally, but the mood in the press box and among the fans will be extremely low after a day that has them on the back foot in this Test.
The scenario is this: England’s batters will have to deliver tomorrow to overturn a deficit and keep their team alive in this Test, and probably also the series. Given the up-and-down nature of the England batting effort, it is little wonder that people are negative about their prospects.
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'Worst place in the world' - Smith drops key catch as Head rolls on
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Day two saw Australia score extremely fast and punished an England bowling approach that turned to the short ball too early and gave the home side a lot of cheap runs.
The bowling figures do not really tell the full story, with Jofra Archer clearly the best of the England attack and Gus Atkinson bowling nicely at times too.
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Awesome Archer delivery sees England make perfect start to session
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But dropped catches hurt both of England’s premier seamers, and Brydon Carse, who leaked runs at 6.64 per over, ended with three wickets to his name despite his waywardness.
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Bails flying as Carse takes 'desperately needed' wicket of Green
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England will massively rue the dropped chances, as they could have bowled Australia out today, but shelled a number of opportunities.
It was Jamie Smith who grassed one early on behind the stumps, Ben Duckett (twice) and Joe Root both failed to hold on to trickier but gettable opportunities, and Carse dropped the easiest one of the day as England's fielding let them down - and entertained a lubricated home crowd.
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'Heads in hands!' - Duckett drops catch off Carey's first ball
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Every single Australian batter contributed to their total over the day, showing that this really is a decent enough track, and Alex Carey and Michael Neser are a dangerous pair to resume play tomorrow.
The worst-case scenario for England is that Australia will bat on through the first session, stretching their lead and giving themselves the best use of the conditions too.
England need four wickets in the morning, with a new ball seven overs away, but England’s seamers are looking very tired after a day in which the part-time spinner in the side bowled just a single over.
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'That is rank!' - Stokes gags on pickle juice
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However, this series has ebbed and flowed throughout, so do not give up just yet. Tune in tomorrow on TNT Sports 1 to see if England can get back into it.
STUMPS: Australia 378-6 (Carey 46, Neser 15) Overs: 73
It’s Jofra Archer with the last over of the day, which will be his 20th. His figures of 74-1 don’t really tell the story at all.
Neser sees it out and Australia will return tomorrow with four wickets in hand and a lead of 44 runs.
Australia 377-6 (Carey 45, Neser 15) Overs: 72
Atkinson continues with what could be the penultimate over of the day, maybe even the last one if Australia drag it out.
Carey starts the over with a glorious drive through the covers, but gets a bit of luck next up with an inside edge that cannons into the pads. He checks with England that he’s okay to pick the ball up before doing so.
England needed breakthroughs in this final half hour, but the drops have denied them, which will be a huge frustration.
Seven runs come from the over as the Australian fans cheer Smith catching a return throw at the stumps. It can’t be very nice for the fielders out there currently.
Australia 368-6 (Carey 36, Neser 15) Overs: 71
Neser cuts Archer away for four and the well-oiled home fans are loving this. The lead is growing and Australia could be batting themselves into a controlled position in this Test if they can get through the rest of this session.
Archer responds with three ferocious bouncers that have Neser ducking and weaving.
ANOTHER DROP! Australia 363-6 (Carey 35, Neser 11) Overs: 70
Another chance goes down. Atkinson edges and it’s a bit too wide for the keeper and is grassed by Joe Root. That was a much tougher catch, but he’d still have hoped to have got it.
Cook on commentary suggests that the drops could be down to lack of preparation. The crowd are loving the misfortune for England.
Poor Atkinson, his wait for a wicket in this series continues, and he goes for 14 runs off the over as well.
DROP! Australia 349-6 (Carey 25, Neser 9) Overs: 69
Neser mistimes Archer and lofts a catch to Carse, but he puts down a relatively simple chance. Archer can’t believe it, he started the day with a bad drop off his bowling and he’s just had another one. To make matters worse for Carse he’s hurt his hand in the process of dropping it.
Neser nicks later in the over but it runs away where a first slip would have been.
Australia 346-6 (Carey 24, Neser 6) Overs: 68
It’s Gus Atkinson back into the attack too. He’s looked handy in both matches in this series so far, but has yet to take a wicket. If that drought continues then mentally it could be quite significant.
Atkinson is hobbling a bit, and England’s quicks are in the wars after a big day today.
Australia 342-6 (Carey 21, Neser 5) Overs: 67
Here we go then. Archer has bowled a lot today, but he’s been England’s best bowler and they need breakthroughs, so he gets called back for another session through to the close.
He starts with a full and straight one, but Neser meets it with a straight bat and sends it down the ground, forcing the cramping Stokes into a chase.
England will also be starting to rue their team selection, you’d wager. Will Jacks has been brilliant in the field and looked tidy enough with the bat yesterday without contributing anything too significant, but he’s bowled just one over today as the fast bowlers have toiled.
The pink ball has not zipped around for either team in the manner that they predicted, but if England aren’t willing to use Jacks then it would have been handy to have somebody else to share the workload.
Australia 336-6 (Carey 18, Neser 2) Overs: 66
Stokes continues with his sixth over of the session and his 17th of the day. He looks to have cramp today, and you’d think that could be his last over of the day.
He gets a dash of pickle juice at the end of the over and almost throws it back up again, which the cameras enjoy picking up and replaying in slow motion.
Australia 335-6 (Carey 18, Neser 1) Overs: 65
Carse continues and Australia inch into the lead as six runs come off the over.
There’s a little over half an hour left of the day’s play, and you get the feeling that it is vital for England’s chances in this Test that they pick up more wickets here and give themselves a chance to bat in the better conditions tomorrow.
If Australia can end the day’s play with wickets in hand then it’ll have been a great day for them.
DROP & WICKET! Australia 329-6 (Carey 13, Neser 0) Overs: 64
Josh Inglis, b Stokes, 23 (25)
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'Crucial moment' - Stokes strikes to remove Inglis
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Has that gone down? Stokes lures the edge from Inglis again and it carries to Duckett in the cordon. It’s a tricky catch, but it is a chance and he grasses it. England’s fielding has not been top drawer today, adding to their frustration.
But Stokes finally gets his man, castling Inglis with a beauty that jags back through the gate and scatters the stumps, crashing right into middle stump. Crucial wicket. Crucial. And brilliant bowling too.
Michael Neser is the new batter. He’s a handy lower-order batter, which is one of the reasons he got the nod in the team you’d wager.
Stokes strikes him on the pad first up and opts to go upstairs, but there was an inside edge on it and England lose a review.
Australia 327-5 (Carey 13, Inglis 21) Overs: 63
A graphic on screen says that just 20 balls out of 381 from England would have hit the stumps today.
Steven Finn on commentary explains that it’s not particularly easy to hit the stumps with a good line at the Gabba, and that you probably would leak a lot of runs if you did bowl that full, particularly when bowling to somebody like Steve Smith. But Finn does add that it’s a decent illustration of England having bowled far too short overall today.
Carse continues to bump it in, and the Australian host broadcasters take some joy from zooming in on tired-looking England players.
Australia 325-5 (Carey 13, Inglis 20) Overs: 62
Inglis is a quality option with the bat and he shows his class with a lovely shot that runs away to the rope in the off side.
It’s another frustrating over for England though, with Inglis edging through the gap for a third time in his short innings and then pulling a lofted shot that drops marginally short of the fielder.
England’s lead is down to just nine runs. They will be heading into the second innings with a deficit; it just remains to be seen how big that deficit is.
Australia 315-5 (Carey 12, Inglis 11) Overs: 61
Carse continues and that surge of momentum is starting to dwindle, with Australia’s sixth-wicket pair look to rebuild and give their side a decent lead.
Australia 309-5 (Carey 9, Inglis 9) Overs: 60
Stokes continues and Inglis gets some serious luck as twice he edges, and twice it flies in the gap between the three-man slip cordon and the fielder at gully.
The over finishes with a play and a miss in the corridor. Frustration for England, who are desperate to make this momentum really count to remove these two recognised batters.
It’s slightly frustrating for them that the moment has come when Archer, their best bowler in the day by a distance, really needs a rest.
England have their tails up though, and you can watch the rest of the day's play on TNT Sports 1 right now:
Australia 301-5 (Carey 9, Inglis 1) Overs: 59
Carse continues and it’s a good over, aggressive, mixing up the short and full stuff.
A few crowd shots show that more than a few of the Brisbane faithful are approaching pickled, which explains the raucous buzz that’s accompanying the action.
Two singles take Australia past 300 and they are approaching parity with the game very much in a decisive moment right now.
Australia 299-5 (Carey 8, Inglis 0) Overs: 58
Oof, it’s all going on now, with the sluggishness of the day evaporating in the blink of an eye. A thick edge from Carey flies over the diving gully and runs away to the boundary.
It’s a nice over from Stokes, and England have their tails up, searching for wickets to limit the damage that this second day has done to them so far.
DOUBLE WICKET OVER! Australia 292-5 (Carey 1, Inglis 0) Overs: 57
Cameron Green, b Carse, 45 (57)
Steven Smith, c Jacks b Carse, 61 (85)
'Take a bow!' - Jacks makes 'outstanding' one-handed catch to dismiss Smith
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Brydon Carse finally gets the breakthrough, starting his over with another bumper and then fooling Green, hitting him with a yorker as the batter stepped away for the short one. It rattles the stump and that’s huge relief for England.
Bails flying as Carse takes 'desperately needed' wicket of Green
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But the momentum looks to suck away off the very next ball as Carey fends one first ball that drops a bit short on Ben Duckett, who grasses a tough chance.
'Heads in hands!' - Duckett drops catch off Carey's first ball
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And yet the drama still continues in an astonishing over! Smith clips one into the leg side and Will Jacks pulls off an absolute screamer of a catch to remove the main man.
Absolute scenes in Brisbane! Exactly what England needed!
Australia 290-3 (Smith 61, Green 45) Overs: 56
Have England changed approach again, tightening things up with a fuller line and length? It’s Ben Stokes who does it, coming into the attack and yielding just one run from a skew off the edge.
That’s more like it, and Matt Prior’s rage in the commentary box is subsiding (slightly).
Australia 289-3 (Smith 61, Green 44) Overs: 55
Atkinson continues and two singles come from it. It’s all gone quite flat for England and Matt Prior is absolutely ticking on commentary:
"The ball is not doing anything, you have to create energy and intensity from something else. Wicket-keeper, get your fielders around you. We’re going to buzz between overs, what are we going to do to force an error? Get behind your bowlers, it’s a collective effort. I’m watching this at the moment – England look deflated. Where’s it going to come from? Someone has to step up and take responsibility. All of them, hopefully. Not just, ‘there you go bowlers, bowl them out, thanks’."
Australia 287-3 (Smith 60, Green 43) Overs: 54
England turn to Brydon Carse, who was very expensive earlier today. Rather than switch to a fuller line, England lean even further into the bumper ploy, and they very nearly get the breakthrough thanks to it, as Smith top edges and it sneaks agonisingly over the head of Pope back on the tope.
It’s a huge gamble this from England, "like putting everything on red" says Matt Prior.
It’s a very expensive over, 17 runs come from it, and this approach from England needs to work quickly if the game isn’t to get away from them.
Australia 270-3 (Smith 52, Green 35) Overs: 53
This is an excellent over from Gus Atkinson, who is still waiting for a wicket, but is bowling nicely. He has Smith playing and missing and then very nearly gets the Australian number four to chop on with an inside edge.
He grasps his head in frustration. It’s not going England’s way at the moment.
Australia 267-3 (Smith 50, Green 34) Overs: 52
Archer continues, into his sixteenth over of the day. He’s bowled well and is still cranking it out at a decent lick, but this is a concerning situation for England. Having opted to not go into this Test with a five-man pace attack, and with Brydon Carse looking pretty wayward today, they are putting a lot of miles into the legs of their gun bowlers.
Archer’s frustration builds as he rushes Smith again, with a downward cut fizzing past the stumps and going through to the keeper on the bounce. He’s such a frustrating batter, because that looked like he almost played on, but you never really know if he was actually out of control.
England’s bowlers continue to lean heavily towards the short-pitched stuff, which Steven Finn says is not the best approach in pink-ball tests.
FIFTY! Australia 266-3 (Smith 50, Green 33) Overs: 51
Steve Smith is motoring now and the Brisbane crowd stand to applaud him as he reaches his half-century in rapid time, reaching the milestone off 67 deliveries.
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Smith hits half-century for 80th time in Test matches
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Ten runs come off Atkinson’s latest over and England are leaking runs in rapid fashion right now. Australia are going all-out attack – the run rate for the innings is a Bazball-esque 5.21.
Australia 256-3 (Smith 41, Green 32) Overs: 50
Smith leans back and cuts Archer away for four. He’s had his troubles against the England quick, but points to the fact that he’s not been dismissed by Archer in Tests so far. The sample size is relatively small, but it’s still a fact that the bowler will be desperate to change.
Australia are in a strong position. If they can bat through until mid-afternoon tomorrow and then put England in under lights, that is pretty much the ideal scenario in terms of use of conditions in a day-night game.
England need wickets, and on TNT Sports Alastair Cook calls for more energy from the field.
Australia 247-3 (Smith 36, Green 28) Overs: 49
Ouch! Atkinson gets one to lift and it pings Cameron Green right on the thumb. That’s a sore one!
He seems okay to continue and Atkinson gets through the rest of another decent over.
Australia 245-3 (Smith 35, Green 27) Overs: 48
It’s a nice over from Archer as he starts probing outside the off stump.
He speaks to the umpires at the end of the over, and you get the feeling that England are pretty miffed at the ball that was chosen to replace the one with the split seam. They’re not being too grumpy about it, mainly laughing at the situation. Perhaps it’s a pink ball issue and a paucity of replacements?
Australia 243-3 (Smith 35, Green 26) Overs: 47
It very much feels like Australia are on top here, but Atkinson stops the flow for a bit with a maiden.
There are boos from the crowd as a box of replacement balls comes out. Australia tried so hard to get it changed yesterday, but England have managed today. In their defence, it’s because there’s literally a hole in the seam.
The umpires pick a new ball and Archer literally breaks out laughing when he sees how bashed up it is.
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'Short back and sides for the ball' - An unusual trim before key wicket
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Australia 243-3 (Smith 35, Green 26) Overs: 46
Steve Smith is a very lucky boy. Archer rushes him with a bumper and Smith top edges over the slips and away for four. He was not in control of that at all.
But a second shot over the slips later in the over is a very different matter, with Smith seeing it coming and ramping it all the way for six. Australia are absolutely rattling along today.
Australia 233-3 (Smith 25, Green 26) Overs: 45
Here we go then, can England turn the momentum back in their favour under the lights. It’s Atkinson who starts things off, and a pretty tidy over is ruined slightly when Green pulls him for four off the final ball. Australia are back up and running.
The score at dinner: Australia 228-3 after Weatherald and Labuschagne half-centuries
Australia trail England by only 106 runs, with seven wickets still in hand, after dominating day two of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba so far.
Half-centuries from Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne helped the hosts reduce the deficit, with Weatherald's his first in Test cricket.
Weatherald had scored 72 from 78 balls by the time he was finally out, pinned LBW by Jofra Archer following a knock where he found particular success behind square and when uppercutting short balls.
Awesome Archer delivery sees England make perfect start to session
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Archer was the pick of the bowlers and should have dismissed fellow opener Travis Head for just three, but Jamie Smith dropped a fairly routine catch.
Head added 30 more runs before spooning a Brydon Carse delivery to mid-off.
Labuschagne, Australia's other half-centurion, like Weatherald profited from some undisciplined bowling before edging behind off the bowling of Ben Stokes to give England a glimmer of hope not long before the dinner interval.
'Short back and sides for the ball' - An unusual trim before key wicket
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Earlier, England added nine runs to their overnight score before Archer was caught by a diving Labuschagne, leaving Joe Root stranded on 138 and the tourists all out for 334.
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Australia 228-3 (Smith 24, Green 22) Overs: 44
Australia trail by 106 runs
Smith backs away with Stokes running in, pointing at someone moving behind the bowler, and that ensures this will be the last over before the interval.
Smith defends solidly, leaves one which is well outside off and then flays a half-volley towards point to pick up three runs.
Green edges a wide full toss to the boundary to end the session on a positive note for Australia – a second successive session they have won, you feel.
Australia 221-3 (Smith 21, Green 18) Overs: 43
Australia trail by 113 runs
Carse appears to be in a better rhythm now.
Green does manage to find the gap between the two cover catchers and picks up three, before Smith drives behind square with an angled bat for a couple. England want the Australians playing that shot, though.
Smith jumps across the line and deflects square for a single of the last ball of the over.
Australia 215-3 (Smith 18, Green 15) Overs: 42
Australia trail by 119 runs
Green is squared up by a Stoke delivery, but a thick edge runs through third and all the way to the boundary. Much to the bowler's chagrin.
Australia 209-3 (Smith 17, Green 10) Overs: 41
Australia trail by 125 runs
A full-throated play and miss from Green, trying to drive a Carse delivery which bounces more than he was expecting.
Despite the two catchers in the covers, he keeps driving and calls one of them, Ben Duckett, into action. Duckett makes a good stop and helps Carse to bowl a maiden, his first of the innings.
Green has been up and down the Australian order of late and there was speculation he could bat third, with Labuschagne opening, this series. As it is, Alastair Cook is somewhat surprised he's as high as five here, having batted sixth in the first Test.
"I thought [Josh] Inglis might have come in and batted at five," says Cook on TNT Sports. "They decided to leave him either at six or seven. They've got [Alex] Carey to come in next on the teamsheet, but Green's gone to five."
Australia 209-3 (Smith 17, Green 10) Overs: 40
Australia trail by 125 runs
Green drives Stokes through the covers for four, prompting the England captain to bring in another catcher.
Perhaps wisely, Green takes a single next ball to get off strike.
Stokes then drops the ball in his run-up, but it can't distract Smith, who gets his bat and body behind the ball and blocks out the rest of the over, save for a leave to a delivery which doesn't bounce.
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Australia 204-3 (Smith 17, Green 5) Overs: 39
Australia trail by 130 runs
Smith is okay to continue after receiving some treatment.
He adds three runs with a cut shot and Green one, through a tap-and-run single.
Carse goes short for the last ball of the over and loses his footing, while Smith loses sight of the ball and hits it straight into the ground.
Australia 200-3 (Smith 14, Green 4) Overs: 38.2
Australia trail by 134 runs
Carse gets one to kick up off the surface and it strikes Smith on the elbow. Ouch.
The physio is called for.
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Huge wicket as Stokes sees off Labuschagne
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Wicket! Australia 200-3 (Smith 14, Green 4) Overs: 38
Labuschagne 65, c Smith b Stokes
Australia trail by 134 runs
Stokes makes the breakthrough with the first delivery after England have a loose thread cut off the ball! A wicket which didn't look imminent has arrived, and Steven Finn on the TNT SPorts commentary credits that delay with disrupting Labuschagne's process.
He tries to cut a ball which isn't as wide as he thinks and feathers an edge to the grateful Smith, who make no mistake on this occasion.
Green is the new batter and tucks one off his legs to both get off the mark and bring up Australia's 200.
Australia 196-2 (Labuschagne 65, Smith 14) Overs: 37
Australia trail by 138 runs
Carse drops short again and Labuschagne dispatches the ball to the boundary again, top edging a hook on this occasion.
Carse serves up a short ball on the off side a little while later and Labuschagne cuts for three, which brings up the 50 partnership.
It is once again looking like being Australia's session.
Australia 189-2 (Labuschagne 58, Smith 14) Overs: 36
Australia trail by 145 runs
Stokes gives Labuschagne a short delivery first up and he does not miss out, ruthlessly pulling to the boundary.
Three more runs come from the next two balls, before Smith blocks out the rest of the over.
Jason Gillespie, now commentating on TNT Sports, is not impressed with the bowling on show.
"I've been quite critical of both sides with their bowling," he says.
"I think there's just been such impatience – they quickly go to the short-ball plan, both teams. Not being able to string together groups of deliveries on a disciplined line, a disciplined length.
"It's just been in a hurry and changing plans constantly. Speaking to a couple of the Aussie batters, they've found it hard when England have been disciplined, hitting that fourth stump, top-of-the-stumps length."
Australia 182-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 14) Overs: 35
Australia trail by 152 runs
Carse bowls the first over after the little break and manages to hurry Labuschagne, who pulls out of a pull shot and ends up edging over the wicketkeeper's head for four.
That brings up his half-century, from 67 balls. A second of the young series already for Labuschagne.
Stokes has decided it is time to reintroduce himself into the attack.
Australia 175-2 (Labuschagne 46, Smith 8) Overs: 34
Australia trail by 159 runs
Archer finds Labuschagne's outside edge, but he plays with soft hands and it is not close to carrying.
Archer goes shorter next delivery and Labuschagne helps it round the corner, all the way to the fine-leg boundary.
He adds one more run on the drive and it's time for a drinks break.
Australia 170-2 (Labuschagne 41, Smith 12) Overs: 33
Australia trail by 164 runs
Carse's first over back in the attack is not his best.
Smith scores two runs off a drive, two turning a short-ish ball to square leg, and finally adds four more with a classy clip through mid-on which the chasing Astkinson dives after but can't stop.
Add in a foot-fault no ball and Australia add nine runs – right on par with Carse's economy rate this Test.
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Australia 161-2 (Labuschagne 41, Smith 4) Overs: 32
Australia trail by 173 runs
Labuschagne misjudges a pull shot and top edges, but given the pace and bounce on offer from Archer and this pitch, it flies over the rope.
Five dot balls preceded the boundary. While fortunate, that releases some pressure.
Carse, who was very expensive before tea, is to replace Atkinson at the other end. England need him to keep things tight at a minimum.
Australia 155-2 (Labuschagne 35, Smith 4) Overs: 31
Australia trail by 179 runs
Atkinson produces another tight over and another maiden.
Smith, wearing eye black for the pink-ball conditions, plays at every delivery and keeps walking across his stumps, but there are no scoring shots in there. Nice stuff again from Atkinson.
Stokes heads off the field at the end of the over, though there's no sign of an injury so expect him back soon. Harry Brook is the stand-in captain.
Australia 155-2 (Labuschagne 35, Smith 4) Overs: 30
Australia trail by 179 runs
England insert a leg slip for Smith, who responds with a swiveling pull to a boundary-riding fielder to get off strike.
Labuschagne leaves extravagantly on two occasions, then has to take evasive action from an Archer bouncer.
Just one run scored that over as England start to build some pressure and the last of the sunlight leaves the cut strip.
Australia 154-2 (Labuschagne 35, Smith 3) Overs: 29
Australia trail by 180 runs
Atkinson finds steep bounce – too steep to catch an edge, unfortunately for England – as Labuschagne drives and misses.
It heralds the start of a good over in which Atkinson also finds a thick outside edge, and it's a maiden. Atkinson has bowled nicely after the break, it should be said.
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Australia 154-2 (Labuschagne 35, Smith 3) Overs: 28
Australia trail by 180 runs
Labuschagne takes a single so Smith is straight away back on strike, and straight away getting off the mark, clipping through square leg for a couple.
Archer hits Smith on the hand next ball with a bouncer, but the batter will take a run, and Labuschagne adds three more with a cover drive which doesn't quite reach the boundary.
Australia 147-2 (Labuschagne 31, Smith 0) Overs: 27
Australia trail by 187 runs
Atkinson keeps it tight at the other end, with Labuschagne only able to score off a thick inside edge.
One run off the over and pressure can start to build, but Labuschagne's single was off the fifth ball of the over so he will be on strike to face Archer. England would really like to see Archer bowling at Smith here.
Awesome Archer delivery sees England make perfect start to session
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wicket! Australia 146-2 (Labuschagne 30, Smith 0) Overs: 26
Weatherald 72, lbw Archer
Australia trail by 188 runs
The breakthrough England needed!
One delivery after offering Weatherald width and being cut to the boundary, Archer bowls an excellent yorker. Weatherald can't get his bat down fast enough, is hit on the front foot and walks off without reviewing.
Archer, the pick of the England bowlers before tea, delivers. Then sends a bouncer Steve Smith's way for his first ball.
Australia in control at tea
Australia dominated the first session on the second day of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series Test in Brisbane.
England began the day looking to add quick runs to their overnight total of 325-9, but made only nine before Jofra Archer fell to a brilliant diving catch from Marnus Labuschagne.
Archer jettisoned his pads for a quick turnaround to bowl the opening spell, and his pace was consistently around the 90mph mark.
The England quick thought he had made the breakthrough when producing a beauty to take the outside edge of Travis Head’s bat, but his celebrations were cut short as wicketkeeper Jamie Smith shelled the chance.
Head and Jake Weatherald scored quickly after the drop as the session threatened to get away from England, but Brydon Carse got a ball to leave Head and he spooned a leading edge into the hands of Gus Atkinson.
England continued to bowl short of a good length, and Weatherald feasted as he made his first 50 in Test cricket.
Weatherald and Labuschagne took Australia to the tea break at 130-1.
England will hope the tide turns in their favour when the lights come on at The Gabba, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Australia 141-1 (Weatherald 68, Labuschagne 29) Overs: 25
Australia trail by 193 runs
Weatherald leaves, defends, mistimes a pull for nothing and leaves again as Atkinson keeps it tight.
However, Atkinson then strays wide and short, allowing Weatherald to cut away for four. He's been brilliant playing backwards of point.
Australia 137-1 (Weatherald 64, Labuschagne 29) Overs: 24
Australia trail by 197 runs
Archer squares Labuschagne up somewhat and finds a thick outside edge, but it does not carry to the slip cordon and squirms though regardless.
Weatherald adds a couple via a pull shot which isn't timed, then is beaten by a short ball outside off which he tries to cut but can't. Luckily for Weatherald, he's not close enough to nick it.
The deficit is now below 200. The players' shadows are getting longer.
Australia 133-1 (Weatherald 61, Labuschagne 28) Overs: 23
Australia trail by 201 runs
Atkinson compliments Archer, so it's the same pair who bowled with the new ball to start this session.
It's a decent, tight start from Atkinson. Two runs conceded, both off singles, and one Weatherald play and miss teased out as the opener tries to drive one which nips away.
Australia 131-1 (Weatherald 60, Labuschagne 27) Overs: 22
Australia trail by 203 runs
Archer will bowl the first over after tea.
Third ball, he strays onto Weatherald's legs and concedes a single, but bowls a good line to Labuschagne, who judiciously leaves.
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The score at tea: Australia 130-1 as Weatherald punishes poor bowling
Australia are 130-1 at tea, with Jake Weatherald unbeaten after reaching a maiden Test half-century, as the hosts wrestled back momentum on day two at the Gabba.
England added nine runs to their overnight score before Jofra Archer was caught by a diving Marnus Labuschagne, leaving Joe Root stranded on 138 and the tourists all out for 334.
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'Magnificent' catch from Labuschagne ends England innings
Video credit: TNT Sports
Whereas England had been 5-2 inside three overs of their innings, Australia started slower and with more control.
When the runs began to flow, they mostly came off the bat of Weatherald, who found particular success behind square and uppercutting short balls.
Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers and should have dismissed Travis Head for just three, but Jamie Smith dropped an edge behind the stumps and the reprieve jolted Head into life.
'Worst place in the world' - Smith drops key catch as Head rolls on
Video credit: TNT Sports
He added 30 more runs before spooning a Brydon Carse delivery to mid-off; Carse claimed England's only wicket of the session but ended it as the most expensive bowler, with an economy rate of 9.00.
Weatherald reached a landmark 50 off only 45 balls and is unbeaten on 59 at tea, while Labuschagne has 27 runs at the other end.
Australia trail by 204 runs, but the prospect of getting to bowl at the hosts in the twilight can give England some cause for optimism.
'Wonderful' session for Australia, break 'could not come quick enough' for England
The TNT Sports panel have their say on a tough session for the tourists.
Brad Haddin: "A wonderful first session. It started great with Marnus [Labuschagne] taking that catch in the outfield.
"England missed a great opportunity with the ball. They bowled too short. Not many balls were hitting the stumps. Jake Weatherald did a wonderful job in only his second Test, but England missed a trick with the length they bowled.
"We see a lot of teams come to Australia and they see the bounce, and it looks pretty going through to the wicketkeeper.
"How hard is it to get the length right and get batters driving down the ground?"
Matt Prior: "We have been speaking about that a lot [England's bowling lengths]. I think they had four balls that would have hit the stumps in that session. They were not able to build enough pressure, dropped catches do not help the cause, but lunch could not come quick enough for the England bowlers."
England's wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (L) lies on the ground after dropping a catch from Australia's Travis Head during day two of the second Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 5, 2025.
Image credit: Getty Images
Steven Finn: "It felt there was pressure up until the drop, and then Australia were liberated – particularly [Travis] Head who was liberated by the fact he was given that lifeline. You just sensed the change in the atmosphere in the ground, and Head and Weatherald put the pressure back on the bowlers."
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Australia's session, TNT Sports experts concur
"A very healthy batting card," Ebony Rainford-Brent says on TNT Sports, looking back at that session.
"The real standout Weatherald, showing what he can do to those short, wide balls. Labuschagne has come in and kept that momentum going and Travis Head, dropped early on. That could have been really dangerous. They [England] will be glad he's gone."
Weatherald is causing real headaches though.
"The England bowlers, Jofra Archer apart, they been very poor," is the verdict of Alastair Cook.
"Look at the economy rates, all over 5.00, and Carse going at 9.00 even though he did pick up a wicket. Couldn't get any control, couldn't find the right length, couldn't find the right line."
Australia 130-1 (Weatherald 59, Labuschagne 27) Overs: 21
Australia trail by 204 runs
Weatherald clips into the leg side for a single, before the 50 partnership is brought up with a leg bye.
Weatherald adds another run, again clipping off his hip, and Labuschagne plays a similar shot for a couple off the last ball of the session.
No doubt about it, it has been Australia's session.
Australia 125-1 (Weatherald 57, Labuschagne 25) Overs: 20
Australia trail by 209 runs
Jacks strays down the leg side with his first ball and it runs away for four byes. Not ideal.
Third ball, Jacks does the same and Weatherald's bat helps it to the boundary this time.
Once Labuschagne is on strike, he charges and slaps Jacks back down the ground for another boundary. The over costs 13 runs.
One more over before tea, and Stokes will bowl it.
Australia 112-1 (Weatherald 52, Labuschagne 21) Overs: 19
Australia trail by 222 runs
Weatherald takes a quick single off the final ball of the Stokes over, which goes for three in all.
Jacks now has the pink ball in his clutches, so we're going to see some spin for the first time.
Australia 109-1 (Weatherald 50, Labuschagne 20) Overs: 18
Australia trail by 225 runs
Weatherald brings up Australia's hundred with back-to-back boundaries. First flicking off his pads, then swaying and uppercutting over the slips once more.
And he gets to bring up a maiden Test half-century later in the over, pulling for a single. It's been an excellent, counter-attacking knock.
Labuschagne adds two more fours, from a nothing short ball followed by a half-volley, and the Carse over goes for 17 runs. Momentum well and truly back with Australia.
Australia 92-1 (Weatherald 41, Labuschagne 12) Overs: 17
Australia trail by 242 runs
Stokes finds Labuschagne's edge, but it does not carry due to Labuschagne's soft hands. And it was a no ball, so Stokes is probably glad that it didn't carry now. He's bowled a couple of no balls this spell.
With what should have been the last ball of the over, Stokes strays full and Labuschagne punches back down the ground for four. Stokes screams in frustration, complains that Archer was too wide at mid-on, and responds with a full toss which is also punched away and half-stopped at mid-off, allowing Labuschagne to get two.
Australia 84-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 6) Overs: 16
Australia trail by 250 runs
Labuschagne leaves a tempting delivery the England slip cordon cannot believe missed the stumps. But miss them it did, so it goes down as good judgment.
It's a good, probing over from Carse, but he offers width with the final delivery and Labuschagne cuts between gully and point for his first boundary.
Head's wicket remains the only one England have taken today and you can watch it below.
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Breakthrough for England as Head caught
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Australia 80-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 2) Overs: 15
Australia trail by 254 runs
There's a nervy moment for Labuschagne as he tries to leave, but the ball strikes his dangling bat and could go anywhere, but avoids the stumps.
Stokes also elicits a play and miss from Weatherald off the last ball of the over. It's time for England to apply pressure again.
Wicket! Australia 78-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 1) Overs: 14
Head 33, c Atkinson b Carse
Australia trail by 256 runs
Head is out this time! Seeking to whip a pitched-up delivery through the leg side, he can only balloon it up towards mid-on and Atkinson, with plenty of time to think, takes the catch. England have their man, and it's Carse who makes the breakthrough.
Head played with a sense of liberation after the drop, which ultimately cost England 30 runs. That should be some relief for Smith, whose psyche Matt Prior discussed in the immediate aftermath of the drop.
'Worst place in the world' - Smith drops key catch as Head rolls on
Video credit: TNT Sports
Labuschagne is the new man in and gets off the mark with a tap and run into the covers.
Australia 77-0 (Head 33, Weatherald 40) Overs: 13
Australia trail by 257 runs
Head is really getting going now.
Stokes strays to full to start the over and Head punch back down the ground for four, and is soon chipping through mid-on for the same result.
Australia 66-0 (Head 22, Weatherald 40) Overs: 12
Australia trail by 268 runs
Carse continues after the break.
England have a fielder at backward point around 30 yards in from the boundary, Will Jacks, and Head cuts to him for a single before Weatherald plays a wonderful shot to a short ball. Swaying back, he uppercuts fine and times it sweetly, sending the ball over the rope.
That is Weatherald's first six in Test cricket.
Australia 57-0 (Head 20, Weatherald 33) Overs: 11
Australia trail by 277 runs
Stokes brings himself into the attack in place of Archer and starts with a full toss. Head seems as surprised as anyone and mistimes his response, but still picks up three.
Weatherald is looking increasingly assured at the other end and promptly cuts Stokes to the boundary after being given width.
The run rate is up to 5.18 after a slow start. It's time for drinks, coming at a good moment for England perhaps as it is the hosts who carry the momentum right now.
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Australia 50-0 (Head 17, Weatherald 29) Overs: 10
Australia trail by 284 runs
Carse replaces Atkinson for England, and Head begins to make England pay for giving him a life.
Head throws his hands at a wide delivery to pick up four behind point, and hit his first boundary. Carse goes shorter, Head plays the same shot and slices up, over gully and over the rope.
Three runs off the last ball of the over, from another cut-style shot not quite timed, completes England's misery.
"I'm telling you now, we've just had Brad Haddin in the com box, and we both looked at each other. Jamie Smith, that is the worst place in the world to be right now," says Matt Prior on the TNT Sports coverage.
"All those people in the Gabba watching in hi-motion, slow-motion and every other motion of you dropping Travis Head."
Australia 36-0 (Head 4, Weatherald 28) Overs: 9
Australia trail by 298 runs
Head is dropped! Archer finds the outside edge with a beautiful delivery Head feels compelled to play but shapes away, it's edged between the wicketkeeper and first slip, but a diving Smith can only parry the ball.
Archer has his head in his hands. England know what an important wicket Head represents.
If Archer's mood was not bad enough, Weatherald uppercuts him over the cordon for a one-bounce four before the over is out.
Australia 30-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 19) Overs: 8
Australia trail by 304 runs
Weatherald drives a half-volley through the covers for four with a good-looking punch, and when Atkinson strays onto his legs, Weatherald whips it through square for four more.
Atkinson overcorrects, floats one up outside off stump and Weatherald unfurls another drive for four more.
Twelve runs off the over – Australia's best of the innings so far, and Weatherald is looking good.
Australia 18-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 11) Overs: 7
Australia trail by 316 runs
Archer's line has improved and his bowling is becoming more probing, it must be said.
After Weatherald takes a single, he gets one delivery to jag away from Head but it does too much and misses the bat. Two balls later, Archer has Head jumping and wearing one directed at the body.
Australia 17-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 10) Overs: 6
Australia trail by 317 runs
Atkinson finds a crack and some steep bounce with it, getting the ball to rise and hit Weatherald on the top hand. It's the highlight of the over for the tourists, with three singles taken.
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Australia 14-0 (Head 2, Weatherald 8) Overs: 5
Australia trail by 320 runs
Archer's first ball of the over rises slightly and hits Head in the groin region, but he's fine and gets off the mark two deliveries later, whipping off his legs for a couple.
Archer then strays down leg and Head's pads help the ball to the fine-leg boundary, but responds with a great ball which squares Head up and beats the outside edge by not a lot.
Australia 8-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 8) Overs: 4
Australia trail by 326 runs
Weatherald cuts Atkinson into a gap behind point, picks up a boundary and starts the Australian scoring. It's a fine shot off something of a drag-down from the bowler.
Atkinson is getting plenty of bounce and this surprises Weatherald last ball of the over, but a top edge pulling lands safe and runs to the boundary. Smith chases hard, but cannot get there.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 3
Australia trail by 334 runs
Another maiden.
Archer is able to tempt Head into a drive with one pitched-up delivery outside off, and it's an unconvincing waft which sends the ball dribbling to point.
The tension is rising.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 2
Australia trail by 334 runs
Atkinson bowls England's second over and finds Weatherald's front pad with the opening delivery, but there's only a muted appeal. It looked high on first glance.
It's a tighter over than Archer's, Weatherald is watchful after that mini-scare, and it's another maiden.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 1
Australia trail by 334 runs
Head starts on strike – unlike how he and Jake Weatherald did it in Perth – but largely has a watching brief.
Archer's radar is not quite there, starting with a stray delivery down the leg side, and it's not until the fifth ball that Head is required to play a shot. Head blocks that one and clips the next off his legs but straight to a fielder, so it's a maiden but far from Archer's best work.
Head and Weatherald emerge for Australia innings
"England are going to have to stop Travis Head," says Alastair Cook on the TNT Sports coverage.
"With a brand new pink ball, with the ball moving and bouncing, it feels like you've got a good opportunity to do that."
Archer is going to have that pink ball in hand for the first over, having just been spectacularly caught by Labuschagne as you can watch below.
'Magnificent' catch from Labuschagne ends England innings
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Wicket! England all out for 334
Archer 38, c Labuschagne b Doggett
After Root takes a single, Archer pulls in the air and a flying Marnus Labuschagne takes a great catch on the boundary! There has been some impressive Australian fielding this innings and that is right up there.
England all out for 334, having added nine runs this morning. Root is unbeaten on 138.
England 333-9 (Root 137, Archer 38) Overs: 76
Archer blocks out the first Starc ball, earning a big cheer from the England supporters in the Gabba, and follows up with a glorious cover drive to the boundary.
Next comes a play and miss at a wide one, attempting another drive, and it prompts Archer to get his forward defense back out for the rest of the over – plus one leave.
Starc seen off, for now, and Root will be back on strike.
Before play, his parents spoke to TNT Sports about watching their son hit a magnificent century later and the chat is well worth your time.
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Root's parents discuss nerves and mentality after first 100 Down Under
Video credit: TNT Sports
England 329-9 (Root 137, Archer 34) Overs: 75
Doggett drops short for the first over of the day and England take four runs off it, each via the single and each from a controlled pull shot.
That includes Archer taking a single off the last delivery of the over, so he will be on strike versus Mitchell Starc next up.
The teams are out
"Every run England get this morning is going to hurt the Australians, not just mentally but physically as well," says Matt Prior on TNT Sports as the two teams take to the field.
Brendan Doggett is going to bowl the first over of the day.
England have 'score that we wanted' says Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick, the England batting coach, spoke to TNT Sports about Joe Root and the state of the game before the start of play.
"Delighted for him," Trescothick said of Root after yesterday's cathartic first Test century in Australia.
"Much talk around the hundred here but I think the way that he's been playing in the last couple of years and the way that he's been scoring so many hundreds in different parts of the world, the consistency with which he's been doing it, I didn't ever doubt that he would come and have the same effect. So delighted for him, obviously he's put the team in a good position and we've managed to get to the score that we wanted to."
Root and Archer have a chance to add to that total and force Australia's fast bowlers into more hard work next.
Day 2 in Brisbane
After a superb opening day, the second day of the second NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series Test in Brisbane resumes with England looking to push on from their overnight 325-9.
You can watch and stream every ball of the 2025/26 Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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