Weatherald’s Opening Gambit Inspires Australia's Fightback

Australia 378 for 6 (Weatherald 72, Labuschagne 65, Smith 61, Carse 3-113) lead England 334 (Root 138*, Starc 6-75) by 44 runs.

Jake Weatherald came out of the pre-match media scrutiny that had surrounded Travis Head to score a red-hot maiden Test half-century, which put Australia well clear on the second day of the day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Australia were in decent shape at the end of the day as Weatherald, Steven Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne all scored fifties. It was notable that the partnerships for each of Australia’s first four wickets passed fifty for the first time in a decade, even though none of the top order converted their starts into a big innings.

The team of England, who had previously bowled out Australia for 132 in Perth two weeks prior with the aggressive fast bowling, was inconsistent in this innings, giving up 5.17 runs per over, with shoddy discipline.

 

Weatherald Takes Charge as England Lose Grip

Weatherald dictated the tone early with a brisk 72 off 78 balls, including 59 in the opening session, pushing Australia to 291 for 3, just 43 runs behind England at that stage. England’s attack, under pressure following their heavy defeat in the first Test, appeared to crumble as their lines wavered and their fielding faltered.

The breakthrough finally arrived when Brydon Carse, who had been expensive until then, removed Cameron Green and Smith in the same over with a well-executed short-ball strategy. But sloppy catching continued to undermine England’s progress, with five chances spilled so far in the innings.

Alex Carey and Michael Neser capitalised on those errors, crafting an unbeaten 49-run stand that kept Australia in front heading into Day 3.

 

England Miss Early Chances as Australia Push Ahead

England had started the day on 334 runs in the first innings, Joe Root not out on 138. The focus shifted to Travis Head, who had made a spectacular century in Perth and had to open in the absence of Usman Khawaja.

Head had a difficult time finding the flow at the start, and was able to survive on a dropped catch by Jamie Smith before eventually settling with a boundary and a six off Carse. Weatherald, meanwhile, began quietly low in his stance, watchful, and gradually growing more assertive, and banged boundaries in the direction of Gus Atkinson as he grew more confident.

Archer later ended the opener’s innings, but another strong partnership between Smith and Labuschagne revived the innings. Both fell before reaching 67, and Labuschagne became the first to make 1,000 day-night Test runs.

 

Late Drama as Carse Strikes, but Australia Hold Firm

Labuschagne’s dismissal, feathering a cut to Ben Stokes, opened a small window for England. Shortly after, Carse removed Green with a deceptive full delivery before producing a sharp rising ball that struck Alex Carey on the glove, only for Ben Duckett to drop the chance.

The dismissal of Smith, which Will Jacks managed to capture brilliantly on deep backward square, rejuvenated the hopes of England, but they could never get any momentum due to misfields and misplaced catches.

Previously, the last-wicket partnership between Root and Jofra Archer brought in some precious runs in England. Archer had his best score of 30 surpassed, striking a fashionable boundary off Mitchell Starc, and then went down on 38 to a spectacular one-handed catch by Labuschagne. It was the 70-run partnership in the 10th wicket that was the most by England in Australia since 1951.

The hosts have the upper hand going into Day 3 with Australia 378 for 6, and having a 44-run lead.