Online Reporter
A RELENTLESS Australia took a 44-run lead over England in the day-night second Ashes Test cricket in Brisbane yesterday, with aggressive opener Jake Weatherald and Steve Smith leading the charge.
By stumps the hosts had not only reeled in England’s first-innings 334 but raced clear, ending a draining day two on 378-6 in front of a big crowd at a humid Gabba.
A decent lead is shaping as crucial, with the pitch likely to deteriorate in the coming days.
Alex Carey, who was dropped first ball and again on 25, was not-out 46 with Michael Neser on 15, but England’s pace cartel made in-roads under lights in the evening session.
Australia were cruising at 291-3 before the expensive Brydon Carse removed Cameron Green (45) and Smith (61) in four deliveries to rekindle hope as England’s short-ball tactics paid off.
The bowlers, though, lacked consistency and were guilty of too many loose deliveries with Australia plundering 51 boundaries, while four easy catches were put down.
Weatherald, in only his second Test, slammed 12 fours and a six in a punchy knock before being trapped lbw by Jofra Archer with an angled yorker.
Marnus Labuschagne — Australia’s form batsman in recent months with a slew of centuries in domestic cricket — was similarly assured, cracking 65 as the shadows moved over the ground.
But as he looked destined for another ton, England captain Ben Stokes got the crucial breakthrough with a nick to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Steve Smith, wearing black adhesive anti-glare strips under his eyes to help with the Gabba lights, as is common in American sports, was the big wicket.
Once he got in, the veteran skipper appeared immovable, but Carse tempted him into a hook shot that Will Jacks caught spectacularly at backward square leg.
Travis Head, Australia’s wrecking-ball hero in the first Test win at Perth, fell before tea for 33.
England were dismissed in the second over of the day with Joe Root the last man standing on 138.
They resumed on 325-9 after he guided them from a precarious 5-2 with his maiden century on Australian soil and 40th overall in a gripping day one.
He added nine to the overnight score with partner Archer before the number 11 fell for a career-best 38, caught brilliantly by a diving Labuschagne in the deep to end a valuable 10th-wicket partnership of 70.
Veteran Mitchell Starc took 6-75.
Head smashed an explosive 69-ball century to help Australia stun England by eight wickets in Perth, but was more reserved this time after being retained as opener in place of the injured Usman Khawaja.
It took him 15 balls to get going before a huge escape on three when Smith fluffed a sitter off an edge from Archer.
The scare woke him up and he let rip in the next over, but his luck ran out when he sent an edge high to Gus Atkinson off Carse, with England breathing a sigh of relief as he walked off.
