ENG vs AUS Day 2 Highlights: Australia lead by 44 after dominant batting and England’s dropped catches
Stumps, Day 2: Australia dominated England’s weak bowling and poor fielding to take control of this pink-ball Test at The Gabba. They ended the day on 378/6, leading by 44 runs. It was a strong batting performance from the hosts, and England paid the price for dropping five catches.
Earlier in the day, England's last pair, Joe Root and Jofra Archer, came out to bat to resume the team's innings at 325/9. They could add only 9 runs to it before Marnus Labuschagne took a stunning one-handed catch at deep backward square leg to dismiss Archer for 38 off 36 balls in the bowling of Brendan Doggett. As a result, England were bowled out for 334, with Root remaining unbeaten on 138 off 206 balls.
Australia Take Firm Control After Strong Batting and England’s Missed Chances on Day 2
Travis Head opened the innings yet again with Jake Weatherald. The former dropped by Jamie Smith very early on in the Australia's reply, with England bowling three maidens in a row to keep the openers at bay. Weatherald broke the shackles and was looking in cruise control, adding 77 and 69 run partnerships with Head and Labuschagne, respectively.
Although Brydon Carse broke the counter-attacking opening stand, dismissing Head for 33, Australia were going along nicely, thanks to the entire line-up getting the starts. Weatherald top-scored 72 off 78 balls before getting a toe-crusher from Archer; Labuschagne and Steven Smith entered the 60s, while Green scored 45.
There were four 50-plus partnerships involving batters 1-5 that kept hurting England. When Smith and Green were motoring along with a 95-run fourth-wicket stand, England had their back against the wall. Carse bounced back out of nowhere to dismiss both the set batters in one over, before Stokes knocked over Josh Inglis, who also got a start, scoring 23.
Alex Carey (46* off 45) made full use of the Duckett dropping his catch on nought and has already extended Australia's advantage to a considerable amount, adding an unbeaten 49-run 7th wicket partnership with Michael Neser (15*), who also got a life in this innings.
