AUS vs ENG | Twitter impressed as Weatherald, Labuschagne, and Smith power Australia to commanding position

‌Australia gave England the taste of their own medicine to end day two at a commanding position at the Gabba in Brisbane. Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith all made merry with stroke-filled half-centuries as the home side scored at more than five runs per over to make 378/6 and end in the green by 44 runs.

The overnight pair of Joe Root and Jofra Archer looked comfortable, though the home side adopted the short-ball ploy along with a packed leg-side field. The pair rotated strike, working out the bouncers to fielders in the deep, before Archer played a stunning cover drive off Mitchell Starc for the first boundary of the day. However, that turned out to be the only boundary of the day in their innings, with Labuschagne pulling off a stunner at deep square leg to end Archer and England’s defiance an over later. The visitors added just nine runs to their total from the first day to be bowled out for 334. Meanwhile, Starc finished with impressive figures of 6/75, with the trio of Michael Neser, Scott Boland, and Brendan Doggett picking a wicket apiece.

Australia started cautiously with openers Travis Head and Weatherald playing out three maidens in the first three overs. But that was just the calm before the storm as Weatherald kicked off the scoring with two boundaries of Gus Atkinson in the fourth before smashing him for three more in the final over of his first spell. Meanwhile, Head looked a bit sedate from the other end, scoring three of 24 balls, before earning a lucky reprieve as wicketkeeper Jamie Smith put down a regulation outside edge off Archer. That helped the southpaw break out of his shell, welcoming Brydon Carse into the attack with a four and a six in the next over. With Weatherald continuing his boundary surge, the host quickly raced to 77 in 13 overs before England finally found a breakthrough. Carse got Head to sky a leading edge with Atkinson making no mistake at mid-on. But Labuschagne joined the left-handed opener to deepen the visitors’ woes, scoring boundaries off skipper Ben Stokes and Carse. Weatherald too looked unperturbed by the loss of his opening partner, smashing consecutive boundaries off Crase before bringing up his maiden fifty. When Stokes introduced spin into the mix on the stroke of tea, the pair counter-attacked with two boundaries off Will Jacks to walk in for the break at an imposing 130/1 in 21 overs.

England started the second session with some cheer as Archer broke the 69-run stand for the second wicket, trapping Weatherald plumb in front with an accurate yorker. The southpaw hit 12 fours and a six during his 78-ball 72, while Labuschagne also completed his half-century with a top edge flying over the keeper, a few overs later. Just as the Queensland skipper was looking set for a century, Stokes got him to nick a wide ball straight to keeper Jamie Smith when at 65, after hitting nine fours and a six. However, captain Smith and Cameron Green ensured that the hosts did not lose another wicket before the break, taking the side to dinner at 228/3.

The pair took control in the final session, shifting gears to score quick runs, moving closer to the England total. Smith smashed a four and six off Archer in the same over before hitting boundaries off Atkinson to bring up his half-century in just 67 balls. Just as it looked like the hosts would run away with the game, Carse produced a double-wicket over to bring the visitors right back into the game. He first cleaned up Green (45) to break the 95-run stand before ending the Aussie skipper’s stay two balls later, with Will Jacks pulling off a stunner. With Smith’s dismissal for 61 after scoring five fours and two sixes, it was two new batters at the crease and the side still behind by 42 runs, but some sloppy fielding let the host off the hook. They went past the 300-run mark and also managed a lead of 44 runs with Alex Carey (46) and Michael Neser at the crease. For the visitors, Carse was their best bowler with figures of 3/113, while Stokes ended with two wickets.

Superb

This frame

Take the lead

LOL

Warm up

Seen this?

Cheers Ben

Superman

Really good

Do well