The second day of the day-night Ashes Test at Brisbane's Gabba has left England in a precarious position, with a series of costly fielding blunders allowing Australia to seize control of the match.
Australia Capitalises on English Errors
Australia will begin Day 3 on a commanding 6 for 378, holding a 44-run lead over England's first innings total of 334. The hosts' strong position was built on the back of consistent contributions from their batting order after England's fielders endured a nightmare session under lights.
Opener Jake Weatherald top-scored with a solid 72, while Marnus Labuschagne (65) and Steve Smith (61) both notched half-centuries. Valuable runs also came from Travis Head (33), Cameron Green (45), and an unbeaten Alex Carey (46), who is closing in on fifty. Nightwatchman Michael Neser remains not out on 15.
Five Dropped Catches Prove Costly
The tourists' day was defined by a shocking five dropped catches, with four of those spills occurring in the difficult final session as the pink ball became harder to pick up. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith put down Travis Head early when he was on just 3, but the floodgates truly opened later.
Ben Duckett shelled a simple chance at gully from Alex Carey before he had scored, and later dropped Josh Inglis in the slips. Brydon Carse put down Michael Neser at cover, and even captain Joe Root fumbled a Carey chance. Inglis added only two more runs before being bowled by Ben Stokes, leaving England to ponder what might have been.
Remarkably, Australian centurion Jake Weatherald offered sympathy to his opponents, having experienced the visual challenges of the pink ball himself while fielding. "It was definitely difficult," Weatherald said. "I feel for them, I understand how hard it is out there... It's not great visuals."
Root Remains Defiant Despite Deficit
Despite the significant deficit and fielding lapses, England captain Joe Root insisted his side is still in the contest. He praised his team's resilience after a poor start to the day and believes a strong performance on Day 3 can turn the tide.
"The wheels could have come off... but the way we responded was good," Root stated. "I don't think we're massively out of the game at all. I think we're actually not too far behind, as long as we get things right early tomorrow."
For England, Brydon Carse was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 113, while the ever-reliable Ben Stokes chipped in with 2 for 93.
Broad Wins Over Aussie Fans from Commentary Box
In a lighter moment, former England fast bowler and once-reviled Ashes villain Stuart Broad continues to charm Australian audiences from the Channel 7 commentary box. His passion and quick wit have made him a surprise hit, with a playful on-air appeal for an Alex Carey wicket creating another viral moment and winning praise from local fans.
How to Watch Day 3: Every ball of the Ashes is live and free on Seven and 7plus. Play begins at 2pm AEDT (1pm AEST in Brisbane, 1:30pm in Adelaide, 11am in Perth).
