Openers grabbed the momentum: Marnus Labuschagne praises fast start as Australia take 44-run lead in Brisbane Test
Australia managed to take a 44-run lead at stumps on Day 2 of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, reaching 378/6. Jake Weatherald, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne scored half-centuries.
New Delhi: Australia dominated day 2 of the second Ashes Test against England at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday, December 5. The Aussies reach 378/6 at stumps with the visitors dropping five crucial catches.
They managed to take a 44-run first-innings lead after two days of the Brisbane Test. Opener Jake Weatherald scored 72 runs from 78 balls, and Marnus Labuschagne (65) smashed consecutive half-centuries, while stand-in captain Steve Smith amassed 61 runs on a surface which had some uneven bounce at the Gabba.
Alex Carey was dropped twice before the wicketkeeper scored an unbeaten 46 runs off 45 balls at stumps. All-rounder Michael Neser also got a reprieve before finishing on an unbeaten 15 runs.
Earlier, England's Joe Root notched up his first Test hundred in Australia, scoring an unbeaten 138 runs off 206 balls with the help of 15 boundaries and one maximum. Zak Crawley also amassed 76 runs off 93 balls, but other English batters failed to make any big contribution.
Mitchell Starc again delivered a sensational performance and picked up six wickets in the first innings. The first Ashes Test got over in just two days, with the hosts winning by eight wickets in Perth.
'Openers sort of just grabbed the momentum': Labuschagne
Travis Head and Jake Weatherald provided Australia a strong start, forging a 77-run partnership for the first wicket. Labuschagne praised both openers and said that they grabbed the momentum for the hosts.
"I feel like the rest of us sort of just piggybacked off the back of that and sort of kept going and I think everyone that came in sort of had that good intent and, we were able to keep scoring, through that whole day," Labuschagne said at stumps on day 2.
He also talked about his batting and said that it was very frustrating to get out, especially at the change of conditions, when the pitch just quickened up a little bit.
"You know, just a bad time to get out, to sort of put guys in when, you know, in those really tricky situations without facing any balls but, yeah, always nice to score some runs and get the team in a position, like we are now," he added.
England bowlers struggled with the line and length and were expensive, with Jofra Archer bowling 20 overs for 1-74, Stokes delivered 17 overs for 2-93, while Carse finished with 3-113.