Australia's Strong Start in Second Test Against England at Gabba

Australia's Response to England's First Innings

In an exciting continuation of Test cricket, Australian opener Jake Weatherald achieved his first half-century, leaving Australia trailing England by 204 runs at the conclusion of the first session on Day 2 of the second Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

By the end of the first session, Australia stood at 130 runs for the loss of one wicket in 21 overs, with Weatherald unbeaten on 59 and Marnus Labuschagne contributing 27 runs.

England's Innings Concludes at 334

Day 2 commenced with England resuming their innings at 325 for 9, featuring Joe Root (135*) and Jofra Archer (32*). Archer showcased his skills with a stunning drive off Mitchell Starc, but England's innings ended when Brendan Doggett dismissed Archer in the 77th over. Archer scored 38 runs off 36 balls, including two fours and two sixes, as England was all out for 334.

Root's remarkable performance included his first Test century on Australian soil, finishing with 138 runs from 206 balls, featuring 15 fours and one six. This score marked the highest individual total against Australia in a day-night Test, surpassing Asad Shafiq's previous record of 137 runs set in 2016.

Starc's Impressive Bowling Performance

Mitchell Starc had a standout bowling performance for Australia, taking 6 wickets for 75 runs in 20 overs. This marked his second five-wicket haul in the current Ashes series and his 18th overall in Test cricket. Starc also reached a milestone of 250 Test wickets in Australia, achieving this in just 11502 balls, a record only surpassed by Dale Steyn.

Australia's Steady Progress

In reply to England's total of 334, Australian openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald began their innings cautiously. The English bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson, posed challenges for the Australian batsmen. Weatherald finally broke the silence with a boundary after 20 balls.

Weatherald then accelerated, hitting three boundaries in the eighth over. A dropped catch by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Archer's bowling allowed Head to continue, but he was dismissed for 33 runs by Brydon Carse in the 14th over.

Weatherald maintained his aggressive approach, reaching his maiden half-century as Australia crossed the 100-run mark in just 17.2 overs. Marnus Labuschagne joined him at the crease, contributing quick runs and helping Australia reach 125 for 1 in 20 overs, the second-highest score at that stage in a Test in Australia.

Recap of Day 1

On Day 1, England made a strong comeback after losing early wickets, with Zak Crawley and Joe Root forming a solid 93-run partnership. Root reached his first Test century in Australia, marking his 40th overall in Test cricket. He became the second English player to score a century on the opening day of a Gabba Test.

Root's achievement came in 181 balls, and he took 30 innings to secure his first century in Australia.

Match Summary

Brief Scores: England 334 (Zak Crawley 76, Joe Root 138*, Mitchell Starc 6/75) vs Australia 130/1 (Jake Weatherald 59*, Marnus Labuschagne 27*).