DAY 2: Australia edge ominously within 106 runs of England in second Ashes test

Jake Weatherald blazed 72 and Marnus Labuschagne hit a sparkling 65 as Australia narrowed England's lead to 106 by dinner on day two of the day-night second Ashes test on Friday.

At the break in front of a big Gabba crowd urging them on in Brisbane, Australia were 228-3 after the visitors succumbed for 334 in their first innings on the back of Joe Root's epic unbeaten 138.

Steve Smith was not-out 24 and Cameron Green on 22 as Australia negotiated a tricky twilight session for the loss of two wickets after England's bowlers tightened up their line and length.

Weatherald, in only his second test, slammed 12 fours and a six in a punchy knock before being trapped lbw by Jofra Archer with an angled yorker.

Labuschagne – Australia's form batsman in recent months with a slew of centuries in domestic cricket – was similarly assured as the shadows moved over the ground and the bowlers found more movement.

But just as he looked destined for another ton, England captain Ben Stokes got the crucial breakthrough with a nick to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Dangerman Travis Head, Australia's wrecking-ball hero in the first test win at Perth, fell before tea for 33.

England were dismissed in the second over of the day with Root the last man standing.

They resumed on 325-9 after he guided them from a precarious 5-2 with his maiden century on Australian soil and 40th overall in a gripping day one.

He added nine to the overnight score with partner Archer before the number 11 fell for a career-best 38, caught spectacularly by a diving Labuschagne in the deep off Brendan Doggett.

It ended a valuable 10th-wicket partnership of 70 – a record for England at the Gabba.

Marnus Labuschagne becomes the first player to score 1000 runs in day-night test cricket 👏

1003* - Marnus Labuschagne
827* - Steve Smith
753 - David Warner
752 - Travis Head
639 - Joe Root#AUSvENG #Ashes pic.twitter.com/GZ4oeRQ2WY — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 5, 2025

Veteran Mitchell Starc took 6-75, surpassing Pakistan's Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in test history.

Head smashed an explosive 69-ball century to help Australia stun England by eight wickets in Perth.

But he was more reserved this time after being retained as opener in place of the injured Usman Khawaja.

It took him 15 balls to get going before a huge escape on three when Smith fluffed a sitter off an edge from Archer.

The scare woke him up and he let rip in the next over, banging 4-6-3, but his luck ran out when he sent an edge high to Gus Atkinson off Brydon Carse, with England breathing a sigh of relief as he walked off.

Jake Weatherald departs lbw to Jofra Archer after an excellent maiden fifty that's set the tone for Australia 💪#AUSvENG #Ashes pic.twitter.com/XD3pjieSni — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 5, 2025

Weatherald quickly found his rhythm with a series of early boundaries, cutting and driving with ease.

Three of them came in five balls off Atkinson as the outfield ran fast and he brought up an impressive 50 from 45 balls with a single, before Archer worked his magic.

Labuschagne picked up where he left off, reaching a 25th test half-century, with 10 boundaries in his 65.

AUSTRALIA: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

ENGLAND: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.