Images from Day 2 of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England at The Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.
Australia dominated day two of the second Ashes Test on Friday with a punishing batting assault on a lifeless Gabba pitch as England fumbled their chances in the field.
Half-centuries for top-order batters Jake Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65) and Steve Smith (61) made light work of England's first-innings 334 as Australia went to stumps at 378 for six with a 44-run lead.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey (46 not out) and tailender Michael Neser (15 not out) held firm through the last half-hour under the floodlights and will look to press Australia's advantage on day three.
While England grabbed three wickets in the final session to stall Australia's progress, the tourists had a largely miserable day in the field with five dropped catches and some ugly spells of bowling.
Earlier, Ben Stokes delivered a moment of pure frustration-turned-brilliance as he bowled Josh Inglis with a superb inswinger, moments after a dropped catch had left him fuming.
The ball jagged back sharply from a good length, sneaking through the bat-pad gap and crashing into middle stump. Inglis, beaten on the back foot, suggested it kept a touch low, but Stokes’s skill was undeniable.
Brydon Carse sparked England’s fightback with a sensational double strike.
He first knocked over Cameron Green for 45, firing in a fast, full delivery as the all-rounder backed away once too often, sending the stumps flying. Moments later, Carse removed Steven Smith for 61, tempting him with a short ball down the leg side before Will Jacks pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at short fine leg.
Australia slipped to 292/5, still trailing England by 42 runs, as Carse’s burst dragged the Test back to life.
Earlier, Steven Smith brought up his 50 as Australia continued their chase at the Gabba.
Facing Atkinson, Smith guided a single to gully, reaching the milestone off 67 balls. His innings has been composed and resilient, anchoring the Australian reply alongside the other batters, keeping the scoreboard ticking steadily.
Cameron Green was struck on the thumb by a rising short-of-length delivery from Atkinson, causing immediate concern as he called for the physio.
The ball hit flush on his thumb, causing bleeding, and medical staff rushed onto the field to attend to him. Meanwhile, the umpires checked the ball, and the crowd booed as a reserve umpire brought out a replacement due to the seam coming undone.
Marnus Labuschagne scored his second half-century of the Ashes as Australia pushed to 228 for three at the dinner break on day two of the second Test, having cut England's first-innings lead to 106 runs.
Number three batter Labuschagne combined with captain Steve Smith in a 50-run partnership in the day-night match at the Gabba before England captain Ben Stokes had him caught behind for 65.
Jofra Archer produced a brilliant piece of fast-bowling theatre to end Jake Weatherald’s fine innings on 72, trapping him lbw with a scorching 140kph yorker in the 26th over.
After setting him up with a fuller yorker and a short ball, Archer went back to the toe-crusher, smashing into the base of middle stump with Weatherald late on the shot and his front foot falling across the line. The umpire’s finger went up instantly as Archer sprinted away in celebration.
Weatherald, who played superbly for his 72 off 78 balls, departed to warm applause. Australia are 146 for 2 after 26 overs, trailing by 188.
Jake Weatherald scored his first half-century for Australia as the hosts charged to 130 for one at tea on day two of the second Ashes Test on Friday in reply to England's first innings 334.
Opener Weatherald was 59 not out from 56 balls, with number three Marnus Labuschagne on 27 on a hot and steamy afternoon at the Gabba.
Travis Head, opening in place of the injured Usman Khawaja, was dropped on three by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off the bowling of Jofra Archer and went on to make 33 off 43 balls in a largely dreadful session for England's bowlers.
Head, Australia's century-making hero in the first Test win in Perth, eventually fell to an innocuous, wobble-seam delivery from Carse, sending a leading edge straight up in the air to be caught at mid-on by Gus Atkinson.
That was as good as it got for England and Carse, who bled 45 runs from his five overs in the session.
With his bowlers being thumped around the ground, Stokes turned to the spin of Will Jacks late in the session but the all-rounder went for nine runs in his one over.
England started day two on 325 for nine and added nine runs before Archer pulled Brendan Doggett to deep backward square where Labuschagne flew for a terrific catch to wrap up the innings.
Tailender Archer contributed 38 to the 70-run partnership with Joe Root, who came off to a huge ovation unbeaten on 138.