Australia 137-1 (Weatherald 64, Labuschagne 29) Overs: 24
Australia trail by 197 runs
Archer squares Labuschagne up somewhat and finds a thick outside edge, but it does not carry to the slip cordon and squirms though regardless.
Weatherald adds a couple via a pull shot which isn’t timed, then is beaten by a short ball outside off which he tries to cut but can’t. Luckily for Weatherald, he’s not close enough to nick it.
The deficit is now below 200. The players’ shadows are getting longer.
Australia 133-1 (Weatherald 61, Labuschagne 28) Overs: 23
Australia trail by 201 runs
Atkinson compliments Archer, so it’s the same pair who bowled with the new ball to start this session.
It’s a decent, tight start from Atkinson. Two runs conceded, both off singles, and one Weatherald play and miss teased out as the opener tries to drive one which nips away.
Australia 131-1 (Weatherald 60, Labuschagne 27) Overs: 22
Australia trail by 203 runs
Archer will bowl the first over after tea.
Third ball, he strays onto Weatherald’s legs and concedes a single, but bowls a good line to Labuschagne, who judiciously leaves.
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The score at tea: Australia 130-1 as Weatherald punishes poor bowling
Australia are 130-1 at tea, with Jake Weatherald unbeaten after reaching a maiden Test half-century, as the hosts wrestled back momentum on day two at the Gabba.
England added nine runs to their overnight score before Jofra Archer was caught by a diving Marnus Labuschagne, leaving Joe Root stranded on 138 and the tourists all out for 334.
‘Magnificent’ catch from Labuschagne ends England innings
Video credit: TNT Sports
Whereas England had been 5-2 inside three overs of their innings, Australia started slower and with more control.
When the runs began to flow, they mostly came off the bat of Weatherald, who found particular success behind square and uppercutting short balls.
Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers and should have dismissed Travis Head for just three, but Jamie Smith dropped an edge behind the stumps and the reprieve jolted Head into life.
‘Worst place in the world’ – Smith drops key catch as Head rolls on
Video credit: TNT Sports
He added 30 more runs before spooning a Brydon Carse delivery to mid-off; Carse claimed England’s only wicket of the session but ended it as the most expensive bowler, with an economy rate of 9.00.
Weatherald reached a landmark 50 off only 45 balls and is unbeaten on 59 at tea, while Labuschagne has 27 runs at the other end.
Australia trail by 204 runs, but the prospect of getting to bowl at the hosts in the twilight can give England some cause for optimism.
‘Wonderful’ session for Australia, break ‘could not come quick enough’ for England
The TNT Sports panel have their say on a tough session for the tourists.
Brad Haddin: “A wonderful first session. It started great with Marnus [Labuschagne] taking that catch in the outfield.
“England missed a great opportunity with the ball. They bowled too short. Not many balls were hitting the stumps. Jake Weatherald did a wonderful job in only his second Test, but England missed a trick with the length they bowled.
“We see a lot of teams come to Australia and they see the bounce, and it looks pretty going through to the wicketkeeper.
“How hard is it to get the length right and get batters driving down the ground?”
Matt Prior: “We have been speaking about that a lot [England’s bowling lengths]. I think they had four balls that would have hit the stumps in that session. They were not able to build enough pressure, dropped catches do not help the cause, but lunch could not come quick enough for the England bowlers.”
England’s wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (L) lies on the ground after dropping a catch from Australia’s Travis Head during day two of the second Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 5, 2025.
Image credit: Getty Images
Steven Finn: “It felt there was pressure up until the drop, and then Australia were liberated – particularly [Travis] Head who was liberated by the fact he was given that lifeline. You just sensed the change in the atmosphere in the ground, and Head and Weatherald put the pressure back on the bowlers.”
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Australia’s session, TNT Sports experts concur
“A very healthy batting card,” Ebony Rainford-Brent says on TNT Sports, looking back at that session.
“The real standout Weatherald, showing what he can do to those short, wide balls. Labuschagne has come in and kept that momentum going and Travis Head, dropped early on. That could have been really dangerous. They [England] will be glad he’s gone.”
Weatherald is causing real headaches though.
“The England bowlers, Jofra Archer apart, they been very poor,” is the verdict of Alastair Cook.
“Look at the economy rates, all over 5.00, and Carse going at 9.00 even though he did pick up a wicket. Couldn’t get any control, couldn’t find the right length, couldn’t find the right line.”
Australia 130-1 (Weatherald 59, Labuschagne 27) Overs: 21
Australia trail by 204 runs
Weatherald clips into the leg side for a single, before the 50 partnership is brought up with a leg bye.
Weatherald adds another run, again clipping off his hip, and Labuschagne plays a similar shot for a couple off the last ball of the session.
No doubt about it, it has been Australia’s session.
Australia 125-1 (Weatherald 57, Labuschagne 25) Overs: 20
Australia trail by 209 runs
Jacks strays down the leg side with his first ball and it runs away for four byes. Not ideal.
Third ball, Jacks does the same and Weatherald’s bat helps it to the boundary this time.
Once Labuschagne is on strike, he charges and slaps Jacks back down the ground for another boundary. The over costs 13 runs.
One more over before tea, and Stokes will bowl it.
Australia 112-1 (Weatherald 52, Labuschagne 21) Overs: 19
Australia trail by 222 runs
Weatherald takes a quick single off the final ball of the Stokes over, which goes for three in all.
Jacks now has the pink ball in his clutches, so we’re going to see some spin for the first time.
Australia 109-1 (Weatherald 50, Labuschagne 20) Overs: 18
Australia trail by 225 runs
Weatherald brings up Australia’s hundred with back-to-back boundaries. First flicking off his pads, then swaying and uppercutting over the slips once more.
And he gets to bring up a maiden Test half-century later in the over, pulling for a single. It’s been an excellent, counter-attacking knock.
Labuschagne adds two more fours, from a nothing short ball followed by a half-volley, and the Carse over goes for 17 runs. Momentum well and truly back with Australia.
Australia 92-1 (Weatherald 41, Labuschagne 12) Overs: 17
Australia trail by 242 runs
Stokes finds Labuschagne’s edge, but it does not carry due to Labuschagne’s soft hands. And it was a no ball, so Stokes is probably glad that it didn’t carry now. He’s bowled a couple of no balls this spell.
With what should have been the last ball of the over, Stokes strays full and Labuschagne punches back down the ground for four. Stokes screams in frustration, complains that Archer was too wide at mid-on, and responds with a full toss which is also punched away and half-stopped at mid-off, allowing Labuschagne to get two.
Australia 84-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 6) Overs: 16
Australia trail by 250 runs
Labuschagne leaves a tempting delivery the England slip cordon cannot believe missed the stumps. But miss them it did, so it goes down as good judgment.
It’s a good, probing over from Carse, but he offers width with the final delivery and Labuschagne cuts between gully and point for his first boundary.
Head’s wicket remains the only one England have taken today and you can watch it below.
Breakthrough for England as Head caught
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Australia 80-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 2) Overs: 15
Australia trail by 254 runs
There’s a nervy moment for Labuschagne as he tries to leave, but the ball strikes his dangling bat and could go anywhere, but avoids the stumps.
Stokes also elicits a play and miss from Weatherald off the last ball of the over. It’s time for England to apply pressure again.
Wicket! Australia 78-1 (Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 1) Overs: 14
Head 33, c Atkinson b Carse
Australia trail by 256 runs
Head is out this time! Seeking to whip a pitched-up delivery through the leg side, he can only balloon it up towards mid-on and Atkinson, with plenty of time to think, takes the catch. England have their man, and it’s Carse who makes the breakthrough.
Head played with a sense of liberation after the drop, which ultimately cost England 30 runs. That should be some relief for Smith, whose psyche Matt Prior discussed in the immediate aftermath of the drop.
‘Worst place in the world’ – Smith drops key catch as Head rolls on
Video credit: TNT Sports
Labuschagne is the new man in and gets off the mark with a tap and run into the covers.
Australia 77-0 (Head 33, Weatherald 40) Overs: 13
Australia trail by 257 runs
Head is really getting going now.
Stokes strays to full to start the over and Head punch back down the ground for four, and is soon chipping through mid-on for the same result.
Australia 66-0 (Head 22, Weatherald 40) Overs: 12
Australia trail by 268 runs
Carse continues after the break.
England have a fielder at backward point around 30 yards in from the boundary, Will Jacks, and Head cuts to him for a single before Weatherald plays a wonderful shot to a short ball. Swaying back, he uppercuts fine and times it sweetly, sending the ball over the rope.
That is Weatherald’s first six in Test cricket.
Australia 57-0 (Head 20, Weatherald 33) Overs: 11
Australia trail by 277 runs
Stokes brings himself into the attack in place of Archer and starts with a full toss. Head seems as surprised as anyone and mistimes his response, but still picks up three.
Weatherald is looking increasingly assured at the other end and promptly cuts Stokes to the boundary after being given width.
The run rate is up to 5.18 after a slow start. It’s time for drinks, coming at a good moment for England perhaps as it is the hosts who carry the momentum right now.
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Australia 50-0 (Head 17, Weatherald 29) Overs: 10
Australia trail by 284 runs
Carse replaces Atkinson for England, and Head begins to make England pay for giving him a life.
Head throws his hands at a wide delivery to pick up four behind point, and hit his first boundary. Carse goes shorter, Head plays the same shot and slices up, over gully and over the rope.
Three runs off the last ball of the over, from another cut-style shot not quite timed, completes England’s misery.
“I’m telling you now, we’ve just had Brad Haddin in the com box, and we both looked at each other. Jamie Smith, that is the worst place in the world to be right now,” says Matt Prior on the TNT Sports coverage.
“All those people in the Gabba watching in hi-motion, slow-motion and every other motion of you dropping Travis Head.”
Australia 36-0 (Head 4, Weatherald 28) Overs: 9
Australia trail by 298 runs
Head is dropped! Archer finds the outside edge with a beautiful delivery Head feels compelled to play but shapes away, it’s edged between the wicketkeeper and first slip, but a diving Smith can only parry the ball.
Archer has his head in his hands. England know what an important wicket Head represents.
If Archer’s mood was not bad enough, Weatherald uppercuts him over the cordon for a one-bounce four before the over is out.
Australia 30-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 19) Overs: 8
Australia trail by 304 runs
Weatherald drives a half-volley through the covers for four with a good-looking punch, and when Atkinson strays onto his legs, Weatherald whips it through square for four more.
Atkinson overcorrects, floats one up outside off stump and Weatherald unfurls another drive for four more.
Twelve runs off the over – Australia’s best of the innings so far, and Weatherald is looking good.
Australia 18-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 11) Overs: 7
Australia trail by 316 runs
Archer’s line has improved and his bowling is becoming more probing, it must be said.
After Weatherald takes a single, he gets one delivery to jag away from Head but it does too much and misses the bat. Two balls later, Archer has Head jumping and wearing one directed at the body.
Australia 17-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 10) Overs: 6
Australia trail by 317 runs
Atkinson finds a crack and some steep bounce with it, getting the ball to rise and hit Weatherald on the top hand. It’s the highlight of the over for the tourists, with three singles taken.
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Australia 14-0 (Head 2, Weatherald 8) Overs: 5
Australia trail by 320 runs
Archer’s first ball of the over rises slightly and hits Head in the groin region, but he’s fine and gets off the mark two deliveries later, whipping off his legs for a couple.
Archer then strays down leg and Head’s pads help the ball to the fine-leg boundary, but responds with a great ball which squares Head up and beats the outside edge by not a lot.
Australia 8-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 8) Overs: 4
Australia trail by 326 runs
Weatherald cuts Atkinson into a gap behind point, picks up a boundary and starts the Australian scoring. It’s a fine shot off something of a drag-down from the bowler.
Atkinson is getting plenty of bounce and this surprises Weatherald last ball of the over, but a top edge pulling lands safe and runs to the boundary. Smith chases hard, but cannot get there.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 3
Australia trail by 334 runs
Another maiden.
Archer is able to tempt Head into a drive with one pitched-up delivery outside off, and it’s an unconvincing waft which sends the ball dribbling to point.
The tension is rising.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 2
Australia trail by 334 runs
Atkinson bowls England’s second over and finds Weatherald’s front pad with the opening delivery, but there’s only a muted appeal. It looked high on first glance.
It’s a tighter over than Archer’s, Weatherald is watchful after that mini-scare, and it’s another maiden.
Australia 0-0 (Head 0, Weatherald 0) Overs: 1
Australia trail by 334 runs
Head starts on strike – unlike how he and Jake Weatherald did it in Perth – but largely has a watching brief.
Archer’s radar is not quite there, starting with a stray delivery down the leg side, and it’s not until the fifth ball that Head is required to play a shot. Head blocks that one and clips the next off his legs but straight to a fielder, so it’s a maiden but far from Archer’s best work.
Head and Weatherald emerge for Australia innings
“England are going to have to stop Travis Head,” says Alastair Cook on the TNT Sports coverage.
“With a brand new pink ball, with the ball moving and bouncing, it feels like you’ve got a good opportunity to do that.”
Archer is going to have that pink ball in hand for the first over, having just been spectacularly caught by Labuschagne as you can watch below.
‘Magnificent’ catch from Labuschagne ends England innings
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Wicket! England all out for 334
Archer 38, c Labuschagne b Doggett
After Root takes a single, Archer pulls in the air and a flying Marnus Labuschagne takes a great catch on the boundary! There has been some impressive Australian fielding this innings and that is right up there.
England all out for 334, having added nine runs this morning. Root is unbeaten on 138.
England 333-9 (Root 137, Archer 38) Overs: 76
Archer blocks out the first Starc ball, earning a big cheer from the England supporters in the Gabba, and follows up with a glorious cover drive to the boundary.
Next comes a play and miss at a wide one, attempting another drive, and it prompts Archer to get his forward defense back out for the rest of the over – plus one leave.
Starc seen off, for now, and Root will be back on strike.
Before play, his parents spoke to TNT Sports about watching their son hit a magnificent century later and the chat is well worth your time.
Root’s parents discuss nerves and mentality after first 100 Down Under
Video credit: TNT Sports
England 329-9 (Root 137, Archer 34) Overs: 75
Doggett drops short for the first over of the day and England take four runs off it, each via the single and each from a controlled pull shot.
That includes Archer taking a single off the last delivery of the over, so he will be on strike versus Mitchell Starc next up.
The teams are out
“Every run England get this morning is going to hurt the Australians, not just mentally but physically as well,” says Matt Prior on TNT Sports as the two teams take to the field.
Brendan Doggett is going to bowl the first over of the day.
England have ‘score that we wanted’ says Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick, the England batting coach, spoke to TNT Sports about Joe Root and the state of the game before the start of play.
“Delighted for him,” Trescothick said of Root after yesterday’s cathartic first Test century in Australia.
“Much talk around the hundred here but I think the way that he’s been playing in the last couple of years and the way that he’s been scoring so many hundreds in different parts of the world, the consistency with which he’s been doing it, I didn’t ever doubt that he would come and have the same effect. So delighted for him, obviously he’s put the team in a good position and we’ve managed to get to the score that we wanted to.”
Root and Archer have a chance to add to that total and force Australia’s fast bowlers into more hard work next.
Day 2 in Brisbane
After a superb opening day, the second day of the second NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series Test in Brisbane resumes with England looking to push on from their overnight 325-9.You can watch and stream every ball of the 2025/26 Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
