Josh Hazlewood’s Ashes involvement under a cloud after fresh injury setback

Every team that has made more than 259 runs in the first innings of a day-night Test – from the 24 that have been played since 2015 – has gone onto win the match.

England’s solid total of 334, built on Joe Root’s sensational unbeaten 138, might be the first score to buck that trend as Australia’s batsmen profited from some insipid England bowling bereft of accuracy and execution and riddled with too many short deliveries.

Ben Stokes holds his head in frustration as Steve Smith and Cameron Green pile on the runs.Credit: Getty Images

Australia’s top order feasted on a muddled England attack, with the top five all contributing between 33 and 72 runs.

Jake Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65) and Smith (61) all missed their chance to go big but Australia’s aggressive, controlled tempo – scoring at more than five runs an over – still kept the pressure firmly on an opposition relying almost entirely on Jofra Archer (1-74 from 20 overs), who was left to carry an attack missing Mark Wood’s pace and punch.

Just before 10pm local time, No.8 Michael Neser steered an edge to third man to push Australia past England’s first-innings total with four wickets still in hand. Australia had earlier been 3-291, with Smith and Cameron Green well set, and let slip the chance to bat themselves into a commanding position – but any first-innings lead is gold when batting last at the Gabba.

Brydon Carse breathed life into England’s grim bowling performance after handing his hat to the umpire with unflattering figures of 1-95 from his first 12 overs.

Brydon Carse bowls Cameron Green. Credit: Getty Images

After a wide over Green’s head, Carse double-bluffed Australia’s No.5, who was playing so well, by firing one straight at his stumps. Green had attempted to give himself room to hit out, but lost balance moving to the leg side and couldn’t get bat on ball.

A blow to the finger may have been affecting Green but it didn’t stop David Warner labelling the dismissal “ridiculous batting”.

Next ball, Carey was dropped by Duckett, and two later, Smith was caught brilliantly by Jacks, who plucked the ball from behind him at deep backward square. Having bowled just the one over, the onus had been on Jacks to make himself useful in this match.

Australia’s push to remain ruthless nearly unravelled, but steady and late contributions from Carey (46 not out), Josh Inglis (23) and Neser (15 not out) ensured the home side converted their platform with three days remaining.

Jake Weatherald bats.Credit: Getty Images

After a duck and 23 on debut, Weatherald’s approach was the closest thing Australia has seen to David Warner since the opener’s Test retirement nearly two years ago. He was bullish outside off stump and played with the freedom of a player with real confidence in his game, cracking 12 fours and a six.

Australia were 0-0 off 20 balls before unleashing a blistering counter-attack ahead of the main 40-minute break.

By the first interval, Australia had surged to 1-130 from 21 overs, with Weatherald producing a maiden Test half century in his second game and finishing the session unbeaten on 59 from 56 balls.

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Travis Head, retained at the top of the order after his match-winning performance in Perth, contributed 33 but should have fallen on three when wicketkeeper Smith dropped a regulation edge at an awkward height to his left off Archer.

All afternoon and evening, the Brisbane crowd taunted Smith whenever he touched the ball again.

Australia’s opening stand of 77 ended when Head miscued a shot off Carse into the leg side, which was taken comfortably by Gus Atkinson.

Weatherald eventually departed for a punchy 72 off 78 balls to solidify his spot at the top of the order, while Labuschagne passed 1000 runs in pink balls Tests – the first player in Tests to do so – with a crucial 65.

“It’s an absolute disaster,” former England paceman Stuart Broad said on Channel Seven of the tourists’ bowling effort. “They just look like they’re short of match awareness, match fitness and the sharpness in the brain to be able to bowl six balls in the same spot.”

Josh Hazlewood has suffered another injury setback.Credit: AP

Meanwhile, Hazlewood has suffered another injury setback, casting fresh doubt over his availability for the remainder of the Ashes series and prolonging what has become a deeply frustrating run.

This masthead revealed Hazlewood, who has been managing a hamstring injury he suffered during a Sheffield Shield match last month for NSW against Victoria, has picked up a fresh low-grade Achilles injury.

A return-to-play timeline has not been set, but Hazlewood is expected to resume running and bowling next week if the Achilles complaint settles. Even so, the latest issue is an inconvenient delay for a bowler who has not featured in either of the opening two Tests and was already racing the clock to prove his fitness.

Hazlewood had been booked to travel to Brisbane this week to rejoin the Australian squad and continue his rehabilitation, but the trip was cancelled after he reported soreness. He will remain in Sydney for now, placing his involvement in the rest of the series in some doubt.

The third Test against England begins on December 17 in Adelaide, but there are concerns Hazlewood might not be available until the fourth Test at the MCG or beyond.

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