Australia closes Day Two with 44-run lead as Carey nears 50

• The first ball at the Gabba is 2pm local (3pm AEDT)
• Listen to every ball live with SEN's incredible team
• Root makes maiden century in Australia
• England all out for 334 as Starc claims six wickets

England has taken a commanding position on Day 1 of the Second Ashes Test, with Joe Root finally breaking his Test century drought in Australia.

The centurion entered Day 2 on 135 not out as the Aussies hunted the 10th wicket to start their first innings.

But Australia responded well with the bat, with three batters bringing up half centuries, including Jake Weatherald who made his maiden Test 50.

The first ball of Day 2 of the Second Test will start at 3pm AEDT (2pm local time) with SEN having LIVE coverage of every ball bowled throughout its radio network and on the SEN app.

Follow along live here!

10:33pm - Australia close Day Two with 44 run lead

Australia 6/378 - Carey 46, Neser 15

And that's stumps.

Australia will resume play tomorrow with a 44-run lead with Alex Carey and Michael Neser steadying the ship to survive to the end of the day.

England threw everything they had at Australia in the final innings, with some success around the baffling dismissal of Cameron Green and the incredible dismissal of Steve Smith, but dodgy fielding cost them severely.

"I think Australia are in front, but they would have liked to have only three or four down with Steve Smith still at the crease," Simon Katich said on SEN Cricket

I think overall Australia will be happy coming back tomorrow knowing Alex Carey is playing really well, and Michael Neser is capable of getting runs and they have the potential to get a lead of 100-150 runs."

10:14pm - England drop another two catches

Australia 6/346 - Neser 6, Carey 25

England have dropped another two catches, with both Michael Neser and Alex Carey escaping.

Michael Neser smacked the ball directly at the chest of Brydon Carse, who got hands to it but dropped it as he fell over.

Two balls later, Carey was dropped by Joe Root in the slips as he dived to his right but could only get fingers to it.

They make the third and fourth dropped catches of this innings - Carey twice, Inglis, and Neser.

SEN's Simon Katich questioned if the pink ball was difficult to see under lights.

"I just wonder if it's not easy to pick up because we've seen a number of catches go down."

9:57pm - Australia pass England's first innings total

Australia 6/335 - Carey 18, Neser 1

Australia have surpassed England's first innings score with four wickets in hand.

The Aussies were cruising towards this total, but one crazy Brydon Carse over, where he claimed the wickets of Cameron Green and Steve Smith, restored some spirit and fight in a tired England, and the game is now very much in the balance again.

Michael Neser got off the mark with a run down to third man, that ultimately put the Aussies ahead by one.

9:53pm - Neser survives LBW scare

This Test match has been turned on its head in the last hour.

Ben Stokes was nearly on a hat-trick, going upstairs to investigate an LBW call on Michael Neser, in his return to the Test arena on his home deck.

An inside edge meant Neser survived, but Stokes and Carse have revitalised this English side.

9:48pm - Inglis OUT for 23

Australia 6/329 - Carey 13, Neser 0

Josh Inglis has been bowled for 23 in his first Test on home soil by Ben Stokes .

Stokes' ripped the middle stump out of the ground as Inglis was left standing still after the ball split the gap between bat and pad.

Inglis was dropped two balls earlier on 23 by Ben Duckett in the slips, his second dropped catch of the session.

It's a great reward for Ben Stokes who has run himself ragged trying to inspire his side.

"He never looked convincing in his short stay and Ben Stokes deserved that wicket, and you don't deserve much in cricket," Bharat Sundaresan said on SEN Cricket.

9:20pm - Commentators react to incredible Ashes catch

"That is one of the best catches I have ever seen," Damien Fleming said on SEN Cricket.

"He had to dive, and then to have the presence of mind and not touching the turf.

"This game has been turned on its head. Australia have paid their brain bills with the bat. They have given away their wicket there and England are back in this!

"This is real Test cricket. That was a phenomenal catch."

9:12pm - AND NOW SMITH IS GONE!

Australia 5/292 - Carey 1, Inglis 0

What is happening?!

Steve Smith is out for 61 to one of the best catches you'll ever see!

Will Jacks has leapt and taken the catch of Smith almost behind his back in "one of the best catches" Damien Fleming has ever seen!

Cameron Green fell three balls before, and Australia, after being in control of this Test, is now crumbling!

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are the new batters at the crease.

9:10pm - Cameron Green out for 45

Australia 4/291 - Smith 61, Carey 0

Cameron Green has fallen short of a half-century, bowled for 45 in a moment that baffled SEN's commentators.

Green would have been the fourth Australian batter to hit 50, but instead gave up an easy wicket to Brydon Carse, who got Green to a yorker.

The next ball, Alex Carey is dropped on his first ball, setting up what should have been a hat-trick attempt for Brydon Carse.

8:40pm - Steve Smith brings up 50

Australia 3/266 - Smith 50, Green 33

Steve Smith has brought up his 80th half-century with a nod to his black eye stickers as Australia stays in control of this session.

Smith's done it in 67 balls and joins Weatherald and Labuschagne with half centuries in this Test.

"He has always relishes playing against England. He has always saved his best for these contests and he loves leading this Australian team." - Adam Collins

8:30pm - Green/Smith partnership reaches 50 as Green's struck on hand

Australia 3/246 - Smith 35, Green 28

Cameron Green and Steve Smith have recorded a 50-run partnership, but there's concerns for Green after he was struck on the thumb in the same ball.

Doctors and medics came out to assist Cameron Green after his thumb rattled back on the Gus Atkinson delivery, a moment that caused the batter visible pain.

Green will carry on with his thumb strapped up, in another important partnership for the Aussies.

Every Australian partnership has so far reached 50 runs which is crucial as the Aussies push on to try and take a commanding lead in this final session.

8:03pm - What Australia need in the final session to win the Test

Australia 3/228 - Smith 24, Green 22

SEN's Damien Fleming believes Australia need a "Joe Root-type" innings if they want to claim complete control of the second Test.

The Aussies had a strong second session, with Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne both scoring half-centuries before being dismissed.

Australia currently trails by 106 and are in a strong position to be leading at the end of the day's play, which would go a long way towards going up 2-0 after two Tests.

"The only thing for the Australians, now they are on top, they need a Joe Root type innings, or maybe two if they want," Fleming said on SEN Cricket.

"They should be looking like a 150-run lead if that happens.

"It's the old Kookaburra ball so it's not going to swing a lot, it's not going to seam too much.

"I think the bounce and pace is generally pretty consistent, so, Australia, if they're ruthless, they win this session, I think they're going to go a long way to winning the Test match."

7:43pm - Australia in control at Dinner

Australia 3/228 - Smith 24, Green 22

It was a big and important session for the Aussies, as they take control of the Test heading into the final session.

Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne both reached half-centuries, however, failed to kick on to triple digits, falling for 72 and 65 respectively.

The English, notably captain Ben Stokes, are growing impatient with their lack of success, and starting to struggle in the heat, particularly Jofra Archer.

The Aussies scored 98 runs in the session to trail by 106 going into the final session and will be hoping to have claimed the lead by the end of the night with wickets in hand to bat into tomorrow.

7:16pm - Steve Smith hurt by fierce delivery

Australia 3/204 - Smith 17, Green 5

Steve Smith reeled out of a delivery after being hit on the elbow from an aggressive Brydon Carse delivery.

Smith immediately dropped his bat and winced in agony and yelled after being struck, after also being struck in the same place in Perth.

He has returned to the crease and is now facing deliveries again, as the sun begins to set on the Gabba.

7:10pm - Marnus GONE!

Australia 3/196 - Smith 14, Green 0

Marnus Labuschagne has been caught for 65, bringing a promising innings to an end.

Having faced 78 balls, Labuschagne nicked a peach from Ben Stokes through to wicket keeper Jamie Smith, who made no mistake after dropping Travis Head on 3.

The umpires had performed maintenance on the ball, cutting away an elevated piece of stitching, before Labuschagne was dismissed next ball.

"The umpire's just cut a little bit away from the seam," Fleming said on SEN Cricket.

"Marnus has batted beautifully going into it, and it was a feather, but it was loud.

"That's a real bonus for England; they were really battling there."

6:50pm - Labuschagne reaches 50, becomes first cricketer to 1000 day/night runs

Australia 2/175 - Labuschagne 46, Smith 12

Marnus Labuschagne has reached 50 runs and become the first cricketer to score 1000 day/night Test runs.

His 50 comes of 67 balls with a streaky boundary helping him to the total.

Labuschagne has the most runs of any day/night batter, with an average of 63.86 coming into the Gabba Test and four centuries.

"You feel like Marnus is hungry, that he's refound his touch," SEN's Damien Fleming said.

"It's been a tough 18 months for him.

"Is there a bit of a battle between him and Root? I have no doubt he'd love to go past Root's 135."

6:10pm - Weatherald OUT!

Australia 2/146 - Labuschagne 30, Smith 0

Jofra Archer has bowled an absolute beauty of a yorker to dismiss Weatherald LBW, who was flying towards a maiden Test century.

Weatherald didn't even both to stop and look as he exited for 72 in a terrific knock.

Simon Katich praised Archer's bowling.

"That is an absolute beauty from Archer.

"That is right on the money.

"Whenever, you hit a batter on the toe like that, that is a great comeback from Jofra Archer."

6:00pm - Katich criticises England after poor first display

Australia 1/137 - Weatherald 64, Labuschagne 29

Simon Katich has criticised the English side's performance in the first innings, believing they failed to replicate their bowling performance from Perth's first innings.

"(In Perth), (Archer) got Weatherald about second ball so set the tone beautifully and then it set the scene for what we saw on the afternoon of day one, a very good bowling performance.

"Here, complete opposite, three or four balls down leg side, too short, doesn't get the line right.

"When he does finally get it right, he nicks Travis Head off. Jamie Smith drops a catch, no-one means to drop a catch, it happens in cricket.

"What do England do? They drop their body language, their heads drop, and in the end, they served up an absolute pile of..."

5:44pm - Play resumes with worrying Hazlewood update

Australia 1/130 - Weatherald 59, Labuschagne 27

Play is back after the big break with Jake Weatherald on strike but Cricket Australia has confirmed an unfortunate update on Josh Hazlewood.

Cricket Australia have released an official update on the bowler's recovery.

"Josh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from recent hamstring injury.

"It is a low-grade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week."

It means Hazlewood will be pushing to make a return at the MCG on Boxing Day, with a Sydney Test perhaps the likeliest option.

TEA

5:04pm - Aussies enjoy brilliant opening session on Day 2

Australia 1/130 - Weatherald 59, Labuschagne 27

Australia have reached the long break in a brilliant position, reaching 1/128.

Weatherald and Labuschagne quickly passed their 50 partnership that over, reaching the mark in 47 balls.

The Aussies are 204 behind the English, and now that the shine is off the pink ball, the home side will really look to close that gap in what's typically the best time to bat in day/night cricket.

"England made 334, which now feels unders." - Adam Collins

"They only trail by 204, and they've only been batting for 21 overs, it's outstanding work."

"Dominant session for Australia, on the back of Jake Weatherald." - Damien Fleming

"Marnus has done a fantastic job as well."

4:49pm - Maiden Test fifty for Weatherald

Australia 1/111 - Weatherald 51, Labuschagne 21

Jake Weatherald has cruised to his maiden Test 50 here, reaching the milestone quicker than a run a ball.

The compact left-hander has looked classy and powerful here as he repays the faith shown in him by Aussie selectors.

"It's a rapid 50 for an opener at the Gabba, the second-quickest ever here by an Australian." - Adam Collins.

4:43pm - Can Marnus continue brilliant pink ball record?

Australia 1/92 - Weatherald 41, Labuschagne 12

Marnus loves facing the pink ball, more so than any batsman in Test history, reveals Tom Morris.

The right-hander is into double figures, can he get a substantial score here at his home ground?

4:25pm - Head goes!

Australia 1/77 - Weatherald 40, Labuschagne to the crease

A huge wicket for England, with Travis Head out skying the ball to mid on.

The left-hander tried to take on a full Brydon Carse delivery, with a bit of a leading edge going straight up in the air.

This could be a huge moment for England, with their last six overs going for 59 as Head and Weatherald were really getting motoring.

"He throws his wicket away for 33! England might be able to stem the bleeding." - Gerard Whateley.

4:10pm - Big momentum swing at drinks

Australia 0/57 - Weatherald 33, Head 20

Travis Head has really gone up a gear since being dropped, with the leftie up to 20 in a flash.

"Talk about catches win matches. Look at that momentum change from that dropped catch from Smith has had on this game." - Stuart Broad.

"A brilliant ball from Jofra Archer goes down... now they've bowled short and wide, leaky deliveries. The bowlers need to turn their brains on..."

3:57pm - Head dropped!

Australia 0/30 - Weatherald 23, Head 3

England keeper Jamie Smith puts down Travis Head behind the stumps off the bowling of Jofra Archer.

Smith went to his right in front of vacant first slip after a fine edge, and put down what he really should have taken.

Archer will be incredibly disappointed after producing a peach to grab the edge.

"Head gets a chance, how costly that might prove!" - Adam Collins.

On the back of his heroics last week in Perth, that was an early chance the Poms will be despondent not to take.

3:56pm - Jake Weatherald beginning to motor

Australia 0/30 - Weatherald 23, Head 3

The Aussies are working their way into their first innings, and Jake Weatherald looks the best of the openers.

He's raced to 23 from 24 balls, while Travis Head "isn't seeing them as good as he did in Perth" according to Adam Collins as he remains on 3 from 23.

Weatherald also just hit three classy boundaries from that Gus Atkinson over.

"Jake Weatherald says thank you very much three times in the same over!" - Damien Fleming.

3:40pm - Todd Greenberg speaks to Gerard Whateley

The Cricket Australia CEO joined Gerard ahead of the start of play on Day 2.

Greenberg discussed the financial loss from the short first Test in Perth, Usman Khawaja's comments, Brisbane v Adelaide for day/night Tests and much more!

READ and LISTEN: “It did hurt”: Cricket boss on financial loss from Perth Test

3:30pm - A patient start for the Aussies

Australia 0/0

Two overs in, and the Aussies are yet to score.

Jofra Archer started off and didn't look in great rhythm, let's see if he can pick it up here. Gus Atkinson also opened up and immediately was on the money to Jake Weatherald.

ENGLAND - 334

3:10pm - England all out!

England 334 - Root 138 not out

Brendan Doggett strikes, with Marnus Labuschagne catching Jofra Archer at deep backward square.

Archer clubbed the bouncer to the deep, with Labuschagne diving at full stretch on the run to pluck the ball out of the air.

"That is an absolute screamer from Marnus Labuschagne, that has been hit like a tracer bullet," Simon Katich said.

"He put the cape on there. That is an absolute beauty!"

Crucially, the Aussies have bowled England out within 80 overs, meaning they won't be punished for yesterday's slow over rate.

While 334 is easily the biggest score so far this summer, Simon Katich thinks it could be slightly below par given how good the deck is looking.

Let's see how the Aussies go on it!

3:00pm - Start of Day 2

England 9/325 - Root 135, Archer 32

Brendan Doggett has the ball and Joe Root is on strike.

Can the Aussies get this done quickly? Or will this 10th wicket partnership continue to annoy the home side?

A big day awaits.

2:45pm - Stuart Broad labels Joe Root's ton his best yet

Joe Root has now made 40 Test tons, and his former teammate Stuart Broad thinks his latest one is his best yet.

The England No. 4 returns to the crease on Day 2 not out on 135, and Broad was thrilled to see him finally reach three figures on Australian soil.

"I can't help but think that's one of his best tons for England," Broad said on SEN Cricket.

"With him walking out at 2/5, after everything happened in Perth, Mitchell Starc was hooping it around and the Gabba is one of the most intimidating places you can play as an Englishmen.

"He calmly went about his business, went through different tempos throughout the day and batted virtually with every batter.

"It could be game changing... he's scored bigger runs, 200s and 250s in Test cricket, but I can't help but think that's his best."

2:15pm - Adam Collins previews Day 2 from Brisbane

1:55pm - Historical day/night stat pointing in England's favour

Tom Morris has revealed a fascinating stat which bodes well for England

There have been 13 day/night Tests in Australia in cricket history. In each of them, if a team has batted first and made 300+, they have won.

If a team has batted first and made less than 300, they have lost.

With England 9/325 after Day 1, this is great signs for the visitors that they could be headed to victory.

“That last wicket partnership flourished, and it means England can keep building on that lead,” Morris said on SEN’s The New Ball.

“Consider this stat, no team has ever lost a pink ball Test in Australia with a first innings score of 300+.

“England is now 9/325. It’s quite remarkable.”

Australian pink ball Tests - first innings scores

Aus v NZ - 2015 - New Zealand 202 (loss)

Aus v SA - 2016 - South Africa 9/259d (loss)

Aus v Pak - 2016 - Australia 429 (won)

Aus v Eng - 2017 - Australia 8/442d (won)

Aus v SL - 2019 - Sri Lanka 144 (loss)

Aus v Pak - 2019 - Australia 3/589d (won)

Aus v NZ - 2019 - Australia 416 (won)

Aus v Ind - 2020 - India 244 (loss)

Aus v Eng - 2021 - Australia 9/473d (won)

Aus v Eng - 2022 - Australia 303 (won)

Aus v WI - 2022 - Australia 7/511d (won)

Aus v WI - 2024 - West Indies 311 (won)

Aus v Ind - 2024 - India 180 (loss)

12:02pm - McDonald wanted Cummins to play before being overruled

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Tom Decent is reporting that Australia coach Andrew McDonald was keen to play Pat Cummins in Brisbane before he was overruled by other decision-makers.

Cummins was never named in the Brisbane Test squad, but travelled with the side to the Gabba where he continued his preparation as he builds up from a back stress injury.

While Cummins was technically available, Decent says he would have been on a reduced workload in Brisbane.

After narrowly missing selection for this Test, Decent is certain that the skipper will return in Adelaide.

“The plan the whole time was for him to be right for Adelaide,” Decent told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Ultimately they decided late in the piece (that he wouldn’t play in Brisbane), they asked a few questions around it.

“They were told he would have been on reduced overs, and they thought it would be a risk if he had to bowl big overs, what that would mean for Adelaide.

“If Australia win this Test, England could be cooked, so there would have been a temptation there.

“Interestingly, we believe that Andrew McDonald the coach was keen for Pat to play, but he was overruled.

“They would have loved to of had him last night, but I’d be stunned if he wasn’t there in Adelaide.”

10:50am - Aussies at risk of big fines amid slow over rate

Australia bowled just 74 overs on Day 1, falling 16 short of the 90 expected in a day's play.

After Nathan Lyon was dropped, the Aussies were always going to be slow, but they would have expected wickets to fall a bit quicker having gone with a four-pronged pace attack.

With the ICC hot on over-rates, the Aussies will need to bowl England out in the first six overs on Day 2 if they don't want to be fined, with the ICC not putting forth any penalties for innings that are completed in fewer than 80 overs.

If England bat more than those six overs, Australia risk copping heavy fines and a deduction in World Test Championship points.

Under the World Test Championship’s current playing conditions, each member of the team will be fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every lost over, with a cap at 100 per cent.

"Over rates are what they are," Mitchell Starc said.

"If we keep taking the wickets, I won't worry about it."

READ: "An absolute joke”: Fleming and Katich slam Day 1

The numbers:

• England have lost 13 of 22 Ashes Tests played at Brisbane
• England have lost seven of the last nine at the Gabba
• Australia have won 13 out of 14 floodlit Tests overall
• Australia have lost only once (West Indies)