Pom's view: Worst bowling of BazBall era hands Aussies advantage

A tough day in the field has handed Australia the advantage in the second Test in Brisbane, according to the English media.

England started Day 2 at 9/325 off the back of a solid day of batting, thanks mainly to Joe Root.

While they only added nine more, being bowled out for 334, they would have felt on top if they could strike with the new ball.

Unfortunately for England, they simply couldn’t grasp their chances, dropping five catches on Day 2 as every Aussie batter got a start, with the home side reaching 6/378 at Stumps. Alex Carey remains not out on 46 as Australia begin Day 3 trying to increase their lead of 44.

With the visitors already trailing and the game potentially slipping away, the English press were bemused by the side’s bowling and fielding efforts on a hot Brisbane day.

England can’t drop five catches and expect to win

Will Macpherson of the UK Telegraph couldn’t look past England’s dropped chances, stating that chances are hard to come by down under and cannot be let slip.

Just one day after Australia fielded brilliantly with a run out and some brilliant catches, Macpherson was disappointed to see England fail to back up their bowlers.

“After four breathless days of action, fielding is one key battle Australia are winning by the length of the Flemington straight,” Macpherson wrote.

"With the tone set by their wicketkeeper Alex Carey and an array of superb slips, they barely miss a beat, backing up Mitchell Starc. This was best illustrated by the exceptional diving effort Marnus Labuschagne took in the deep to end England’s innings, while Carey put on what Nasser Hussain called “a masterclass, one of the best keeping displays I’ve seen”.

“The story for England quickly became very different. On an often painful second day in Brisbane, they produced a catch that will be replayed for years to come, as Will Jacks dived to pluck a ball that appeared to have long passed him and remove Steve Smith. 

“But they dropped five chances in a fielding performance that was every bit as untidy as the bowling effort. Three of the five were legitimate sitters, leaving Jacks’ grab as a wild outlier on a slack day.”

Worst bowling of BazBall era

Former England batsman Mike Atherton described England’s efforts with the ball as the worst he’s seen in the last three years.

The Aussies went at more than five an over across the day, and in reality could be 4/400 if some batters didn’t throw their wickets away.

Writing for The Times, Athers didn’t hold back.

“The initial optimism generated by Joe Root’s hundred dissipated during a noticeably hotter and more humid second day and amid some awful bowling, the worst of the Bazball era.

“The run rate for the day was an extraordinary 5.17. The game has hurried on again and both teams seem eager to bring the other back into the contest, when they gain a measure of control. 

“Only four days of this Ashes so far, but enough drama to fill a series.”

Day 3 in Brisbane begins at 2pm local time and 3pm AEDT. Listen to every ball LIVE on SEN - your home of cricket.