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29 March 2024

Ashes 1st Test at Gabba Day 2: Australia in control after stunning England collapse

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

Australia shattered England's batting with six wickets for nine runs in a stunning mid-afternoon spell before dismissing the tourists for 136 and taking a lead of 224 on day two of the first Ashes Test on Friday.

Opening batsmen David Warner (45 not out) and Chris Rogers (15) backed up the bowlers and solidified Australia's position by batting out a gloomy final session to put the hosts firmly on course for a first Test victory in 10 matches.

Oft-pilloried pacemen Mitchell Johnson led the way with four for 61 as Australia, bowled out for 295 in the first hour of the day, transformed the match after a disappointing opening day at the Gabba.

The revitalised left-arm quick was at his pacey, hostile best on a bouncy track and was ably supported by fellow paceman Ryan Harris (3-28) and spinner Nathan Lyon (2-17).

Despite the losses of captain Alastair Cook for 13 and Jonathan Trott for 10 before lunch, England looked to be making steady progress towards a reasonable score at 82-2 midway through the second session.

The departure of Kevin Pietersen for 18, when he swatted the ball off his pads to George Bailey at midwicket to give Harris his second wicket, was only a hint of the carnage to come.

Emboldened by the dismissal of one of England's most dangerous batsmen, Johnson and his fellow bowlers ran rampant to leave the tourists facing an uphill task just to save the Test let alone secure a first victory in Brisbane since 1986.

Opener Michael Carberry, who had crafted a careful 40 on his Ashes debut in his second Test, was next to head back to the pavilion when Johnson had him caught by Shane Watson at second slip.

Ian Bell, who scored three centuries in England's 3-0 triumph on home soil earlier this year, followed quickly afterwards for five when Steve Smith snatched the ball out of the air at short leg.

It was Smith's conviction that Matt Prior had hit the following ball before it landed in his hands that led to Australia successfully appealing to the TV umpire and sent the wicketkeeper back to the dressing room with a golden duck.

That put Lyon on a hat-trick and, although Broad safely watched the next delivery sail past his off stump, Joe Root (2) and Graeme Swann (0) soon became Johnson's third and fourth victims.

The Gabba was in ferment, England's Barmy Army silent, as Johnson, the object of so much derision from English fans, celebrated what was a match-changing, and could turn out to be a match-winning, intervention.

After tea, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett ushered England past the follow-on before the latter was well caught by Lyon off Harris to bring out James Anderson as the last England batsman.

Broad, who took 6-81 in Australia's first innings, fought a spirited rearguard action and was the last wicket to fall in a barrage of short bowling, caught in the deep by Chris Rogers off Peter Siddle for 32.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had been run out for 94 to end Australia's innings but his catches accounted for the wickets of Cook and Trott to give him 200 career dismissals in his 50th Test.

Australia held England by the scruff of their neck to take a firm control of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

The hosts, who were bowled out for 295 earlier in the day, came back strongly to skittle England out for a paltry 136 and take a 159-run first innings lead.

Despite a poor first day, it was the hosts who came out on top on a dramatic second day's play where 12 wickets fell to take an overall lead of 224.

EVENING SESSION

David Warner was not out on 45 and Chris Rogers on 13 as Australia were 65 for no loss at close on day two in their second innings. 

Earlier, Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson led the way for the hosts with some fiery bowling to finish with figures of 4 for 61, while Ryan Harris claimed 3 for 28 and Nathan Lyon 2 for 17 as England lost five wickets at one stage for just 11 runs.

Australia 57 for no loss after 20 overs. Warner is on 40 and Rogers on 12.

Australia extend their lead to 206.

Australia 32 for no loss after 9 overs.

Australia are 24 for no loss after 7 overs.ST IAustralian openers Chris Rogers and David Warner play cautiously. Australia 11 for no loss after 4 overs.

ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS

Mitchell Johnson led the charge for Australia with four wickets, while Ryan Harris bagged three and Nathan Lyon scalped two to bundled England out for 136 and give the hosts a 159-run first innings lead on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

Broad goes for a pull short but lofts it to Rogers in the deep to give Siddle his first wicket.

Stuart Broad c Rogers b Siddle 32 (45b, 3x4, 0x6)

Stuart Broad and James Anderson have put on 22 runs so far for the last wicket.

England 122 for 9 after 50 overs, trail Australia by 173 in the first innings.

Australia bowlers on fire here at the Gabba. Harris forces Tremlett to tuck one to Lyon who lunges forward to take a good catch. England 110 for 9 after 47.2 overs. 

Chris Tremlett c Lyon b Harris 8 (27b, 1x4, 0x6)

England 110 for 8 after 47 overs.

England 106 for 8 after 45 overs, trail Australia by 189 runs in first innings.

England 99 for 8 after 43 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Mitchell Johnson grabbed four wickets and Nathan Lyon two as Australia had England with their backs to the wall at the tea break on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

The hosts who were bowled out for 295 earlier in the day had England tottering on 94 for 8 with five wickets falling for just 11 runs.

The English batsmen who resumed after lunch at 55 for 2 found themselves in a hole with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Johnson was the wrecker-in-chief getting rid of Michael Carberry, Joe Root and Graeme Swann after the lunch break while Lyon removed Ian Bell and Matt Prior of successive balls.

Kevin Pietersen, playing in his 100th Test match managed just 18 before throwing his wicket to Harris.

Swann tries to defend a short one from Johnson but hands Bailey an easy catch. England 91 for 8 in 40.3 overs.

Graeme Swann c Bailey b Johnson 0 (5b, 0x4, 0x6)

England 91 for 7 after 40 overs.

Root has no clue to this one from Johnson and tries to poke at it only to hand Smith his third successive catch.

Joe Root c Smith b Johnson 2 (7b, 0x4, 0x6)

Australia's 'public enemy' Stuart Broad denies Lyon a hat-trick. England 87 for 6 after 38 overs.

Prior has no answer to this one from Lyon and goes the same way as Bell. Lyon is on a hat-trick.

Matt Prior c Smith b Lyon 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)

Bell follows Carberry back into the pavilion after playing softly to a ball from Lyon into the hands of Smith.

Ian Bell c Smith b Lyon 5 (16b, 0x4, 0x6)

Johnson going round the wicket catches Carberry unawares as he edges to Watson at first slip. Australia 87 for 4 after 36.3 overs.

Michael Carberry c Watson b Johnson 40 (113b, 4x4, 0x6)

England 85 for 3 after 35 overs.

Pietersen fails to make an impact in his 100th Test match as he gives Bailey an easy catch at mid-wicket to hand Harris his second wicket. England 82 for 3 after 31 overs. 

Kevin Pietersen c Bailey b Harris 18 (42b, 1x4, 0x6)

Nathan Lyon begins with a maiden over. England 82 for 2 after 30 overs, trail Australia by 213 runs in first innings.

England 74 for 2 after 26 overs.

Siddle drops a caught and bowled chance against Pietersen.

Siddle bowls a maiden. England 66 for 2 after 23 overs.

England 61 for 2 after 21 overs.

Pietersen pulls Johnson for a four.

England 56 for 2 after 19 overs.

Kevin Pietersen will walk out after lunch to play his 100th Test match for England. The visitors are still 240 runs behind Australia's first innings total of 295.

MORNING SESSION

Australia struck two crucial blows as England were 55 for 2 at lunch on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

Ryan Harris struck the first blow when he got Cook (13) to edge to Brad Haddin when the England score was 28. Then Mitchell Johnson, making his Test comeback, got Jonathan Trott to nick one down the leg side to Haddin just before lunch to give the wicketkeeper his 200th dismissal in 50 Test matches.

Michael Carberry, playing in only his second Test match at the age of 33, looked solid with an unbeaten 31.

Earlier, Stuart Broad wreaked havoc with six wickets as England restricted Australia to 295.

Jonathan Trott c Haddin b Johnson 10 (19b, 1x4, 0x6)

England 55 for 1 after 17 overs. Just an over to go for lunch.

England 43 for 1 after 14 overs.

Johnson brought back into the attack seems to be strugglling with his line and length as Carberry picks him for six runs in his fourth over.

Jonathan Trott if off with a boundary off Harris. Australia 32 for 1 after 11 overs.

That makes it 199 dismissal for wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in his 50th Test match.

Harris gets the outside edge of Cook's bat for Haddin to take the catch. Australia 28 for 1 after 10.2 overs.

Alastair Cook c Haddin b Harris 13 (30b, 2x4, 0x6)

Harris bowls a maiden against Cook. England 26 for no loss after 9 overs.

Carberry, playing in only his 2nd Test, looks good as England are off to a decent start.

Australia make their first bowling change, bringing in Peter Siddle for Johnson.

Australia 24 for no loss after 7 overs.

Australia 18 for no loss after 5 overs.

Johnson tries a short ball but Cook stands tall and pulls him over mid-wicket for four. Australia 17 for no loss after 4 overs.

Easy pickings for Cook as Johnson strays down the leg side and the England skipper guides it to the boundary.

England 9 for no loss after three overs.

Johnson, making his way back in Tests, is off to a rusty start.

Good start by the England openers captain Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry getting six runs off Ryan Harris' first over.

AUSTRALIA FIRST INNINGS

Stuart Broad bagged six wickets as England managed to wrap up the Australian innings for 295 early on Friday morning in the first Ashes Test match being played at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.

Broad struck early to get the wicket of Ryan Harris and although Haddin tried to take the hosts to a safer total he was run out for 94 going for a double.

However, Australia managed 22 runs this morning and the total, which at one stage looked unlikely when the hosts were tottering at 132 for 6, has gives Michael Clarke and boys something to fight for.  

Brad Haddin run out 94 (153b, 8x4, 1x6)

Haddin starts to cut loose, moves into the nineties.

Nathan Lyon defends well against Anderson. Australia 289 for 9 after 96 overs.

Australia fighting for every run, reach 288 for 9 after 95 overs.

Australia 285 for 9 after 94 overs.

Broad is at it again, bowls a short one. Harris tries to duck but puts his bat out and gives Prior an easy catch giving Broad his sixth wicket.

Australia 282 for 9 after 93 overs.

Ryan Harris c Prior b Broad 9 (17b, 0x4, 0x6)

Haddin and Harris get five runs off Broad's first over as play resumes on Day 2.

England will seek to wrap up the Australia innings early when play resumes on day two of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Friday.

Australia were 273 for eight, well short of what skipper Michael Clarke would have expected after winning the toss, with Brad Haddin unbeaten on 78 and Ryan Harris not out four.

Stuart Broad ripped through Australia's top order to reduce them to 132 for six before being rescued by a 114-run seventh stand between Haddin and Johnson (64).

Broad who has figures of five for 65 so far, said it was not the best of his 11 Test five-wicket hauls from a technical point of view but he ranked it near the top in terms of context.

"I didn't actually feel that good today. It was just one of those days when the wickets came to me," he said.

"I wouldn't class it as one of my better five-fors from a bowling point of view but I would say I would class it as my best in terms of the scenario, day and experience."