For all the quirks of day-night Test cricket — the pink ball, the strange meal timings, and the unpredictable evening sessions — much of the second day at the Gabba felt painfully routine for England. Less than 24 hours after Joe Root’s long-awaited century on Australian soil brought a wave of optimism, familiar frustrations crept back in. By stumps, England were still clinging to a foothold in this pivotal Ashes Test, but only just.
The tone of the day was dictated not by Australia’s ruthlessness alone but also by England’s own inconsistencies. Their bowling veered from erratic to disciplined and back again, with far too many long hops and half-volleys giving Australia’s batters a platform to accelerate. As one observer quipped, the English attack made “Jackson Pollock look positively precise,” and for much of the first two sessions it was hard to disagree.
Yet if the bowling was loose at times, the catching was downright costly. Five chances went down in three sessions, a tally that would sink most visiting teams even when conditions are friendly — let alone in Australia, where 20 wickets are notoriously hard to take. Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith each shelled opportunities they would expect to claim nine times out of ten, adding to the pressure already building after their ducks on day one. It quickly became one of those days where hands seemed to turn to feet whenever a big moment arrived.
Despite that, the scorecard at the close offered England a sliver of reassurance. Australia, at one stage cruising at 291 for three and threatening to bat their opponents out of the match, were reined back slightly to 378 for six. A lead of 44 runs is still a strong position, especially on home soil, but far from a decisive one. And in a day-night Test, momentum can shift in a handful of overs.
Ben Stokes will feel that keenly. His own radar was as erratic as any bowler’s, yet he delivered a reminder of why he can never be discounted. After Josh Inglis was given a life on 23 when Duckett put down a regulation chance, Stokes responded two balls later by uprooting the right-hander’s middle stump — a moment of defiance amid the turbulence.
Few players embodied the day’s chaos quite like Brydon Carse. The fast bowler conceded a staggering 113 runs from 17 overs but also claimed the wickets of Cameron Green (45) and Steve Smith (61), two prized scalps that kept England afloat. Even then, Carse’s day ended with a dropped chance off Michael Neser — an error that allowed Australia’s tail to wag in the twilight.
If England hoped to put Australia under the same type of pressure they themselves had faced, they fell short. Despite losing wickets at intervals, Australia’s scoring rarely slowed. Each new batter seemed intent on picking up instantly where their predecessor left off, maintaining a scoring rate of just above five runs per over and preventing England from settling into anything resembling control.
The comparison between the two wicketkeepers also told a story. Alex Carey was outstanding on day one and carried that assurance into day two. Although dropped first ball by Duckett during the late-evening session, he rode his luck and crafted a busy unbeaten 46, stabilizing Australia when England were searching desperately for a late breakthrough. His experience proved invaluable as Australia edged toward a position of strength.
Jamie Smith, meanwhile, endured one of the toughest days of his young Test career. Playing in his first Ashes series, he dropped Travis Head on three early in the day and later failed to react when Carey flashed an edge on 25. The ball flew past Joe Root in the slips, compounding England’s growing frustration. At just 25, Smith is still learning at this level, but England will hope his sharpness improves rapidly as the series intensifies.
Amid the errors, there were moments of pure brilliance. The two catches England did take were contenders for the highlights reel. Marnus Labuschagne contributed a fluent 65 and then produced a breathtaking diving catch in the deep to dismiss Jofra Archer for 38, closing England’s innings at 334 and leaving Root stranded on 138 not out.
Even that was soon overshadowed by Will Jacks. Earlier in the day, he bowled a wayward exploratory over of off-spin, but he more than redeemed himself in the evening. Racing around from backward square during Carse’s late burst, Jacks launched into a full-stretch dive to remove Steve Smith — a moment of athleticism so spectacular it instantly became the standout play of the day.
England might wonder what Archer’s wicket tally might have looked like had their catching been sharper. The drops off Head and Neser meant his figures of one for 74 from 20 overs did little justice to his threat. The management of his spells was also questionable; a draining seven-over burst immediately after tea left him fatigued just as the pink ball began to swing under the lights — a period where Archer typically thrives.
Jake Weatherald’s innings was another turning point. The opener, playing with freedom and aggression, top-scored with 72 and set the tone as Australia raced to 130 for one by lunch. His ability to ramp and drive England’s short and over-pitched offerings forced Stokes’ bowlers into constant recalibration. Though his crouched stance drew comparisons to Eoin Morgan, Weatherald dismissed such links earlier in the tour, having described franchise cricket as “shit.”
But on a day filled with wild swings — dropped catches, stunning grabs, erratic spells, and late surges — Weatherald’s blunt assessment might have captured the mood perfectly. This was a day-night Test in its most unpredictable, intoxicating form. And as the players left the field with the match delicately poised, England were left wondering whether they had survived the chaos or contributed to it.
Either way, the Ashes remain very much alive.
