Captain Steve Smith led a rescue mission to revive Australia’s fortunes after a top-order batting collapse in the Ashes Test against England in Brisbane on Friday. Smith rescued the team after the loss of four wickets in a faltering chase after England’s first innings of 302 at the Gabba. At the close on the second day, the Australians were 165 for four and trailing by 137 runs, with Smith unbeaten on 64 and Shaun Marsh not out 44.
It left the match intriguingly poised once again after England ended day one in a similar position before collapsing before lunch on Friday. Smith was then thrust into another high pressure situation after Australia suffered a now-familiar batting malfunction.
Marsh provided stout support to his skipper off 122 balls to share in an unbroken 89-run stand. The tourists had the Australians on the ropes with three batsmen out in the middle session, including the prized scalp of David Warner. Warner attempted to pull newcomer Jake Ball through the leg-side only to find Dawid Malan at short mid-wicket for 26 off 43 balls. That left the Australians on a shaky 59 for three after the dismissals of debutant opener Cameron Bancroft and the misfiring Usman Khawaja. Bancroft lasted 19 balls in his first Test before he edged a Stuart Broad lifter outside off-stump for five in the fourth over.
Earlier, England lost their last six wickets for 56 to fold for 302 all out in their first innings at lunch. The tourists were looking solid in an 83-run partnership between Malan and Moeen Ali before Malan’s dismissal triggered a clatter of wickets. Root’s team tumbled from 246 for four to be all out with fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins each taking three wickets and spinner Nathan Lyon two.
