Australia took control of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane after scoring 511 in their first innings. They moved 177 runs ahead of England and put themselves in a strong position in the day-night match.
The top order gave Australia a calm start. Travis Head scored 33. Jake Weatherald played brightly and made 72 from 78 balls. Marnus Labuschagne added 65 and Steven Smith made 61. All four kept the scoreboard moving and built steady partnerships.
Cameron Green scored 45 and Alex Carey added 63. Josh Inglis made 23 before the lower order pushed the total even higher. Michael Neser scored 16. Scott Boland stayed unbeaten on 21. Brendan Doggett added 13.
Mitchell Starc produced the biggest moment. He faced 141 balls and scored a patient 77. It was one of his best innings in Tests. He also went past Stuart Broad to become the highest-scoring number nine in Test history. His time at the crease helped Australia reach a total that England struggled to match.
Australia finished with six fifty-run stands. It set a new record for a pink-ball Test. England tried to fight back with the ball but could not slow the runs for long. Brydon Carse took four wickets. Ben Stokes took three. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Will Jacks took one each.
England began the second innings by trailing by 177 runs. They started well with a 48-run opening stand. It was also the first time in the series that Mitchell Starc did not take a wicket in his first over. The effort he put into his long innings with the bat made that understandable.
Scott Boland gave Australia the first wicket when he bowled Ben Duckett for 15. Michael Neser then changed the flow of the innings. He used his slower pace and tight lines to trouble the batters. He removed Zak Crawley for 44 and Ollie Pope for 26. Both were caught behind.
Boland kept moving the pink ball both ways. He made batting difficult and dismissed Harry Brook caught behind. Starc soon joined the wicket-taking again. He removed Joe Root for 13. Root pushed at one outside off and edged it to the keeper.
England ended the day on 134 for 6. They still trailed by 43 runs. Neser, Boland and Starc took two wickets each. Australia walked off the field with total control of the match.
