Australia took control of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane with a strong first-innings total of 511. The hosts moved 177 runs ahead of England and placed themselves in a clear winning position in the day-night match.
The top order gave Australia a steady start. Travis Head made 33 to open the scoring. Jake Weatherald kept the pace high with a bright 72 from 78 balls. Marnus Labuschagne added 65 and Steven Smith scored 61. Each of them kept the innings moving with calm partnerships.
Cameron Green added 45 and Alex Carey played a lively knock of 63. Josh Inglis contributed 23 before the lower order began to stretch the score again. Michael Neser made 16, Scott Boland stayed unbeaten on 21, and Brendan Doggett added 13.
Mitchell Starc delivered the biggest moment of the innings. He stayed at the crease for 141 balls and scored a valuable 77. It was one of his finest efforts with the bat. The innings also pushed him past Stuart Broad as the highest-scoring No. 9 in Test history. His patience and control helped Australia reach a total that England found hard to stop.
Australia ended the innings with six partnerships worth more than fifty. This set a new record for a pink-ball Test. England tried to answer with the ball but could not slow the scoring for long. Brydon Carse took four wickets and Ben Stokes picked up three. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Will Jacks took one each.
The huge total placed Australia far ahead in the match. The players left the field knowing they had built a strong platform. England now face a long road if they want to fight their way back into this Test.
