Ashes 2025 live score: Australia lead by 44 as England rue dropped catches at end of day two

Will Jacks took one of the great Ashes catches to lift England but five other chances went down on a sloppy day that handed control of the second Test to Australia.

The tourists were guilty of haphazard bowling and messy handling errors at the Gabba as they allowed their rivals to move into a 44-run lead at 378 for six on the second night of this floodlit match.

"We have to show positivity tomorrow and we know our best cricket can turn a fixture really quickly,” Joe Root said.

“If we turn up with our best then this fixture can very quickly turn in our favour.

“Then our talent with the bat can go out there and express themselves in the right way to get a big score to leave them batting last on a tricky surface."

Brydon Carse took two wickets in an over when England decided to switch it up and bowl short at Cameron Green and Steve Smith.

Of that play, Joe Root said: "It felt like the right way to go, and it's about bowling in partnerships.

“Sometimes changing the rhythm of the game at each end can be beneficial and you can help each other out.

“It worked really well for Brydon to get those couple of wickets, and I think he executed it really well. That will give him confidence going into the game.”

"It is difficult with a pink ball compared to a white ball. I know we play with that in T20 and 50-over cricket but it is slightly different,” Joe Root explained.

“You still back yourself and we practised really hard. We had five days here to make sure we got our work done.

“Unfortunately it's one of those days when they didn't quite stick to hand.

“We just have to make sure we stay confident and when those chances come again we are in a position to take them."

Joe Root also provided an assessment of England’s day in the field and admitted they did not play to the top level.

"It's clear we were not at our best,” Root said. “In phases of the game, the way we dragged things back in the last session in particular, and managed to take those wickets in a cluster, shows what this game can be like especially with a pink ball.

"We have obviously some work to do tomorrow but we are still well and truly in this game.

“If we get things right in the morning, apply ourselves in the correct fashion in the way we got about things as a team, then we can get ourselves in a strong position on a wicket that looks like it might have a few cracks to work with later on in the game.

“We have to look at tomorrow morning first and foremost and get that right.”

Josh Hazlewood’s hopes of playing a part in the 2025/26 Ashes series are hanging by a thread after he suffered another setback on his recovery.

Hazlewood was ruled out of the first two Tests of the series, in Perth and Brisbane, and will also be absent for the third Test in Adelaide while he continues to deal with a hamstring injury.

Joe Root’s innings of 138* is still the standout batting performance of the Test and England will require something similar from him, and others, in their next innings if they are to salvage something from this game.

Speaking of his batting performance Root explained:

"My century yesterday more than anything was good to get us in a position at the end of the day. Especially to finish off with that partnership as that was a crucial part of the game. We knew that after the start we had with the bat we'd need some good partnerships and thankfully managed to get something going.

"I tried not to approach anything different than I have done in the past few years. I've got a very clear plan how to score my runs. I have just got to back myself and if I do that and make good decisions I'll be successful.

"Any time you play in Ashes series and contribute that means a huge amount. Clearly very enjoyable, but the most enjoyable thing was getting us from 5-2 to position where we are in the game. I had some fun with Jofra and never batted with him before."

"You just have to think about batting time otherwise you get too far ahead and start thinking reading into a ball which bounced off a crack or hit you,” said Marnus Labuschagne.

“I think you just have to stay in the moment as much as you can.

"You know if you are bowling good balls in the channel, at the Gabba, it's tough to score with the extra bounce. It's a nice wicket. There's cracks here and there but the majority of times it's really nice and so I think the two guys at the top gave us momentum.

"Jake Weatherald was cutting well on fifth stump before Travis Head got going and we were able to piggy back off their momentum."

Marnus Labuschagne scored 65 runs and batted well in partnership with Steve Smith to help Australia reel in England’s first innings total.

Labuschagne spoke to TNT Sports at the close of play saying: "An exciting day of cricket with a lot happening. There were lots of shots, lots of runs, lots of screamers. An awesome day.

"I would liked to have been a bit more resilient with the bat. Getting out for 65 on the stroke of the changeover between day and night not ideal. But the boys did well.

“Cameron Green came in and Smudge [Steve Smith] batted beautifully and got us to a decent position.”

Will Jacks took one of the great Ashes catches to lift England but five other chances went down on a sloppy day that handed control of the second Test to Australia.

The tourists were guilty of haphazard bowling and messy handling errors at the Gabba as they allowed their rivals to move into a 44-run lead at 378 for six on the second night of this floodlit match.