Australia captain Steve Smith showed his class with an unbeaten 64 on day two of the first Ashes Test match against England in Brisbane.
Smith and Shaun Marsh (44 not out) steadied the ship for Australia as they finished the day 165-4 - 137 runs behind England’s first innings total of 302 all out.
Australia had been 76-4 but Smith and Marsh’s unbeaten stand of 89 leaves the first Test evenly poised.
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England started the day on 196-4 with Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali looking in control at the Gabba. But after the duo were dismissed for 56 and 38 respectively, England collapsed from 246-4 to 302 all out as Australia bowlers Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins shone with the ball.
After the finish of day two, bowler Jimmy Anderson told BBC’s Test Match Special that if England can take some early wickets then it’s game on.
“It’s pretty level at the moment,” said Anderson. “Obviously we would’ve like to have got some more runs on the board. It’s a very un-Gabba like wicket - it’s slow and stodgy and very difficult to score runs on.
“Even those two [Smith and Marsh] who are still in haven’t got away from us. So if we get a couple of early wickets tomorrow then we’re right in the game.”
Day three of the Gabba Test starts at 11.58pm tonight (UK time).
How Twitter reacted to the day two action in Brisbane
Brilliant stuff from Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh as Australia finish day two on 165-4.
Shot of the day by Steve Smith.
A fascinating day’s cricket at the Gabba.
“Gorgeous Garry”.
The Barmy Army was in good voice.
An “absorbing” day of Ashes cricket comes to an end.
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