Steve Smith is starstruck by a surprise cameo, England rues a slew of drops and Jake Weatherald announces his arrival with a wink.
Here are the quick hits from the second day of the pink-ball Ashes Test in Brisbane.
1. Labuschagne begins day with sensational grab
Some fielders just make things happen, and Marnus Labuschagne is certainly one of them.
Marnus Labuschagne took a sensational diving catch to end England’s first innings early on day two at the Gabba. (Channel 7)
England batters Jofra Archer and Joe Root began day two looking to build on their explosive 10th-wicket partnership but didn’t get too far underneath the glorious Brisbane sun.
With only 12 minutes played and nine runs added, Archer rocked back and pulled a Brendan Doggett short ball out to no man’s land.
He didn’t get all of it, and it was a rather flat shot to begin with, but Labuschagne judged the chance to perfection.
Haring in from deep square leg, the Queensland local barely broke stride before shimmying to his right and breaking out into an inspirational full length dive as the ball plummeted towards the Gabba turf.
He went with two hands, but he only needed one, with the ball nestling comfortably in his right.
His reaction was notably understated, offering little more than a nod as he and his teammates made their way off the field to get padded up.
He knew his day’s work had only just begun.
2. England drops break Archer and Stokes
Ben Stokes fumed as his teammates dropped catches galore. (Getty Images: Santanu Banik/MB Media)
With his match-winning first Test ton already the stuff of Ashes folklore, all eyes were on emergency-turned-first-choice opener Travis Head as Australia began its innings.
But the usually explosive southpaw was uncomfortable against the new ball, sitting on just three runs from 24 deliveries and growing increasingly restless.
A banged-in Archer length ball reared up at Head, who was back and squared up and edging.
England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was made to take a couple strides to his left, but really, it was a regulation chance.
The pink ball cannoned off of Smith’s gloves and fell to the ground, painfully eluding a slip cordon desperate for a second bite of the cherry.
Archer, doubled over and with head in hands, could hardly believe what he’d witnessed.
Archer felt the pain when Head was dropped (Channel 7)
Head added 30 more runs in a hurry before getting out, but there was more pain to come later in the day.
With England threatening to wrestle control of the game back under lights, Ben Duckett dropped two very catchable chances, with captain Ben Stokes fuming in the midst of a marathon spell of bowling.
Brydon Carse also fumbled Michael Neser when he cut straight to him at extra cover, and a few balls later Smith simply failed to move when Alex Carey edged wide of him, with Joe Root unable to handle a sharp one-handed chance diving to his right.
A three-wicket final session should have been so much more and Stokes, as ever, was not hiding his displeasure.
3. Weatherald announces himself with a wink
Weatherald hit a fine half-century on day two. (Getty Images: Gareth Copley)
On day two in Brisbane, Jake Weatherald delivered one of the strongest performances by any of the 14 Australian Test openers who have been trialled in the past five years.
He was fluent and positive from the get-go at the Gabba, hunched over almost impossibly low in his stance, clattering boundaries to both sides of the wicket.
Such was his dominance, he even found time to wink in the direction of the adoring Gabba crowd as he outpaced aggressive opening partner Travis Head.
His 78-ball 72 set Australia up for what seemed destined to be a very competitive total, but was over when a Jofra Archer yorker caught him plumb on the toe.
Weatherald knew he was done for, beginning his journey from the middle perhaps even before he had seen the umpire raise his finger.
But that didn’t stop Labuschagne, ever the optimist, gesticulating and shouting at Weatherald to come back and consider a review.
The pair met just in time for a truncated discussion – but thankfully for the Australians, opted against sending it upstairs.
4. Smith starstruck by Brisbane royalty
Comedian Gocs made a surprise cameo on day two. (Fox Cricket)
Famously fidgety and easily distracted, Smith has spent his career exasperating bowlers by pulling out late in their run-ups.
In the evening session on day two, it wasn’t an intruding bird or an off-centre sight screen that broke his attention, but one of Brisbane’s favourite sons.
Comedian Aaron Gocs appeared to enter Smith’s eye-line while returning to his seat after fetching a refreshment (although Jofra Archer’s ill-timed warm-up at mid-off may have also contributed).
And not long after that, Gocs was in the limelight once more, although this time by no fault of his own.
Smith debuted a new look on day two. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
Once again distracted by a crowd member carrying a beer behind the sight screen, Smith pulled out of yet another delivery.
And even though it was a different long-haired punter responsible for that disruption, the television broadcast wasted no time in locating a still sheepish Gocs amongst the Gabba throng.
Gocs’ had another moment late on at the Gabba. (Fox Cricket)
5. Smith falls to beauty in chaotic scenes
Fast approaching 300 and beginning to up the ante, Australia was cruising.
With Smith and Green set and playing beautifully on 61 and 45 respectively, England needed something.
And they got it, courtesy of some reckless batting and some inspired fielding.
Green was the first to go, backing away and swiping ungainfully to a full ball that cannoned into his stumps. And the very next ball, new batter Carey got away with one, when he was dropped in the gully after fending at a short ball.
But Smith wouldn’t be so lucky.
He played a pull shot to yet another Carse bouncer, and Will Jacks, fielding in a stacked short-ball field, steadied, dived and plucked the ball out of the air with an effort to rival Labuschagne’s screamer at the beginning of the day.
From nowhere, England was back in the game.