Newcomer Jake Weatherald has reached his first Test half-century as Australia launched a savage counter-attack on England on the second day of Gabba Test in Brisbane.

England, which was bowled out for 334 in the infancy of the first session on Friday, are renowned for aggressive cricket under their Bazball ethos. But they are being out-Bazballed.

With Weatherald batting with flair in just his second Test, Australia rattled along at more than six runs an over, capitalising on some loose bowling from England’s attack.

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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs England 2nd Test live scores, stats, teams

At tea on the second day, Australia are 1-130, with Weatherald unbeaten on 59 runs from 56 balls, while Marnus Labuschagne is not out on 27.

‘That was a moment’ Head gets very lucky | 00:50

The Aussies made good ground on England, reducing the deficit to 204, before conditions for batting become more difficult under darkness in the second session.

“That is a very, very good session for Australia. They will be very, very happy going into the tea break,” Fox Cricket commentator Brendon Julian said.

After a fearsome display of bowling from England in the opening innings in Perth, Australia has put the tourists attack to the sword from then on, with Weatherald and first Test hero Travis Head combining well again at the top of the order.

Head was dropped in the infancy of his innings by Jamie Smith off a delivery from Jofra Archer, who bowled well without luck, and added another 30 runs before falling for 33.

He and Weatherald before the Perth centurion skied an attempted legside clip from Brydon Carse, who was expensive in the infancy of his spell.

‘Celebrated with red wine and a kebab!’ | 05:32

Joined at the crease by Labuschagne, Weatherald continued to pounce on anything either short or wide of the crease in an innings that furthered his hold on the opening role.

After a second ball duck on debut in Perth, he scored 23 in the second innings in the west and played superbly on Friday against an English attack now looking toothless.

Australian great Adam Gilchrist praised the 31-year-old, who was selected on the back of strong Sheffield Shield form in recent seasons, saying he had taken command.

“Jake Weatherald has been the man,” Gilchrist, Fox Cricket’s lead commentator for the Ashes summer, said.

“After a real baptism of fire over in Perth, he started to show better signs in the second innings. Today he has been the leader, steering this Australian innings.”

Archer gone after Marnus takes CLASSIC | 00:55

With Weatherald setting the tone, Labuschagne has continued his strong run of form and his scoring at nearly a run a ball, a stark change from his struggles at the crease last summer.

Earlier, Australia brought an end to an English innings resplendent with highlights in every endeavour of the game.

Joe Root, was superb and finished unbeaten on 138, having struck 15 fours, many of them straight drives in contrast to his usual style, and one six under lights on Thursday.

Mitch Starc, too, was sublime, with the record-breaking pace bowler finishing with six wickets for the innings in a starring role as Australia’s leading paceman.

Archer was brilliant in a cameo at No.11, scoring 38 from just 36 balls to help England to a strong first innings tally of 334. Zak Crawley, too, batted well for a half century.

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Australia’s fielding, too, featured plenty of highlights. Labuschagne’s flying catch to dismiss Archer at the end, which secured Brendan Doggett a wicket, was magnificent.

The effort of Josh Inglis to knock over one stump when on the dash to run out Ben Stokes was outstanding as well, while the wicketkeeping of Alex Carey earned plaudits around the world.

There was much chatter about the over rates, and rightly so, but the actual cricket played was outstanding. Any wonder tickets for Day 3 at the Gabba sold out as soon as it became a live option.