Australia’s self-inflicted wounds have left the door open for England in the second Ashes Test when dominance had been there for the taking at the Gabba.
Australia (6-378) had been sitting pretty at 3-291 in the third session on day two, cruising towards England’s first-innings total of 334 set largely by Joe Root (138no).
But some batting brain-snaps prevented the day-night masters from truly cashing in and left the game on a knife’s edge when a huge total appeared within reach on Friday.
Paceman Brydon Carse picked up three late wickets to help England keep pressure on Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
A collapse of 3-38 in the final session was particularly egregious, and the damage could have been even worse had England not dropped five catches – four in the final session.
Steve Smith’s men headed to stumps 44 runs ahead of England, who will be eligible for a new ball early on day three.
Alex Carey (46no) and the recalled Michael Neser (15no) are unbeaten at the crease after both were given a life following terrible dropped catches by Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse, respectively.
Cracks are beginning to show in the pitch, so Australia will be eager to finish their first dig with a sizeable lead given a fourth-innings chase is likely to be tough – particularly under lights.
In only his second Test match, affable openter Jake Weatherald (72) was Australia’s top-scorer as he and Travis Head (33) showed early signs of a potential long-term opening partnership.
The pair began a pattern of the Australian batting order feasting on some loose English bowling, with the tourists punished for their insistence on shorter lengths.
Australia’s Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne share a chat during a break on day two. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Weatherald showed off his arsenal of cricket shots, and had a first Test half-century from only 45 balls – the second-fastest by an Australian opener at the Gabba.
Head skied one to mid on before he could repeat his heroics from the Perth Test, before a Jofra Archer (1-74) yorker smacked Weatherald’s toe and trapped him plumb lbw.
No Australian could kick on to triple figures the way Root had on day one, despite a handful looking to have had their eyes in as they made starts.
Jake Weatherald took the attack up to England on his way to a half-century at the Gabba. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Back in the Test team for the Ashes, day-night guru Marnus Labuschagne had a great chance to break through for a first century since mid-2023.
He became the first man to pass 1000 day-night runs, weaponising the pull shot and scoring all around the ground.
But in the first indefensible rush of blood from the Aussies, Labuschagne swatted  at a Ben Stokes (2-93) delivery well wide of off stump and found himself caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
It came after Smith had spilt Head on three runs in the first session.
The worst offender in England’s wayward start to the game, Carse (3-113) was the unlikely mastermind behind an Australian collapse of 3-38 that put the tourists back in the game.
Cameron Green (45) stepped back in a misguided attempt at a trick shot, watching Carse’s yorker collected his stumps.
A brilliant yorker from England’s Brydon Carse brought an end to Cameron Green’s promising innings. (AP PHOTO)
Duckett then put new batter Carey down at gully, before Steve Smith (61) left a big score on the table by pulling Carse to new inclusion Will Jacks at square leg.
Allrounder Jacks took a screamer of a catch to dispatch of Smith, who had looked in ominous touch on his way to an 80th Test half-century.
When workhorse Stokes bowled Josh Inglis just after Duckett had spilt him in the slips, the tourists were well in touch with the game.
England can take the new ball after five more overs on day three, with a fast start on Saturday appearing crucial to the hosts’ hopes of keeping in touch with victory.
No English side has ever come back from 2-0 down to level the Ashes before.