Australia v England - Hosts win off the back of Travis Head's brilliant 123 on Day 2 of Ashes in Perth
By Ali Iveson
Updated 22/11/2025 at 12:05 GMT
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Welcome to live coverage from Day 2 of the NRMA Insurance men's Ashes, with England back in the middle after ending Australia's first innings early on Saturday morning. The tourists made as poor a start as they did on Friday, with Zak Crawley following up his six-ball duck with a five-ball duck, again courtesy of Mitchell Starc. Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights: Head inspires Australia to first Test win on Day 2
Video credit: TNT Sports
STUNNING HEAD CENTURY SEES AUSTRALIA HOME AFTER STARC 1O-FER AND ENGLAND COLLAPSE
Travis Head hit a brilliant century as Australia benefited from an England batting collapse, overcame a 40-run first-innings deficit and won a thrilling first NRMA Insurance men's Ashes Test inside two days.
The hosts could add just nine runs to their overnight total in Perth, being bowled out for 132, and England appeared in the driving seat when they made it to lunch on 59-1, 99 runs ahead. That was in spite of opener Zak Crawley again falling to Mitchell Starc for a duck to complete his pair.
Yet a rejuvenated Scott Boland and Starc took four wickets for 11 runs after lunch to swing the match into Australia's favour.
That became six for 39 runs once Jamie Smith was contentiously given out by the TV umpire, off Brendan Doggett's bowling.
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Stokes gone as Starc takes 10th wicket of match
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A 50-run stand between Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse helped England set a target of 205, the highest score in the match, but Australia and in particular the stand-in opener Head made light work of the chase.
He and Jake Weatherald put on 75 runs for the opening wicket before Weatherald edged a Carse short ball, but even that couldn't halt Head's momentum.
Amid brutal ball-striking, Head's century came from just 69 balls – the third-fastest by an Australian in Test cricket – and he finished with 16 fours and four sixes in a breathtaking 123.
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Head with 'the most important' century of his career as Australia close in on England total
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Just 13 runs were needed once Head finally holed out, and Australia knocked them off with ease to take a 1-0 lead in the series, with Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on 51.
The second Test in Brisbane starts on December 4 and is a day-night affair.
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HEAD ELATED AFTER MATCH-WINNING KNOCK
"Good start," says Travis Head, speaking in quite the understated manner on the Perth Stadium pitch. "Geez, it's a tough two days, they're a seriously good outfit."
"I was pretty keen to do it," he says of opening, but credits the captain and coach with making the final decision. "I knew I was going to get tested in all departments today opening the batting."
Reaching a century was a "great moment" and Head also has praise for the venue, in spite of this Test being done and dusted inside two days.
"Lovely place to bat. An intimidating place to bat, it gives you some sleepless nights with the cracks... You've got to face Woody, Jof, Gus and those guys on a wicket that may deteriorate with those cracks. Nice to get it done early not having to bat on day four or five."
That last point is one that England, having become the first side to lose a Test at the new Perth venue having batted first, will have plenty of time to ponder.
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'Australia draw first blood' - Hosts take 1-0 Ashes lead with 8-wicket victory over England
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Australia win by eight wickets!
Smith hits the winning run and Australia have won a wild opening Test inside two days.
Head's brutal and brilliant 123 broke the back of the chase, after an England batting collapse saw them lose nine wickets for 99 runs.
Australia 204-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 1) Overs: 28
Australia need 1 more run to win
Root comes on to bowl.
After a couple of singles, Labuschagne comes down the track and plays a one-handed drive which just evades Archer at mid-off and runs to the boundary.
He dances down again and pumps a six over cow corner to level the scores and bring up his half-century.
Alastair Cook is asking the pessimistic but important question on TNT Sports. "What damage is this going to do for the rest of the tour?"
WICKET! Australia 192-2 (Labuschagne 40, Smith 0) Overs: 27
Travis Head, c Pope b Carse, 123
Australia need 13 more runs to win
An innings for the ages comes to an end, but does so with victory within touching distance for Australia.
After dispatching a pair of boundaries with brilliant, brutal ball-striking through the leg side, Head gets under a pull shot. Pope gets under the high ball and takes a good catch, but it's of little consolation to England.
Australia 182-1 (Head 113, Labuschagne 40) Overs: 26
Australia need 23 more runs to win
The hundred partnership is brought up in an over of brutal Australian hitting.
Labuschagne pulls a couple of short pulls well in front front of square and to the boundary, either side of Head clobbering one back past the bowler and cutting one just over the leap of Carse.
As well as four fours, there are two wides from Atkinson and a couple of singles. Twenty runs off the over.
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Australia 162-1 (Head 102, Labuschagne 31) Overs: 25
Australia need 43 more runs to win
Archer bowls a slower ball which is well read by Head, and reflects how England are scraping the bottom of their barrel of ideas.
Labuschagne uppercuts the final ball of the over and the third-man fielder looks to be in play for a second, but the ball bounces just short, Australia pick up a run and England don't get the wicket they crave.
Australia 160-1 (Head 102, Labuschagne 30) Overs: 24
Australia need 45 more runs to win
England finally find Head's top edge, but the ball lands safely.
Otherwise it's an over Australia continue to milk for ones and a lone two, taking six runs off it.
Given how close Australia are to the target, play has been extended for 30 minutes, so until 9:50 UK time. At the rate Head is going, that would be plenty of time to get 45 more runs.
Australia 154-1 (Head 101, Labuschagne 26) Overs: 23
Australia need 51 more runs to win
Labuschagne shows Head is not the only batter who can swat short balls back down the ground and sends one from Archer over the covers for four runs.
There's a TV review for a runout off the final ball of the 23rd over, but it's wishful thinking from an England point of view.
Australia 147-1 (Head 100, Labuschagne 20) Overs: 22
Australia need 58 more runs to win
Now Head's got his hundred, thoughts turn to who should be the player of the match. Ten-wickets Starc, or Head, whose centruy in a game where the next-highest individual score is 52 looks like the match-winning innings?
Or might there be another twist still to come?
CENTURY! Head 100* (69 balls)
One ball after spectacularly cutting over mid-off for a couple-of-bounces fours, Head helps a shoer delicery behind square to bring up three fugures.
It's Australia'sthird-fastest Test hundred of all time, second-fasterst this centruy, and a quite brilliant knock. His 10th Test century, and quite possibly his finest.
Australia 138-1 (Head 93, Labuschagne 19) Overs: 21
Australia need 67 more runs to win
The hosts score two runs off a relatively sedate Archer over, which suits them just fine.
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Watch: Anderson lifts lid on THAT Ashes moment with Johnson
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Australia 136-1 (Head 92, Labuschagne 18) Overs: 20
Australia need 69 more runs to win
Head backs away and cuts over the catching fielders behind square for four. Next ball, Head walks across his stumps and pulls ro fine leg for the same result.
Now just eight runs away from what looks like it would be a match-winning century.
Australia 127-1 (Head 84, Labuschagne 17) Overs: 19
Australia need 78 more runs to win
A lively over from Archer, but Australia take it for 17 more runs.
Labuschagne classily works one short ball over the slips for four, then wears one on the hand but scampers a single.
This brings Head back on strike, and after watching the ball whizz past his helmet, Head returns to attacking. One delivery clipped off his legs for four, then the next clubbed over cow corner for six.
For a sample of the imperious form Head is in, see the video below.
Australia 111-1 (Head 73, Labuschagne 12) Overs: 18
Australia need 94 more runs to win
Anotehr over, another glorious Head boundary. This time he's driving Atkinson through the covers.
Stokes is going to take himself out of the attack and turn to Archer, which feels as though it could be England's last roll of the dice. The pitch is not doing as much as it was earlier in the match and Head is cashing in.
Australia 106-1 (Head 68, Labuschagne 12) Overs: 17
Australia need 99 more runs to win
Head is on a roll, Australia have their hundred up and are charging towards victory.
Stokes starts the over full and outside off – Head drives through the covers for four.
Stokes drops short – Head pulls dismissively through leg for four.
Stokes goes full again – Head drives straighter, hit too well for mid-off to cut off and it's four more.
Finally, Stokes bowls short again and Head again pulls for four.
A single from the last delivery makes it an over worth 17 runs, and the amount required is down to double figures.
Australia 89-1 (Head 51, Labuschagne 12) Overs: 16
Australia need 116 more runs to win
Atkinson takes the ball for England and Australia take a risky single to get off unlucky 87. It works, with Stokes' throw off-target and Head just about in, on first glance.
Two runs ceom from the over, no other risks taken.
Australia 87-1 (Head 50, Labuschagne 11) Overs: 15
Australia need 118 more runs to win
Just one run conceded off Stokes' first over, scored by Labuschagne. But the lack of any wickets falling as if by magic means it's a victory for Australia.
England need to re-group, and most importantly dismiss Head, if they are to swing this Test back in their favour. Head's knock so far as you wondering whether Khawaja's back problems are a blessing in disguise for Australia.
Australia 86-1 (Head 50, Labuschagne 10) Overs: 14
Australia need 119 more runs to win
Carse strays onto Labuschagne's pads and is flicked to the boundary for Labuschagne's first boundary.
Labuschagne picks up three more runs on the pull and it looks like the England captain, Stokes, is going to have a bowl with his team in real trouble.
"It's probably a few overs too late," is the verdict of TNT Sports' Alastair Cook.
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Australia 79-1 (Head 50, Labuschagne 3) Overs: 13
Australia need 126 more runs to win
Head brings up a 36-ball half-century with a flick into the leg side. He has batted beautifully and looks to be winning this match for Australia. It's the sort of counter-attacking innings the England Bazballers must be jealous of.
Labuschagne gets off the mark with a pull for a couple.
WICKET! Australia 75-1 (Head 49, Labuschagne 0)
Jake Weatherald, c Duckeet b Carse, 23
Australia need 130 more runs to win
Carse persists with the short stuff to Weatherald, who pulls the first one away to the boundary but edges the next onto his helmet and then into the waiting hands of Duckett at point. Finally, England have a breakthrough.
Carse is on the money for Labuschagne's first few balls, beating the bat with one Labuschagne tips his helmet to.
Australia 71-0 (Head 45, Weatherald 18) Overs: 11
Australia need 134 more runs to win
Head is scoring at will right now.
He rocks back and helps one Wood delivery down to fine leg for six, then backs away and cuts the next ball behind point for four.
England's short-ball tactics are not working and they are in desperate need of a breakthrough.
Australia 58-0 (Head 38, Weatherald 18) Overs: 10
Australia need 149 more runs to win
Another good over for Australia, beginning with Head working the ball through midwicket for two.
Head then flashes at a full, wide delivery, gets a thick outside edge and the ball just about clears the rope and the watching Duckett.
Two singles and a wide later, Australia have taken another over for 11 runs.
Australia 47-0 (Head 29, Weatherald 17) Overs: 9
Australia need 158 more runs to win
England turn to Mark Wood, whose second delivery keeps low and squirms under Smith, allowing Australia to run a bye.
Worse is to come as Head cuts through the covers for three, then Weatherald guides the ball past the slips and to the boundary at third.
Things can change quickly in Test cricket – this match has already proved as much – but Australia are making this look straightforward.
Australia 39-0 (Head 26, Weatherald 13) Overs: 8
Australia need 166 more runs to win
Carse replaces Atkinson.
Weatherald drops and runs a single off the first ball, before Head plays two lovely. First he backs away, angles the bat and lifts a short delivery over the boundary at third, for six. Then comes an emphatic cut which races away to the boundary, along the ground.
Eleven runs off the over.
Australia 28-0 (Head 16, Weatherald 12) Overs: 7
Australia need 177 more runs to win
Head looks assured, despite the unfamiliar role at the top of the order. He adds two more with a push behind square on the off side, then three with a cover drive.
England need a breakthrough and Carse is stretching.
Australia 22-0 (Head 11, Weatherald 11) Overs: 6
Australia need 183 more runs to win
Weatherald on the pull and Head on the drive each add three runs to the total.
More than 10% of the chase complete now, and it's the biggest opening stand in this match by a full 22 runs.
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Australia 16-0 (Head 8, Weatherald 8) Overs: 5
Australia need 189 more runs to win
Weatherald gets off the mark in Test cricket with a jab onto the leg side, from which the Australians run three.
Archer changes to come round the wicket with Head on strike, stays there despite the strike rotating again, and finds the edge of Weatherald's bat, only for the ball to squirt low and through a gap in the slip cordon.
England think they have got Weatherald next ball caught behind – as does the umpire – but the batter reviews straight away and is given a reprieve as the ball clipped his pocket, not the bat. Archer looks more dangerous from round the wicket straight away.
Australia 7-0 (Head 7, Weatherald 0) Overs: 4
Australia need 198 more runs to win
There's a glimpse of excitement as Atkinson gets a ball to kick up, beat the bat and hit Head on the hip. There are no catchers in tight even if there had been contact with the glove or bat.
Head showcases a solid defence for the next few balls, before clipping the last one of the over off his hip and to the boundary.
Australia 3-0 (Head 3, Weatherald 0) Overs: 3
Australia need 202 more runs to win
Head guides a shortish delivery through the slip cordon and picks up a single.
Weatherald, facing Archer for the first time this innings, looks to pull, misses the ball and is hit on the elbow. He s hakes it off and leaves the rest of the over.
Australia 2-0 (Head 2, Weatherald 0) Overs: 2
Australia need 203 more runs to win
Weatherald leaves four of six deliveries as Atkinson produces a maiden. He is still waiting for a first run in Test cricket, still on a pair.
Australia 2-0 (Head 2, Weatherald 0) Overs: 1
Australia need 203 more runs to win
Archer is not quite at his best, still getting the radar going, with Head content to leave a few balls down leg. One did induce a play and miss, nipping away, but the final delivery of the over is clipped off his hip for two, and the chase begins.
Atkinson will bowl the second over.
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England all out for 164 after three wickets in 10 balls
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Head to open for Australia
With Khawaja unable to open, it is Travis Head – not Marnus Labuschagne – who replaces him.
That's an aggressive move, but may well be one England are happy to see. Head is an extremely dangerous player and will now be exposed to the new ball.
Archer will open the innings. Australia need 205 runs to win.
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The score at Tea: England all out for 164, lead by 204 runs
England lost five wickets for just 23 runs as a batting collapse left the door open for Australia after five sessions of a thrilling first Ashes Test in Perth.
Having claimed one Australian wicket in the morning to lead by 40 runs after the first innings, England were 99 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand at lunch, before Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland ripped through the top and middle order.
Starc took two of the most-prized wickets - Joe Root and Ben Stokes - to move his match tally to 10, while Boland ended the innings with four scalps including that of Harry Brook, who fell without scoring.
Late cameos from Gus Atkinson (37) and Brysdon Carse (20), who put on a half-centruy stand after Jamie Smith was controversially given out by the third umpire, helped England set the hosts a target of 205 and avoid a total disaster.
Australia must score the highest score of the Test in the fourth innings if they are to win, and have fitness concerns over Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon, who both spent time off the field to receive treatment while England batted.
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'Incredible... that took over five minutes' - DRS controversially sees Smith out
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WICKET! England all out for 164
Gus Atkinson, c Doggett b Boland, 37
England lead by 204 runs
Atkinson holes out to fine leg and that will do it for the England innings. It was short, not too sweat for the batters, and very frenetic. Australia need the biggest score of the match in the fourth innings to win, but will feel well in the game after a spirited bowling display.
WICKETS! England 164-9 (Atkinson 37, Wood 4) Overs: 34
Brydon Carse, c Carey b Doggett, 20
Jofra Archer, c Smith b Doggett, 5
England lead by 204 runs
Carse walks across his stumps in an attempt to ramp towards fine leg, but instead feathers an edge to the wicketkeeper and England are eight down.
Archer arrives, attacks, slaps a four through the off side and then spoons a pull into the sky, to be caught by Smith.
Wood swats his first ball away to the boundary and the lead is up to 204 runs.
England 154-7 (Atkinson 36, Carse 20) Overs: 33
England lead by 194 runs
Starc, for about the first time this match, is not having fun.
Atkinson hooks him for six, and two deliveries later Starc threatens to Mankad Carse at the non-striker's end! If you thought the Jonny Bairstow stumping last series was controversial, that may have caused a full-blown diplomatic incident. As it is, Carse was just about in and Starc merely gestured at the stumps.
It's the man at the other end Starc needs to be more worried about as Atkinson pulls him for six more before the over is out, and the partnership between he and Carse is now worth 50 runs.
England 138-7 (Atkinson 22, Carse 20) Overs: 32
England lead by 178 runs
Doggett opens with a short ball, but Atkinson gets on top of it and pulls for four despite the presence of a fine-leg fielder.
Three more singles are added to the total, with Australia's well past needing the biggest score of the match to win.
Meanwhile, the controversial Smith decision is ready for you to watch below. Was there enough evidence to overturn a not-out decision?
England 131-7 (Atkinson 14, Carse 19) Overs: 31
England lead by 171 runs
England take two, three and then four runs to open the Starc over. The latter coming from a crisp Carse cover drive. The field was set for short bowling but Starc pitched it up for the first three deliveries.
Starc goes short thereafter and produces three dots. But it's a good over for England.
England 122-7 (Atkinson 9, Carse 15) Overs: 30
England lead by 162 runs
Boland returns to the attack and Carse charges him second ball, launching the pill over mid-off for six. That may be the shot of the day. Boland beats the bat next ball as Carse plays and misses with a forward defence.
Eight valuable runs off the over after a couple of singles are added.
England 114-7 (Atkinson 8, Carse 8) Overs: 29
England lead by 154 runs
Starc charges in again but Carse and Atkinson stand firm, in a relatively stress-free over for England. Those have been a rarity after lunch.
If England can score 18 more runs, Australia will require the biggest score of the match to win.
WICKET! England 112-7 (Atkinson 7, Carse 6) Overs: 28
Jamie Smith, c Carey b Doggett, 15
England lead by 152 runs
Smith plays at a short delivery down the leg side and Australia, after a half-hearted appeal, review.
The third umpire takes a long look, owing to a small spike on snicko appearing just after the ball had passed the bat. The on-field decision is not out, but after more than five minutes of deliberation, that is reversed! It's certainly a decision you will be hearing more about.
"Jamie Smith seems accepting of the fact that it is out, so therefore it seems as though he's hit it, but the pitcures definitely don't add up," says Steven Finn of the TNT Sports commentary team.
Carse hits a top-edged six before the over is done, as the lead moves above 150.
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England 104-6 (Smith 15, Atkinson 6) Overs: 27
England lead by 144 runs
Starc finds the edge again, but Smith, playing a wafty cut, gets enough on the ball to help it over the slips and add four runs. A bye after a wide delivery gets away from Carey brings up the England century.
Starc next attempts to york Atkinson, who digs the ball out, before clipping the next to the boundary.
Starc beats the edge to end the over on an ominous note for the tourists.
One ominous note for Australia – Khawaja has slowly left the field.
Stokes gone as Starc takes 10th wicket of match
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England 95-6 (Smith 11, Atkinson 2) Overs: 26
England lead by 135 runs
Smith clips the first ball of the Doggett over off his hip, giving Atkinson five to survive and he manages that, even claiming a couple of runs from the final delivery.
Time for a drinks break – one England will be happier for than Australia, who have all the momentum.
WICKET! England 92-6 (Smith 10, Atkinson 0) Overs: 25
Ben Stokes, c Smith b Starc, 2
England lead by 132 runs
Stokes becomes Starc's 10th victim of the match! It's a stunning ball – on an off-stump line, moving away from the left-hander, and all Stokes can do is edge to second slip. Australia are flying.
Atkinson launches a meaty drive at his first ball but manages to miss everything; next ball clips his pads en route to the boundary. Those are four valuable leg byes, given the position England find themselves in.
England 85-5 (Stokes 2, Smith 7) Overs: 24
England lead by 125 runs
Brendan Doggett is back into the attack. His over is tidy enough, drawing one play and miss from Stokes before a couple of short balls are worked away for singles.
Starc is going to take over from the other end next, so he's not out of the attack completely. Starc has nine wickets in the match, in case you had forgetten,following Root's dismissal.
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Carnage in Perth as Root clean bowled by Starc
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England 83-5 (Stokes 1, Smith 6) Overs: 23
England lead by 123 runs
A probing maiden from Boland. One ball beats the edge of Smith, another clatters ino the pads but is doing too much to ilicit a major appeal.
It's like night and day, how Boland is bowling today versus the version which showed up on day one.
England 83-5 (Stokes 1, Smith 6) Overs: 22
England lead by 123 runs
Starc faces Smith again, this time with the batter looking a lot more confident. First up is a glorious straight drive, which Starc blocks with a stray shin to save three runs.
Starc canno tempt Stokes, who leaves a couple then clips a single off his legs, and Smith adds one more run to close out the over.
England 80-5 (Stokes 0, Smith 4) Overs: 21
England lead by 120 runs
A wicket-free over. And breathe...
Boland is unable to instill the same fear into Smith, who picks up three runs via a pull down the ground which doesn't quite have enough to reach the boundary.
WICKET! England 77-5 (Stokes 0, Smith 1) Overs: 20
England lead by 117 runs
Sensing blood in the water, Australia turn to Starc and yet again he delivers. Second ball, Root looks atto drive a wide one, but it's not as wide as he thinks and instead Root drags on! Carnage in Perth.
Jamie Smith is the new batter, with captain Ben Stokes at the other end yet to face a ball. This is not easy.
Smith leaves his first ball, the second beats the edge and the third finds it – but Khawaja drops that ball at first slip! England scamper through for a single and for the first time since lunch, can feel like they have caught a break.
TWO WICKETS! England 76-4 (Root 8) Overs: 19
Ollie Pope, c Carey b Boland, 33
Harry Brook, c Khawaja b Boland, 0
England lead by 116 runs
Boland has well and truly arrived now! Two wickets in the over, Pope and the dangerman Brook, and England are in a real wobble now.
First it's Pope, flashing at a wide one and feathering to the wicketkeeper. Then Brook, three balls into his innings, tries to drive a delivery which is probably too short for that shot and edges to first slip.
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Brook out for duck as wickets start to tumble again
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England 75-1 (Pope 30, Root 8) Overs: 18
England lead by 115 runs
Green bowls a short ball at Root, but it's not short enough and Root pulls dismissively to the boundary. That's his first of the series.
WICKET! England 67-2 (Pope 30, Root 2) Overs: 17
Duckett, c Smith b Boland, 29
England lead by 107 runs
Boland strikes with his second ball after lunch! Duckett is squared up, edges a good-length ball and Smith pouches the catch at second slip.
Root comes to the crease and is off the mark first ball, pushing behind square. That should calm the nerves, if there were any.
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Duckett edges behind just after lunch
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England 64-1 (Duckett 28, Pope 29) Overs: 16
England lead by 104 runs
Cameron Green takes the first over before lunch and teases a fish well outside of off stump first ball, where Pope misses everything. Green has dismissed Pope three times before in Test cricket.
A leave later, Pope confidently crashes a cut shot to the boundary and picks up a single too. England's lead is now into triple figures, and Boland is set to continue from the other end.
The score at Lunch: England 59-1, lead by 99 runs
Australia resumed nine wickets down and added nine runs, before Nathan Lyon edged a Brydon Carse delivery into the slips.
The hosts were all out for 132, still 40 runs behind England's first-innings total, and not before Lyon took a blow to the hip which could prove consequential as the Test progresses.
The off-spinner spent some of England's second innings off the field receiving treatment, has looked in pain once back out there and is yet to bowl.
That second innings started horribly for England and Zak Crawley, much like their first. Mitchell Starc dismissed Crawley with his fifth ball, taking a sharp caught-and-bowled chance one-handed, to condemn Crawley to a pair. For the third time in the match, the score was 0-1.
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Disaster for Crawley with second duck in as many days
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However, England rebuilt through Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope and their unbeaten 59-run partnership is the biggest in the match so far.
Pope again looks in good touch, as he did en route to a first-innings 46. Starc looks the most dangerous of the Australian bowlers once more.
Duckett has played some nice shots and a few loose ones before being given out LBW on what turned out to be the final ball of the session – and one delivery after taking a painful blow to the forearm.
Duckett reviewed and Scott Boland's delivery was found to be pitching outside leg, so the decision was reversed and here we are, England 59-1, 99 runs ahead, at lunch on day two.
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