Ashes 2025-26: Australia vs England Highlights & Review – 2nd Test, Day 2

 How did Day 2 of the 2nd Ashes Test go between Australia vs England? — Review, Turning Points & more

Day 2 of the 2nd Ashes Test in Brisbane tilted the contest in Australia’s favour. England added just nine runs to their overnight total before being bowled out for 334, with Joe Root finishing on an unbeaten 138. Australia then piled up 378/6 by stumps to take a 44-run lead.

Australia’s opener Jake Weatherald hammered 72 and raised his maiden Test fifty, while Travis Head walked back after giving a solid start. Marnus Labuschagne (65) and Steven Smith (61) kept the innings moving and made sure that the hosts remained ahead in the game. Later, Cameron Green’s 45 and Alex Carey’s unbeaten 46 ensured the run rate stayed above five throughout the day.

For England, Brydon Carse removed Green and Smith in the same over. The visitors were poor on the field, especially dropping chances from Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, and Carse. 

Top batting performance — Jake Weatherald

Left-handed opener Jake Weatherald was the best for the home team, scoring a 78-ball 72. In the process, Weatherald hammered his maiden Test fifty and gave the Aussies the start they were looking for. Constructing his knock with 12 boundaries and one six, the southpaw partnered well with Travis Head and later Marnus Labuschagne to keep the scoreboard moving.

Top bowling performance — Brydon Carse

For England, Brydon Carse showed moments of brilliance with the ball, finishing with figures of 3/113 in his 17-over spell. The right-arm pacer’s victims included Head, Steve Smith, and Cameron Green, with the latter two being removed in the same over. While Carse leaked runs at an economy of 6.64, but he made sure to push the Aussies on the backfoot in regular intervals.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Australia’s 387/7 against England in Brisbane 2025 is the highest single-day total in Day-Night Tests.
• Australia’s 383/8 against Pakistan in Adelaide 2019 is the second-highest single-day total in Day-Night Tests.
• Australia’s 379/14 against India in Adelaide 2024 stands as the third-highest single-day total in Day-Night Tests.
• Australia’s 378 runs on Day 2 is the most by any team in a single day of a Day-Night Test, surpassing England’s 348 vs West Indies in 2017.
• The 378-run day is Australia’s second-highest single-day Ashes tally since 1950, behind the 408 runs scored at the WACA in 2006/07.
• England’s five dropped catches today are the joint second-most by any team in a single day of a Test in Australia.
• This match records the eighth instance of a team batting second taking a first-innings lead in a Day-Night Test, with all seven previous cases ending in wins.
• Brydon Carse, conceding 100 runs in 85 balls, is the third-fastest instance of a seam bowler giving away 100 runs, behind Neil Wagner (65 balls) and Mohammad Talha (72 balls).
• Australia had 50+ partnerships for each of the first four wickets, a feat last achieved against New Zealand at this venue in November 2015.
• The last time Australia produced four 50+ stands to start an innings in an Ashes Test at this venue was in 2006.
• Marnus Labuschagne reached 1003 runs in Day-Night Tests*, becoming the first player to cross the 1000-run mark in this format.