The Ashes: Recap Day 2 of the second Test between Australia and England at the Gabba

“There is a big difference between bowling in nets and bowling in matches,” he says on Seven.

“We know Perth was only a two day game, the workloads of these bowlers weren’t particularly high, and all they have been able to do leading into this game is bowl in nets or bowl to a mitt.

“Such a different scenario when each ball matters and there’s a result in each ball. They just look like they’re short of match awareness, match fitness the sharpness in the brain to be able to bowl six balls in the same spot.

“I’m telling you, there’s movement in this surface. There are cracks, there’s a bit of indifferent bounce. There are things happening bringing up the 50 partnership, that leg bye.

“The softer this ball goes, 20 overs to 80, when it’s 60 overs, we lean on that being batter-friendly. The first 20 overs are the time you need to make your breakthroughs and 1/127 is an absolute disaster.”

Here’s how Jhye Richardson got on at Allan Border Field.

Just four balls from their attack would have hit the stumps this morning as they dropped far too short.

They need to be on the money after the break, otherwise it could be a long afternoon.

Australia could hardly have asked for a better first session. They removed Archer early and then piled on the runs thanks to some frankly poor bowling from England.

Head fell for 33 but should have been gone for three while Weatherald raced along to a maiden 50 while Labuschagne looks to have settled after a nervy start.

This pair have put on 53 and Australia are going at 6.19 per over. The deficit is down to 204.

England will sneak in one more before Tea.

Stokes to Weatherald as he tucks a single to square leg.

On the hip and Labuschagne can’t connect but they run a leg-bye.

Weatherald tucks a single off his pads off the penultimate ball.

Tucked off the hip and really good running gets Labuschagne through to Tea.

Spin for the first time this Test as Will Jacks comes on.

It’s a full toss otuside leg stump to start as it beats everyone to run for four.

FOUR! Off the bat this time as he errs legside again and Weatherald tickles it fine.

Short and he’s back to cut to point for one.

PUNISHED! Labuschagne shimmies down to turn it into a full toss and drill it straight for four.

He’s been in poor form since being axed from the Test side but he’s hit back with a sparkling cenury against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.

CLOSE! Weatherald cuts and it’s just wide of diving gully for a single.

Marnus squirts a single off the pads.

ALMOST GONE! Another cut from Weatheald but it’s too close to the body and he’s lucky not to edge.

AND AGAIN! It’s almost lunch he should put that shot away, mayber Marnus could have a word.

Pushes a single to finish the over and survive

Marnus crashes back-to-back fours with a punch through midwicket and a crash through the covers as Carse now has figures of 1-45 from five overs.

FOUR. Too straight and Wetaherald flicks off the pads for a boundary.

FOUR MORE! Short and Weatherald uppercuts not all that far away from the man at deep point but lands safely. 100 up for Australia

Gets it short on his hips and he pulls powerfully to bring up a maiden Test 50 off just 435 balls.

Been a great innnings so far.