After the couple of big wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the afternoon session, England got right back in the game with the biggest wicket of the innings of David Warner, who was looking well-placed for a big score in the final session on the second day of the Gabba Test.
If Warner’s wicket was not enough for the tourists to lift their spirit, Cameron Green was bowled shouldering arms and Ollie Robinson came on the verge of hat-trick. First, he accounted for Warner with a slower ball and then sent Green back with his error in judgment Alex Carey faced the first ball of his Test career as a hat-trick ball.
Warner and Labuschagne seemed to be in control in the afternoon session before the Australian number three got too eager to score on every ball of Jack Leach and threw his wicket away for 74. Steve Smith batted with method so unlike him as he charged Leach and scored some streaky runs before edging to Jos Buttler off the bowling of Mark Wood.
Robinson’s success brought England right back in the game as they are at 196/5 in 56 overs and are left with only Travis Head and the debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Carey to extend the lead beyond England’s comfort level.