Smith lifts Australia
Steve Smith again shouldered much of the run-scoring burden for Australia as the first Ashes cricket test against England remained poised on a knife edge after two days in Brisbane.
Smith and the recalled Shaun Marsh added an unbroken 89 for the fifth wicket to guide Australia to 165-4 at stumps in reply to England’s first innings of 302 to trail by 137 runs.
The home skipper was 64 not out and helped lift Australia from a shaky 76-4 when Peter Handscomb was trapped lbw by Jimmy Anderson.
Marsh, a controversial selection at six, was 44 not out and will resume on Saturday looking to help his skipper build a lead over England on a slow-ish Gabba pitch.
Smith tucked into his lunch after a collapse of 6-56 finished Friday’s morning session and the tourists’ first innings.
The skipper was summoned to the middle after just 10.3 overs following the cheap dismissals of Cameron Bancroft (5) and Usman Khawaja (11).
David Warner (26) was starting to shift momentum when he chipped an unthreatening ball from Jake Ball to short midwicket, leaving Australia in serious trouble at 59-3.
Debutant Bancroft fell victim to an inspired opening spell from Stuart Broad, who earlier copped a barrage of bouncers and barbs, but dragged his side’s total beyond 300 with the help of a dropped catch from Marsh in the deep.
Joe Root used offspinning allrounder Moeen Ali as a first change bowler after eight overs, no doubt having been impressed with the turn generated earlier in the day by Nathan Lyon.
Khawaja did little to shake his reputation as a batsman who battles against spin, misreading Moeen’s second delivery to him. It went straight and trapped him plumb lbw.
Earlier, Nathan Lyon backed up pre-Ashes taunts with spin induced torment for England.
Lyon removed dangerman Moeen and Chris Woakes in the space of five deliveries, with the wickets coming after a series of half-shouts, edges and unplayable deliveries.
Mitchell Starc (3-77) and Pat Cummins (3-85) shared the honours for most wickets.