Marnus Labuschagne praised Jake Weatherald and Travis Head for their quickfire start to Australia’s run chase in the day-night second Ashes Test on Friday, with himself and Steve Smith able to “piggyback” off them.
The opening pair put on an aggressive 77 to get the ball rolling as they zeroed in on England’s first-innings 334 at the Gabba. Head was eventually out for 33 and Weatherald for 72, with Labuschagne cracking an assured 65 and Smith 61 in their wake. Labuschagne said upping the tempo was not talked about before the run chase, with Head and Weatherald playing their natural games.
“With Heady and Weathers at the top they sort of just grabbed the momentum and I feel like the rest of us sort of just piggybacked off the back of that,” he said.
“That sort of kept going and I think everyone that came in had that good intent and we were able to keep scoring through that whole day.”
Marnus Labuschagne
By stumps Australia had reeled in England and were 44 runs clear with four wickets left, ending day two on 378-6 with a threatening Alex Carey not-out 46.
“That was a crucial last hour there for us. To get to the end of play six down gives us a bit of time in the morning in that day session and then obviously pushes our bowling innings later into the night,” said Labuschagne.
“So that was crucial there and obviously the boys played well. We probably let them in a little bit there through that middle session but it’s a nice day.”
While praising Head and Weatherald for the fast start, Labuschagne said he was disappointed with how he got out, edging Ben Stokes to Jamie Smith behind the stumps.
“Very frustrating to get out like that, especially at the change of the conditions there where it just quickened up a little bit,” he said, referring to the fading daylight.
Brief scores
England 334 (J Root 138*, Z Crawley 76, J Archer 38, H Brook 31; M Starc 6-75) vs Australia 378-6 (J Weatherald 72, M Labuschagne 65, S Smith 61, A Carey 46*; B Carse 3-113, B Stokes 2-93)
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