Australia battled to a 44-run first innings lead after another fiercely combative day in this year’s compelling Ashes series.

Australia smashed 130-1 in just 21 overs in the first session of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba; a mini collapse from 291-3 to 329-6 in reply to Englands first-innings 334 kept the tourists alive,

Joe Root finished unbeaten on 138 after Engand was dismissed for 334 on Friday in the third over on Day 2 of the second Ashes cricket test.

The home side moved into the lead on another madcap day of cricket in Brisbane as England's bowling attack strained to make in-roads

Free-flowing opener Jake Weatherald crunched an unbeaten 59 but Australia lost dangerman Travis Head as they chipped away at England's lead on day two of the day-night second Ashes Test on Friday, racing to 130-1 at tea.

Joe Root has insisted England ’s Ashes campaign remains firmly on track, despite a series of dropped catches gifting Australia five extra lives and a crucial first-innings lead at the Gabba. Root’s magnificent unbeaten 138 – his long-awaited maiden century on Australian soil – had propelled the tourists to a competitive 334.

Three years of planning appear to have been undermined by only four days of cricket as England, already 1-0 down, play catch-up at the Gabba

Here’s how to watch the 2nd Test match on TV and live stream. The Sporting News takes you through all the information you need to follow the game.

England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

Joe Root has finally scored a hundred in an Ashes test for England in Australia. It checks off one of the few milestones missing from his impressive cricket CV.

Richard Mann has already bagged 13/8 and 6/1 winners in the second Test, and he's backing England to bounce back on day three at the Gabba.

Joe Root’s breakthrough ton in Australia, and some scintillating late hitting, left England in a strong position at stumps on day one of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.