England Struggles with New Ball in Second Ashes Test, but Australia's Late Faltering Keeps Series Competitive

In the second Test of The Ashes, Australia capitalized on England's subpar bowling with the new ball, scoring rapidly in the opening session at The Gabba. However, a late stumble by Australia kept England within striking distance as the day concluded.

Australia, batting first, exploited England's wayward bowling to reach 130-1 in just 21 overs during the initial session. This swift progression was particularly notable given that the innings began with three maiden overs. England, who had added nine runs to their overnight total of 324-9, struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, who capitalized on short and wide deliveries.

Cricket expert Michael Atherton did not mince words in his assessment of England's performance. Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket's 'Ashes Daily' Podcast, Atherton stated, "England was awful in the morning. They just bowled badly, it's as simple as that. Australia was going along at six an over, and England was bowling short and wide, getting clattered to all parts."

Atherton singled out Brydon Carse for a particularly difficult day but noted that none of the bowlers performed well. He praised Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson for their efforts but pointed out a significant drop in performance when other bowlers were on the field.

Nasser Hussain, also commenting on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, echoed Atherton's sentiments. "England with the new ball: it's just a given that when you rock up to The Gabba, rock up to Australia, you don't get carried away with the bounce," Hussain said. He highlighted England's inconsistent performances, noting that the team either struggled significantly or showed flashes of character and resilience towards the end of the day.

In the afternoon session, England managed to take two more wickets, but Steve Smith (61) and Cameron Green (45) looked set to dominate with a 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, Brydon Carse's double strike in a single over, coupled with Ben Stokes' wicket, threatened to turn the tide in England's favor. Australia's momentum was disrupted, leading to a collapse from 291-3 to 329-6.

Michael Atherton reflected on the dramatic shift, stating, "With Australia 291-3 when that 57th over arrived, you thought England were out of the game. Australia had the game, much like England had the game yesterday, and on other occasions in the past when they've opened the door."

Despite the late wickets, England's fielding let them down with four dropped catches, allowing Australia to extend their lead to 44 runs by the end of the day. Joe Root, England's captain, acknowledged the team's struggles but remained optimistic about their chances moving forward.

As the third day of the Test approaches, England will need to regroup and address their early-morning bowling issues. Meanwhile, Australia will look to solidify their lead and capitalize on England's mistakes. The stage is set for another intense battle in The Ashes series.