Summary

  • Khawaja caught behind off Woakes for 43

  • Moeen removes Labuschagne & Smith to move to 200 Test wickets

  • Broad removes Warner for 17th time in Tests - caught second slip

  • Stokes' defiant 80 carries England to 237, while Cummins takes 6-91

  • Use audio icon at top of page to listen to live TMS commentary

  • Get Involved: #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Goodbyepublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    That's your lot for day two, folks! It's hard to believe that we've only had two days of play such is the speed with which this game is moving.

    Australia head into day three with a lead of 142 and six wickets remaining. A big first session for either side could go a long way to deciding the outcome.

    England are definitely still right in the mix, though, as they try to keep this Ashes series alive.

    You can read Matthew Henry's report from Headingley here and watch hour-long highlights of day two now on BBC Four and iPlayer.

    If the weather behaves - the forecast suggests it won't but we'll see - then this one could be all over by this time tomorrow.

    Regardless, we'll be back from 08:00 BST so do join us then. Test Match Special coverages begins at 10:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

  2. 'We'll look to defend anything'published at 19:12 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Australia's captain Pat Cummins speaking to BBC Sport: "It's a nice wicket, bit faster than the last ones and some sideways movement.

    "Really well this morning, some tight periods. Overall to have a lead is great effort. It's a pretty good wicket so any lead is valuable.

    "Stokes batted well and Wood put some into the stands too, as a captain you just have to be sure of your plans.

    "Just when one team gets ahead the other team takes a wicket, I'm sure the fans are loving it but I wouldn't mind a few less stressful days.

    "We'll look to defend anything."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I change my mind, England rule.

    Andy from Sussex

    Simply…what a day! This is the game that just keeps giving!! Knock over the Aussies quickly tomorrow if we can, bat sensibly, and it’s England’s for the taking.

    Damien, Lancashire

  4. Postpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It's fantastic to watch, you just don't know which way it is going to sway. England started poorly and then all of a sudden Wood arrived and hit some sixes.

    Ben Stokes is just remarkable, the way he can strike a ball and look like he is not going to get out. When you look at his body, it's just broken and whilst there was carnage around him he just had clarity.

    Moeen Ali picked up two big wickets too.

  5. Postpublished at 19:03 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Chris Woakes then removed the in-form Usman Khawaja to leave Australia 90-4.

    England were suddenly in the ascendancy but Travis Head and first-innings centurion Mitchell Marsh got the tourists through to stumps without any further damage.

  6. 'We're still in a winning position'published at 19:01 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    England's Moeen Ali speaking to BBC Sport: "Very pleased, more pleasing the day ended up quite nicely and we're still in a winning position, I thought we were struggling with the bat until Wood and Stokes let loose with the bat.

    "The finger is good, it's painful but I can bowl, but in the last game I couldn't bowl towards the end.

    "Stokes said to bowl over the wicket and it worked. It was full and Labuschagne nailed it straight it to mid-wicket."

    Coming back into Test cricket: "Playing under Stokes and Brendon, I just really enjoy their character and even bowling I don't feel under pressure. I was hit for a few boundaries at Edgbaston and Stokes still kept the field up and eventually I got a wicket. The environment that Stokes has created is my kind of environment for sure.

    "I tried to keep it down, I should've played a bit of Bazball and was disappointed because I top edged it.

    "Whatever they get we will have to chase, I still think it's a decent wicket but a little bit more dead than before. From this position we'd like to chase 260."

  7. Postpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    The drop didn't cost England this time, though, as Marnus Labuschagne holed out to deep mid-wicket from the very next ball he faced.

    That gave Moeen Ali his first wicket of the innings and he got his second - the 200th of his Test career - in his next over.

    It was another big one. Steve Smith gone for two as he chipped to mid-wicket. Jonny Bairstow made sure to thank him...

  8. Postpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia have got good hands, they haven't dropped too many this series. England's dropped catches have been really costly and the Australians pride themselves on the way they catch. It's been a big difference in this game. Catches win matches. That's true.

  9. Postpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne were able to see off the new ball, though, and steadily built a promising partnership.

    When Jonny Bairstow dropped a catch down the leg side to reprieve Labuschagne on 33, England will have feared the worst.

  10. Postpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Australia began their second innings and it didn't take long for the inevitable to happen.

    Stuart Broad to David Warner. The 17th time that the England seamer has won that battle...

  11. Postpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I think Australia would love the chance to bowl at Ben Stokes with a newer ball. They fear him so much and would love to see him at the top of the order.

  12. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    One thing you can normally rely on, though, is for England to come out swinging.

    Mark Wood ensured they did just that by hitting the first ball after lunch for six to kickstart a fightback from the home side.

    Once Wood departed, it was over to Ben Stokes again. Another attack on the Australia bowling unit and a quickfire 80 to take England to within 26 runs of parity - a far better outcome than seemed likely at one stage!

  13. Postpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Let's go right back to the start of the day, although England fans would rather not relive it.

    Joe Root fell second ball of the morning to Pat Cummins and it didn't get much better from there.

    Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes also fell before lunch to leave England in trouble at 142-7.

  14. 'It was good fun'published at 18:42 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    England's Moeen Ali talking to Sky Sports: "When Robbo [Ollie Robinson] had a spasm I knew I'd be bowling a fair bit. It was nice actually. I really enjoyed it, and enjoyed the fields set. It was good fun.

    "The body is surprisingly good."

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:39 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Truly brilliant from England - so rampant is their inability to bat time that it has become infectious and Australia, after thinking themselves immune to incompetence, have caught the virus. Bazball is not just a style, not just an idea - it is now a detectable pathogen that has infected the Australian camp, just in time to herald the greatest Ashes series comeback of all time. Inspirational stuff.

    Anon

    There's a compliment in there somewhere...

  16. Postpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    A fascinating game of cricket, all the players out there have given absolutely everything and it has been a tremendous battle.

    It was bad for England who lost two early wickets but Stokes was able to help his team get back.

    Can England keep the Ashes alive? At the moment, it's well within their grasp.

  17. Stumps - Aus 116-4published at 47 overs

    Lead by 142

    After Mitchell Marsh ducks another bouncer, Mark Wood changes tack and goes fuller to the big all-rounder.

    There is a delay before the last ball, it's full again but Marsh can let it go outside off.

    That ends another magnificent day in this Ashes series.

    Australia lead by 142 with six wickets remaining, the pitch is flattening out a bit.

    Even Steven? England narrowly ahead? Who knows? It'll all change within half an hour tomorrow, I'm sure!

  18. Aus 116-4published at 46.2 overs

    Travis Head will be delighted to get off single with a single first ball.

    Mitchell Marsh ducks the second. Four balls left for Mark Wood.

  19. Postpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Mark Wood must be the friendliest bowler to bowl at 96 mph.

  20. Postpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 7 July 2023

    One more over. Mark Wood to bowl.

    Will England get one more?