Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne took a brilliant catch to break a disappointing partnership between Joe Root and Jofra Archer in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday, December 5.
Archer joined Root when England were struggling at 264-9. They launched an unexpected counterattack. The pair added 61 runs and at stumps England’s score was 325-9. Their resistance troubled Australia, but the hosts took the final wicket the next morning and only nine runs were added to the overnight score.
Marnus Labuschagne takes brilliant catch to break Root-Archer stand
On the second ball of the 77th over, Joffra Archer tried to pull the short ball of Brendan Doggett. Marnus Labuschagne raced down his right and bowled a full length delivery. Despite losing balance in the air, he managed to catch the catch cleanly just before it fell to the ground.
Watch the video posted by a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) below:
One of Marnus Labuschagne’s all-time screamers!#ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/nF2AkvCDtZ
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 5 December 2025
Australia needed only a few balls to take the final wicket on the second morning. Joe Root remained unbeaten after scoring a brilliant 138 runs and the players left the field to thunderous applause.
Root ended his long wait for a century in Test cricket on Australian soil after playing 29 innings. This was his 40th Test century and his 23rd century in World Test Championship matches.
Marnus Labuschagne has very good hands – Jonathan Agnew
BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew praised Marnus Labuschagne’s sharp reaction and said the pink ball was difficult to spot. He also praised Joe Root’s brilliant innings and said that Root was clearly the best performer among all the batsmen.
“Marnus Labuschagne’s got great hands. Jofra Archer hit it hard, he went fast and he took a really good catch there. Usually with the pink ball it’s quite difficult to see, but Labuschagne dived full length and took a really good catch.”
“Joe Root, an excellent innings. He is a cut above all the other batsmen.”
Mitchell Starc chose the bowlers for Australia in the first innings.
Mitchell Starc was an excellent bowler for Australia. He took six wickets and continued to break them whenever England started building partnerships. The veteran bowler overtook Wasim Akram’s tally of 414 Test wickets and became the highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers.
England finished with slightly above average scores in the day-night Test. Australia have depth in their batting order and England needed a strong score in the first innings, which they managed to achieve.
The pressure is now on Australia to get close to England’s score, especially as batting will become more difficult as the match progresses. Australia currently leads the series 1-0 and England will have to avoid another defeat to stay alive.
Also read: “A victim of politics and bias” – Fans applaud Ruturaj Gaikwad for his maiden ODI century in Raipur
