Dropped catches so costly as Australia gain the advantage

JOE

- By RORY DOLLARD

(MB MEDIA)

Root insists the wheels have not come off England's Ashes campaign after dropped catches handed Australia five extra lives and a first-innings lead at the Gabba.Root's unbeaten 138 his long-awaited maiden hundred Down Under carried the tourists to a competitive 334 but a disappointing day two performance saw Australia take the initiative in this floodlit second Test.

The Baggy Greens will resume their innings 44 in front after reaching 378 for six and were helped along the way by some scattershot bowling and a handful of missed opportunities.

Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was the first guilty party as the pink Kookaburra proved elusive, grassing an early nick from Travis Head, before Ben Duckett made two mistakes in the gully and Brydon Carse lost sight of a simple chance under the lights.

Another edge snuck between Root and Smith late on and things will have to sharpen up if England are to claw back the lost ground.

Will Jacks offered cause for optimism with a staggering one-handed leap to dismiss key man Steve Smith, and Root, who captained 4-0 losses in Australia in 2017-18 and 2021-22, does not believe the trail has gone cold.