9.53pm So, that's a wrap from day two... we've outlasted the Perth Test at least, but how much longer will this one last? That depends how quickly England take these last wickets, and then how well they "express themselves in the right way" with the bat... quite the euphemism from Root there... from Miller, Alex, Vairavan and the team, good night!

9.44pm Here's Joe Root on TNT: "Good to get in the position by the end of the day yesterday. We knew we needed to build something. I tried not to approach anything different to the last couple of years, I do that for long periods and make good decisions, I can be successful. Any time you contribute in an Ashes it means a huge amount. The most enjoyable thing was to get into a position to get us in the game.

"It's clear we weren't at our best... but took those wickets in a cluster which shows the nature of this game. More work to do but well and truly in this game. If we apply ourselves in a correct manner... looks like the wicket is plating. Short ball felt a good way to go, changing the rhythm of the game with different styles at each end. Brydon executed really well. It is different fielding to a white-ball, we practice really hard, just one of those days when things didn't stick to hand. We'll keep backing ourselves. We need to take four wickets. It's a simple game. Energy and positivity, We know our best cricket can turn a game very quickly. If we are anywhere near our best this game can turn in our favour. Have to express ourselves in the right way."

Marnus Labuschagne has been speaking to Fox: "Getting to the close six-down pushes our bowling to later in the night, so that was crucial. The boys played well, we let them in a little in the middle of the session but a nice day. Heady and Weathers grabbed the momentum and the rest piggy-backed. Frustrating to get out at the change of conditions, a bad time to get out. But nice to score some runs and get the team in this position. Catching under lights is the time I practice fielding the most... the seats and the hoardings being red at the Gabba, it's tricky. Nice to take one [in the morning] but Jacks has pipped me there. Lots of shots, runs, wickets, screamers... an awesome day."

9.33pm Off the players troop. Australia with a spring in their step, England with something distinctly wearier. They aren't down and out yet, but they are headed that way unless they can dredge something back in tomorrow's morning session. Every single one of Australia's batters got in, and though no-one went beyond Jake Weatherald's 72, they took such lumps out of England's quicks at their rate of more than 5 an over.

Brydon Carse bore the brunt in an eye-watering analysis, and though he did trigger a revival in his two-wicket over, he also dropped a clanger late in the day... one of four five bad misses from England that have ruined their optimism after the opening day.

Niteshh: "What'd you think Andrew, does 'Saying no to practice game' has a say in England's performance today ?" I still maintain that England were right not to play that match for batting and bowling reasons... but the disciplines of sighting the ball in the lights in match conditions. That has been a factor today that will raise questions in the inquest, yes...

Louis: "Archer injury loading. Your strike bowler shouldn't be bowling 20 overs a day." Yes... it's a concern, and it was triggered in part by a simply woeful over from Jacks that meant England didn't dare try spin again. Only four seamers is dangerous in these conditions.

Iqbal Ather Sha: "@VJ you were spot on with your prediction of 40 odd run lead after over number 46.... Hat off to you... :-)"

So, the final over of England's torrid day looms. Archer, with a last chance to claw something back

Brian: "Why the hurry for Aus ? By going hard and fast at Eng, Aus are 'forcing' Stokes to bowl his 'best' bowlers into the ground without a rest. If Aus were going nicely at 3 an over, we'd probably be watching Jacks and Root get through a few quick overs

Carse is back on after splitting his webbing in that drop, it seems

Six minutes left as Atkinson goes agaIn

Jackson: "It's knowing it's the hope that kills you, that kills you"

Chef: "I think that was keepers catch all day long. Since he dropped one earlier that's why he didn't went at that one."

Tom: "The difference has been this for a long time: England have hope. Australia have expectations"

AwaliCamel: "It's the hope that kills. "