Ashes 2025 live score: Australia lead by 44 as England rue dropped catches at end of day two

Jofra Archer will bowl the final over of the day.

Carey pulls him away to move to 46 and within one blow of a half century.

Neser has the strike though. He defends the final five deliveries and sees out the over.

Stumps on day two and Australia lead by 44 runs with four wickets remaining.

Atkinson overpitches and Carey unloads on a glorious cover drive which finds the boundary for four!

Two more for Carey and he’s closing quickly in on a fifty. He’s up ot 45 at a rate better than a run a ball.

It’s impressive stuff from the Australian number six.

This partnership is up to 39 now and the lead if 34.

Neser slaps Archer away through point for four which causes a response.

Short pitched bowling and a bit of evasion necessary for Neser.

That’s five catches that have gone down now for England.

Ben Stokes catch believe it.

The Joe Root drop was tough, he saw it late and had to leap to the right. It was a tough one and halfway between keeper and slip.

Meanwhile, the lead keeps building for Australia.

Gus Atkinson is on for a short burst before the end of the day.

Neser works him away from three runs to bring Carey on strike.

Carey gets a thick edge and Root drops it at first slip!

Another one goes down as Australia move above 350.

Archer now finds Neser’s edge but there’s no one in the slip cordon to take the catch.

A frustrating over for the quick bowler ends with three runs coming from it.

Australia’s lead is up the 12.

Neser has looked solid. He’s playing straight and getting in line with the ball.

Stokes puts a short leg in to upset him.

Dropped! It works, Neser backs off and slaps the ball to Carse at wide mid off but Carse fumbles it and drops the ball.

Too many have gone down for England today, that might be the worst one.

Carey is still chipping away and accummulating runs where he can.

Archer goes full and the left-hander blazes him through the gap at cover for three runs.

He’s into the twenties now which means each of Australia’s top seven have all scored 20 or more in this innings.

Stokes bowls an over which goes for one. He hobbles around and looks to have a bit of cramp.

As such the 12th man comes on and Stokes takes on some fluids to ease the damage.

Jofra Archer is brought back into the attack.

Carse continues. He’s been troubling Carey and the wicket has probably bought him another over.

Jofra Archer looks like he’s warming up as well.

Carey smokes Carse for four before a couple of singles bring Australia into the lead.

Any runs from here and a big bonus for them and will put them in the driving seat in this Test.