Ashes in a nutshell: All you need to know from day three in Brisbane
Smith shines before Australia bowlers turn up the heat on England
Saturday 25 November 2017 14:34, UK
Steve Smith again thwarted England's bowlers and the tourists are now under pressure in their second innings. Here's all you need to know from the Gabba...
REPORT
Two early wickets from Josh Hazlewood have left England with plenty of work to do on day four after Steve Smith's magnificent century earned Australia a 26-run first innings lead.
WHAT THEY SAID
Steve Smith, Australia captain: "It meant everything. It was tough out there, the wicket was two-paced and they bowled some reasonable spells so it was about batting for a long period of time. I had to dig deep and wait for the ball to come into my areas."
Stuart Broad, England seamer: "I've pretty much left every day of this Test match not knowing who is ahead. I think we had a fantastic morning, stuck to some brilliant plans and the new ball worked for us - I really do think it is a new ball pitch. Once the new ball gets 20 overs old, I think the pitch gets quite slow and makes it quite hard to force a mistake out of the batsmen.
"I think days three and four will be the best times to bat on this pitch and that is a good sign for us, it is in our hands a little bit. If we have a couple of batsmen apply themselves tomorrow and play with great patience, we can build a really good score to put Australia under pressure on the last day."
Michael Atherton, Sky Sports pundit: "There is no doubt Australia have had the better of the day. Steve Smith's innings was fantastic and he's put his team in a strongish position.
"Obviously much depends on how England bat on day four but the way Australia came in in that final hour tonight there was only one team that was under pressure and that was England."
MOMENT OF THE DAY
With England two down early in their second innings and a baying Gabba crowd as loud as they have been in this Test, Joe Root was pinned by a fierce bouncer from Mitchell Starc.
STAT OF THE DAY
Australia's run rate in their first innings of 2.51 is their lowest in a Test innings at home since 1999.
