Cricket fans were once again up-in-arms over the frustrating rules of the red-ball format after Australia were forced to wait 20 minutes before chasing down the final runs of the second Ashes Test because of the dinner break. Steve Smith and his team took a 2-0 lead over England at the Gabba to leave the visitors reeling heading to Adelaide.

Jacks partnership helped England off the ropes on day four, until a Steve Smith screamer broke the resistance.

Mitchell Starc made a late-career bid for all-rounder status when he scored a half-century and grabbed two wickets under the Gabba floodlights to push Australia to the brink of victory at the close of day three of the second Ashes test on Saturday.

The stand-in captain also defended the inclusion of Michael Neser at the expense of Nathan Lyon, reflecting on the 35-year old's ability to play different roles