Marnus Labuschagne praised Jake Weatherald and Travis Head for their quickfire start to Australia’s run chase in the day-night second Ashes Test on Friday, with himself and Steve Smith able to “piggyback” off them. 

The opening pair put on an aggressive 77 to get the ball rolling as they zeroed in on England’s first-innings 334 at the Gabba. Head was eventually out for 33 and Weatherald for 72, with Labuschagne cracking an assured 65 and Smith 61 in their wake. Labuschagne said upping the tempo was not talked about before the run chase, with Head and Weatherald playing their natural games.