The Ashes LIVE: All the latest scores and updates from the Gabba

Australian reporter and broadcaster Gerard Whateley has fumed at English fans while branding Monty Panesar an ‘imbecile’, after touring supporters booed Steve Smith as he walked to the crease to replace opener Jake Weatherald.

England fans have perpetually taunted Smith over the 2018 sandpaper-gate saga, which saw the New South Wales batsman be stripped of the Australian captaincy and cop a 12-month ban.

In the build-up to the Ashes, former England spinner Panesar ruffled feathers after calling on touring fans to go after Smith and make him feel guilty about the controversy.

English fans both in Perth and at The Gabba have taunted Smith with chants that have included, ‘We saw you cry on the telly,’ a reference to how the stand-in Aussie captain broke down in tears when apologising to the nation over the saga.

However, Whateley has fumed at the way the English fans have taunted Smith.

‘It’s the only regrettable part of this series; the English presence is so welcome, but their decision as a mob to boo Steve Smith is daft,’ Whateley said on SEN Cricket.

‘It’s so disappointing, and they would do really well to spread the word around within their own camp that it is just not on.

‘It’s old, it’s got nothing to do with them, and to pick that up from an imbecile like Monty Panesar is so disappointing.’

Now that looks sore!

Brydon Carse throws down a belter and it kicks up off the pitch, slamming right into Steve Smith’s elbow.

The stand-in Aussie skipper wheels away in agony and is now receiving some treatment off the side of the wicket.

Interestingly, Smith had copped a similar knock in almost the exact same spot on his right arm in Perth.

The New South Wales star looks OK to continue and hits back striping Carse away for three runs away to the off side.

Earlier this week, Smith confirmed that he would be emulating West Indies cricket great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was renowned for wearing black tape under his eyes when he batted.

The Aussie stand-in skipper had been seen wearing the eye-strips in the nets earlier this week, but hilariously revealed that Chanderpaul had told him he was wearing them upside down!

‘I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips, he said the strips,’ Smith said.

‘He said it blocks out 65 per cent of the glare, and he also said: “I’ve seen photos, and you’re wearing them the wrong way”.

‘Yesterday, I put them on the right way, and I agree with him,’ Smith added jokingly.

‘I certainly think it stops the glare. I’ll be wearing them.’

Smith admits he has found it hard to see the pink ball during the day-night Test, so he has deployed the move to reduce the glare on his eyes from the floodlights.

Fantastic delivery from Ben Stokes down the off side of the wicket.

Marnus Labuschagne just takes his eye off the ball and feathers the it up to Jamie Smith behind the stumps.

‘He makes something happen out of nothing,’ Stuart Broad said to Channel 7.

‘Stokes knew immediately. Huge breakthrough as we move into twilight.’

Huge wicket for England.

Australia 196-3.

Ben Stokes clearly felt his best way of making inroads here was for Jofra Archer, his best bowler today, to remove one of Australia’s two big guns – Marnus Labuschagne or Steve Smith.

That meant he extended his post-interval spell to seven overs, which brought the wicket of Jake Weatherald but means Stokes will have to wait a while before bringing Archer back – not ideal as the floodlights take effect here at the Gabba.

Australia 193/2 and trail England by 141 runs.

Marnus Labuschagne gets his half-century, but it was a huge mishit!

The Queenslander has again pulled his bat around his body attempting to sweep Brydon Carse to the leg side, but finds the top edge of his bat.

The ball floats over Jamie Smith behind the wicket and heads out for a four, with Labuschagne securing his fifth half-century against the pink ball, and his 25th half-century during his Test cricket career.

Just as I say it, Marnus Labuschagne has thumped Jofra Archer for six!

It was a little lucky, with the Queensland batter pulling a top edge around his body and sending the ball down to long leg.

Archer laughs in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the shadows are beginning to creep in here…

That was a huge moment for England who have struggled to find wickets today.

Jofra Archer came up with the goods at just the right moment, with England rekindling some momentum after a frustrating afternoon.

They now face a tough challenge as they attempt to dismiss Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who are likely to try and slow things down here after Jake Weatherald’s dismissal.

The lights are starting to come on at The Gabba as we head into the evening and Ben Stokes’ side will be eager to also take advantage of the changing conditions.

Smith, meanwhile, is sporting an interesting new NFL-inspired look, wearing two pieces of black tape underneath his eyes.

Wondering why? Find out below…

Australia 155-2 and trail England by 179 runs.

England were desperate for a wicket, and Jofra Archer came up trumps. He’s been the one bowler Australia’s top order haven’t gone after today, and Weatherald was practically walking for the lbw after being hit on the boot in front of all three.

Jofra Archer gets the breakthrough at the start of this session, dismissing Jake Weatherald for lbw.

The wicket has come just at the perfect moment for England, who were looking increasingly frustrated, as Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne resolutely batted away the advances of England’s pace attack.

Archer bowled a stunning full delivery straight at the wicket and there was nothing Weatherald could do to get his feet out of the way in time, with the 90mph delivery catching the Aussie opener on the toe.

The South Australian jumped up into the air in pain and had thought about reviewing the dismissal, but opted to walk following consultation with Marnus Labuschagne.

It brings an end to a brilliant innings from Weatherald, who today amassed his first half-century in Test cricket, ultimately walking from the crease with 72 runs off 78 deliveries.

Steve Smith enters the game in his place.

Australia 146-2.

Another solid over from Jofra Archer. He’s asking questions of Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald, who take four runs off the over.

Archer was sensational with the bat in hand yesterday evening and this morning, notably at one point today, smashing Mitchell Starc out to cover point with a stunning drive.

He was later caught out by Marnus Labuschagne having amassed his highest ever score in Test cricket, 38 off 36 deliveries.

Australia 133-1 and trail England by 198.

There had been some hopes that Josh Hazlewood could be back in time for the third Test in Adelaide, after the New South Wales quick was seen bowling alongside Pat Cummins in the nets ahead of the Brisbane Test.

Hazlewood missed the Perth Test due to a hamstring complaint, but now it appears the Aussie quick has a new injury, which has thrown his chances of playing during the third Test into doubt.

Shayne has the full scoop here…

Australia managed to get through 74 overs yesterday, leaving some fans who paid for tickets on day one disappointed at the amount of cricket they were able to watch.

It comes as Nathan Lyon was surprisingly dropped from the second Test at The Gabba, meaning Australia’s pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland, Cameron Green and Michael Neser were left to labour through the overs.

While the decision to axe Lyon has raised eyebrows, the impact of omitting Australia’s top spinner has become clear as the innings dragged for Australia.

Aussie legend Simon Katich delivered a brutally honest assessment of the situation on SEN Radio.

‘To think we are going to get through an extra half-hour, so six and a half hours’ cricket, and we are going to get 74 overs in. It’s beyond a joke, an absolute joke,’ he said.

Read more below…