'Worst ever': England player cops it over 'awful' Ashes gaffe

Rory Burns will be having nightmares about the first Ashes Test at the Gabba after another moment to forget on day two against Australia.

The England batsman - who also suffered the ignominy of being clean bowled by Mitchell Starc on the very first ball of the series - put down the easiest of catching chances to give David Warner a massive lifeline.

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The Aussie opener had already survived being clean bowled by Ben Stokes off a no-ball in the morning session, before he rode his luck again after lunch.

Warner should have been sent back to the pavilion on 49 when he edged a ball through to Burns in slips.

It was a regulation slips catch but Burns completely misjudged the flight of the ball as it came off the edge of Warner's bat.

Burns had both hands in position to take the catch but could only look on in horror as it squeezed out of his palms.

Warner made the most of the reprieve to notch his half century a short time later, pushing his average score in Brisbane well past 66.

Burns was mercifully picked apart by fans on social media after the horrible blunder compounded his first Test horror show.

David Warner rides luck on day two

Warner was also given a massive reprieve in the morning's first session after being clean bowled by Ben Stokes.

Replays showed the England allrounder's front foot was in front of the bowling crease and the wicket was chalked off due to the no-ball.

The Aussie opener also survived a run-out chance after stumbling to get back to the crease in a comical moment in the second session.

Australia were 1-113 at lunch, just 34 runs short of England's paltry first innings 147, with Labuschagne 53 not out and Warner on 48.

Adding to England's woes, Stokes was moving gingerly around the field late in the session, apparently troubled by a left knee problem.

Stokes, playing his first competitive match since The Hundred in July, bowled Warner for 17 but the wicket was cancelled by a no-ball review that showed the all-rounder had over-stepped the mark.

It was a repeat of the no-ball that denied Stokes his first test wicket in the 2013/14 Ashes, when he over-stepped in having Brad Haddin caught behind in the second match at Adelaide Oval.

"Of course it's frustrating," Root said on the field during the drinks break.

"But the fact that we're creating chances ... in that session is really pleasing. I think we've got to stay confident, keep trusting what we're doing."

Stokes' no-ball was his fourth in succession, with broadcaster Channel Seven showing replays of him overstepping the mark in each ball.

However, the third umpire only called no-ball on the wicket delivery in a situation that Ricky Ponting labelled "pathetic" and cricket fans blew up about on social media.

It was later revealed that the technology the third umpire uses to check for no-balls was not working and they could only rule on wicket-taking no-balls.

Australia made it to the drinks break after lunch on day two at 1-141, with Warner on 63 and Marnus Labuschagne on 65.

The pair surpassed England's first innings total a short time later to put Australia in firm control of taking of the first Test match.

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