Summary

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury & Timothy Abraham

  1. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Moments like that, just hitting the stumps can give some life to a side.

  2. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    That was a great piece of fielding actually. I don't think we need to take eight looks at that one though.

  3. Aus 158-2

    Trail by 12

    Excellent fielding at mid-on and a direct hit as Annabel Sutherland comes through for a quick single.

    There is a brief check by the third umpire but Sutherland's dive was a good one and she was comfortably home.

  4. Aus 156-2

    Trail by 14

    After a long spell before the interval, Sophie Ecclestone gets a bit of a break and Nat Sciver-Brunt takes over.

    It's accurate stuff from the England all-rounder, keeping Annabel Sutherland tied down to get through a maiden.

  5. Aus 156-2

    Healy 24, Sutherland 72

    Lauren Bell gets things started for England in this session and after three balls on off stump, strays onto the pads and Alyssa Healy whips it down to fine leg for a single.

    Bell swiftly gets back to that off stump line but Annabel Sutherland still manages to punch through the covers for one.

  6. BattersGetty Images

    Thanks, Tim. Just a vat of coffee for me. I'm saving my porridge for after the dinner break.

    Before then, England will be hoping to take a few more wickets. They created the chances before tea, now they need to start taking them.

    Australia trail by just 16 with eight wickets remaining.

  7. Right, there's a big bowl of porridge with my name on it waiting.

    I'll leave you in the capable hands of Sam Drury, who I would imagine has suitably replenished himself during the tea break.

  8. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    Just the attention to detail has been missing from England this series. It's those 1% things, Australia have out fielded England, they've been fitter. England have looked untidy.

  9. Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on TNT Sports

    Sophia Dunkley will look back at her chance and think she should have done better. Danni Wyatt-Hodge would have expected to take her chance 10 times out of 10. Amy Jones is one of the best in the world behind the stumps, and it was tough one. England will rue those missed chances.

  10. England can ill afford to squander chances if they're to somehow wrestle their way back into this match. Not least when you see that Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath all still to come.

    Gulp.

  11. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer in Melbourne

    MCG outfield

    There are very few things as wholesome as children playing on the outfield during the interval of a Test match.

    Here they are, the next generation of Australian domination, showing us the athletic benefits of living near the beach and in the sunshine...

  12. Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on TNT Sports

    It looks tough for the England bowlers. Annabel Sutherland has made it look very easy. She's been able to apply pressure at the right times with the ball not moving laterally that much.

  13. Mark Robinson
    Warwickshire first-team coach on TNT Sports

    The bowlers have bowled well but they haven't been backed up in the field.

  14. England dropped Annabel Sutherland not once, but twice, in the first session. The Australia all-rounder has looked in ominous form since.

    England fielding woes continue as two catches dropped

  15. England did manage to take one wicket in the first session after Phoebe Litchfield edged Lauren Bell into the gloves of Amy Jones.

    Here's a clip of it, but there's a lot more to the tale.

    Bell had probed away outside Litchfield's off stump over the course of a few overs, maintaining her discipline and consistency, before finally getting her reward.

    'Fantastic' Bell removes Litchfield for 45

  16. Matthew Mott
    Ex-England and Australia coach on TNT Sports

    That was a real lack of awareness from Sophie Ecclestone there. She should have showed more urgency. As a batter you don't want to face that extra over before the break.

  17. Australia 154-2 at tea

    Not quite enough time for another over before the interval after a bit of dilly dallying from Sophie Ecclestone during that over.

    Without question, Australia's session at the MCG.

  18. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    Annabel Sutherland looks very set.

  19. Aus 154-2

    Sophie Ecclestone fiddles with the bun holding up her hair between deliveries. Annabel Suthertland picks up another four with a lovely sweep through square leg.

  20. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    The pressure that Sophie Ecclestone worked so hard to build has gone.