Perry and Healy find easy pickings against Sciver, who was not one of England's most threatening bowlers yesterday. Two singles from the over.

Isa Guha
Ex-England seamer on BBC Test Match Special

It was always going to be a gamble to start with Ecclestone at the City End.

Jim Maxwell adds: There's an old mantra in cricket: always start a session, or a day, with your best two bowlers.

While Ellyse Perry's proud father Mark is interviewed for television by the boundary, Marsh begins a new over. Perry knocks a single, and you can sense the game - and the Ashes - slipping away from England with every run.

England turn to Natalie Sciver's medium pace as they look for that elusive wicket - and straight away, Healy crashes her for four through the covers - before drilling a straight drive which is so powerful that it knocks the middle stump out of the ground at the bowler's end.

With the pressure of Perry's century off, these two are hustling for every run - Healy steering a well-run two to move to 32 from 78 overs.

Perry helps herself to another four down the leg side.

And if you've been with us since before play, you'll be aware that Charlotte Edwards will be breathing a sigh of relief - having pledged to eat her hat if Perry did not reach three figures.

Isa Guha
Ex-England seamer on BBC Test Match Special

A huge moment for Ellyse Perry, who has an incredible, competitive spirit. Well deserved.

100 for Ellyse Perrypublished at 04:36 Greenwich Mean Time 11 November 2017

04:36 GMT 11 November 2017

Aus 235-5

Perry puts her helmet back on. A century there for the taking. Marsh drops it short, Perry helps it down the leg side and that's her hundred!

Image source, Getty Images

Isa Guha
Ex-England seamer on BBC Test Match Special

It was a lot to ask of Sophie Ecclestone, 18 years old, to take a six-over-old ball and open up the session, rather than the experienced Laura Marsh, on a slowish pitch.

David Wallace: We're going to need all the "impossibles of cricket" to hold these two on what sounds like an utterly lifeless pitch.

Healy's in the zone here, stepping forward and flicking Shrubsole through mid-wicket for four more. Australia trail by less than 50.

And with Perry four away from a historic Test century, the players are going to take drinks.

Image source, Getty Images

Aus 227-5published at 04:31 Greenwich Mean Time 11 November 2017

04:31 GMT 11 November 2017

Never mind the pressure of an imminent century weighing on Perry - at the other end, Alyssa Healy takes on the pace of Shrubsole and lifts her over mid-wicket for the first six of the Test!

Cat and mouse from England - aware that Perry's one hit away from a maiden hundred, they make a bowling change. They turn to Laura Marsh, who bowled a miserly 23 overs for 28 runs yesterday. There's a short mid-on in place, just in front of where the non-striker would normally stand.

Perry is as cool as ice, playing out six dot balls from the off-spinner and not taking the bait. Time for one more over before drinks.

While Perry waits at the non-striker's end, now on her highest score in international cricket (having overtaken her 95 not out in an ODI against South Africa last year), keeps it tight against Healy. The Aussie keeper moves to 16 with a two through mid-wicket. Stand by your beds, Perry will be on strike next over...

Mel Jones
Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

As soon as Perry got to 96, you could see people getting their cameras ready. Everyone's on the edge of their seats, hoping she can bring it up in one shot.

Ecclestone spins a couple past Healy's outside edge, then she takes the aerial route with a slog-sweep... but it lands short of the boundary fielder Laura Marsh. A single brings Perry on strike - and there's a huge sense of anticipation from the crowd as Perry drills an on-drive for four. She's 96 not out... but pushes the last ball of the over to point. (It's also the fifty stand.)

Shrubsole replaces Brunt and immediately finds Perry's edge... but it's a thick enough edge to be well wide of the solitary slip and away for four. Next ball, a delicate cut brings her four more to the same, unguarded, third man boundary.

Sophie Ecclestone has bowled unchanged from the Southern End this morning, but without success - although Healy can't punish a full toss as captain Heather Knight makes a great sprawling stop at extra cover. Tammy Beaumont removes her helmet and comes from short leg into the covers - but this is the cue for Knight to place herself even closer at short extra.

Ben Jones of CricViz: Before the new ball, Aus played 30% attacking shots. Since it was taken, they've played 19% attacking shots. Poor bowling has meant fewer shots = more runs!