Rachel T: Right, come on England - wicket o'clock!

Image source, Reuters

Glenn McGrath was asked on TMS earlier how he'd bowl to Steve Smith. "Top of off. Keep it simple," was the reply - as if Mr McGrath would have suggested anything else.

Of course it's not quite that simple but if a man with 563 Test wickets suggests it, perhaps England should have explored it more than they have done so far.

Anderson the latest to go wide at Smith and then try to go straight. Ooof, that's better - the England quick whistling one through just outside off and getting Smith to nibble at it.

Great delivery, unlucky not to draw the edge.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live

England are definitely on top; Australia are still a long way behind. If they were to lose Steve Smith now, their tail would have to do a huge job. They have got a long tail.

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Ball continues, but it's all a bit tame, culminating in a short and wide one that Marsh languidly slashes away squarish for three.

Smith then clips through mid-wicket for one. A dot to Marsh, make that two as the number six weaves under a short one.

No magic from Anderson so far - four dot balls followed by a sumptuous back-foot punch from Smith that races to the fence through the cover.

The Aussie skipper looking imperious.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

England are wilting a bit here. They've only had two sessions but it feels like they're just waiting for something to happen. You've got to make something happen.

Cheers, Amy. Sterling work.

Ball, Moeen and Woakes have been a tad uninspiring, although credit to Marsh and Smith for quelling England's charge.

A last burst for me on the live text before the close and a last burst for Anderson too, who is returning to the attack.

Can he conjure a breakthrough?

That's my stint done for the day. Thanks for your company - here's Jack Skelton.

Here's your Pint-sized TMS starter for 10...

You'll get the main course shortly after the close of play.

Ball gets a delivery to shape back into Smith but the Australia captain can't be tempted into a lazy waft at it. A fine bit of fielding keeps Smith on strike as he looks to drive back down the ground and Ball sticks a mitt out to take the pace off the ball and knocks it down towards the stumps. England have been bang on in the field, as Stuart Broad tumbles at mid off to cut off a boundary. And that's four. Marsh leans into a straight drive and Broad, no matter how good the dive, can't stop that one.

Jake Ball is back on the pitch. And he's about to bowl. As you were.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Marsh has got the wood over Moeen here. Moeen needs to change it up, come over the wicket and bowl a little straighter at him, see what he's got.

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Shot! Glorious from Marsh. A little shimmy of the feet and a decent delivery from Moeen is cracked through the covers and into the boundary rope. Moeen looks a little tired, to me. He goes short and Marsh absolutely batters a cut shot away, but sub fielder Mason Crane goes diving to the ground at point to cut the ball off.

Dan Norcross
BBC Test Match Special

It's not a desperately problematic situation but England need something - a wicket or two before the end to gee them up.

Image source, PA

Huh. Jake Ball has finished his spell, got his cap back off the umpire and ran straight off the field. He was running fine so you'd assume - or, you'd like to think - he's only gone for a comfort break?

Here's Jake Ball, and there goes Jake Ball. That's a fine shot from Smith, hopping onto the back foot and driving through the covers to add another three to the total. Root strokes his chin and then wanders back to his fielding position, hands on hips. What's he got up his sleeve? Ball brings the ball back into Marsh, cutting off his scoring options, before an attempted yorker is pinged off his toes for a single.

If you've been sensible and gone to bed, then I can bring you both good news and bad news.

Earlier today, Dawid Malan became the third Ashes debutant to make a half-century as he and Moeen took advantage of a flat Australia this morning.

However, a collapse of 6-56 saw England bowled out for 302, with Australia right back in the game.

England's bowlers were superb first up, though. Opener Cameron Bancroft was gone for 9, Usman Khawaja for 11 and David Warner for 26 as Australia fell to 76-4.

Steve Smith has led the way since then though, registering a half-century to steady his side.

Image source, Getty Images

Moeen is going to continue, with a slip and a short slip in place. Marsh, who has played nicely, actually, moves his feet and cracks the ball straight to a fielder. He might be getting a tad impatient as he comes dancing down the wicket again, and picks out the fielder once again. Marsh lets Moeen's final ball drift past his off stump before he wanders off for a brief word with himself.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at the Gabba

Morning, everyone...

Some width on offer from Jake Ball, and Smith frees his arms to crash the ball away for a couple. It's not a bad over from Ball, who targets Smith's off stump, but Smith has his eye in.