Summary

  • England reach close with a lead of seven runs

  • Australia's fast bowlers intimidate in final session

  • 'Like Thomson & Lillee all over again' - Tufnell on TMS

  • Cook & Vince out; Root hit on helmet by Starc bouncer

  • Australia 328 all out - Smith 141 not out

  1. Postpublished at 00:31 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Root has made his first bowling change of the morning. Here's Chris Woakes, who had an iffy day yesterday.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    #bbccricket

    Chris Smith: Great start from Broad & Anderson, that consistent line & pressure will bring wickets. If only Ball or Woakes could get to that level it would make such a difference. If only there was an aggressive red head all-rounder to come into the attack...

    James AndersonImage source, Getty Images
  3. Aus 176-5published at 69 overs

    Trail by 126

    James Anderson whizzes down two bouncers to Steve Smith, and the Australia captain ducks neatly underneath them. Smith leaves a few more short balls before deciding he's had enough of that, and he pulls nicely for a very safe single. That's the only run from the over, though, as Paine lets the final ball go through to Jonny Bairstow.

  4. Mastering the art of the slower ballpublished at 00:26 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Get Inspired
    Get Inspired

    Stuart Broad has struck with a slower ball. But how do you bowl such a delivery? Allow Australia's Sarah Aley to show you.

    Media caption,

    The perfect slower ball - five tips from Australia's Sarah Aley

  5. Aus 175-5published at 68 overs

    Broad 13-6-22-2

    That wicket, incidentally, ended a 99 run partnership between Smith and Marsh. Oh, that's lovely from Broad, going full first up to Paine, and the wicket-keeper sends an outside edge spooning towards a vacant gully. You can sense Paine really wants to get that first run under his belt, but Broad is giving nothing away. A wicket maiden, and Broad gets a standing ovation from the Barmy Army.

    Shaun MarshImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 00:24 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Glenn McGrath said on TMS this week that if you bowl three maidens, something will happen. It's taken 2.2 overs for England.

    Here's Tim Paine, out for his first bat in Test cricket since 2010. No pressure.

  7. Postpublished at 00:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't want to tell you I told you so, but I told you so - from round the wicket Broad was bowling it into the middle of Marsh's bat.

    Broad's come over the wicket, ran it across him, Marsh has tried to chase and it's just stopped in the pitch a bit and he's chipped it straight to Anderson. The door is ajar now.

  8. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 67.2 overs

    Marsh c Anderson b Broad 51 (Aus 175-5)

    Gone!

    That's a poor shot from Shaun Marsh, and he knew it. Stuart Broad rolled his fingers on the ball to take some pace off it, and it might have just stuck in the pitch slightly. Marsh offered up a loose drive and slapped it straight to James Anderson at mid-off.

    All that hard work, undone with one sloppy stroke.

    Stuart BroadImage source, PA
  9. Postpublished at 00:19 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    Oh, that was a whisker away. It was not a good shot and he really went at it.

  10. Aus 175-4published at 67 overs

    Trail by 127

    Australia were a bit flat when they started yesterday morning. England are the same today. It all just feels a bit off. Steve Smith grouches as a few people in the corporate box hold up play by moving around. That's my pet hate at a cricket match, moving in between balls. Oh! Steve Smith has played and missed! I don't think I've seen him do that all match. He stays on the back foot but his feet don't move as he has a gentle waft at an Anderson delivery that hugs off stump. Another maiden. That's better from England.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:15 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    #bbccricket

    Matt Richmond: Looking forward to a tense day of Test cricket today. Loving the 8am start here in Beijing. Conducive to a productive day in front of the cricket.

    Nick Hall: On a night shift being paid to work. Good reason for listening to TMS and being paid to stay awake also works. As for food? I brought out a chopper and made a delicious ramen.

    Jackie: Getting ready for the start of play, with a bottle of wine. Boyfriend sleeping on the sofa bed because he hates cricket and he can stay there.

  12. Aus 175-4published at 66 overs

    Marsh 51, Smith 67

    Stuart Broad will continue and he gets Marsh to drive away from his body, but the inside edge goes trickling onto Marsh's foot and away to safety. Broad looks suitably anguished and responds with a full delivery that Marsh clips off his toes with ease. That'll be a maiden, as another full ball is poked back towards Broad.

  13. Postpublished at 00:12 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    You have to say well done to Shaun Marsh because he came into this Test match under immense pressure from people wondering why they'd recalled him again.

    The man can play but he's been a source of immense frustration to Australian cricket lovers. It's nice to see someone come in and do something against all expectation.

    Shaun MarshImage source, Getty Images
  14. 50 runs

    50 for Marshpublished at 65 overs

    Aus 175-4

    Another lovely drive from Steve Smith, as easy as you like, adds a single to the total. Anderson looks much happier bowling to Marsh as he gradually draws him forward and keeps him on the defensive. Oh, that's a glorious bit of work from Marsh, a drive that goes racing away for three to bring up his half-century. That's his first Ashes half-century.

    Shaun Marsh celebrates bringing up his fiftyImage source, PA
  15. Aus 171-4published at 64 overs

    Broad 11-5-22-1

    There's a boo going around the Gabba, which can only herald the arrival of Stuart Broad. He's got a slip and a gully in place for Shaun Marsh, who attempts a whip off his pads and ends up toppling slightly to one side. Broad's either bowling for a leg side strangle or he's not got his line right, I can't make my mind up. That's too short from Broad, though, and Marsh can just stay on the back foot and crack it away for the first boundary of the day. Steve Smith then stops Stuart Broad in his run up as he spots Mark Stoneman back pedaling at square leg. He sees everything.

    Shaun MarshImage source, Getty Images
  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:02 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    #bbccricket

    Selina J: I love cricket, it's so beautifully British. Other sports have cheerleaders, bands, pyrotechnics in the build-up to the match. We have two blokes pointing at some grass having a jolly nice chat about it.

  17. Aus 167-4published at 63 overs

    Trail by 135

    Steve Smith's average, and his conversion rate, is ridiculously good. An average of 60.40 with 20 centuries and 21 half-centuries. He stays camped on the back foot to Anderson, able to punch everything away, before Anderson gets one to nip over his stumps.

    Steve SmithImage source, PA
  18. Postpublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2017

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    The pitch already looks to have died off even a bit more than yesterday. You've got to get the batsman forward because Anderson's usual length looks very easy for Smith and Marsh to just rock back and knock away.

  19. Aus 167-4published at 62.1 overs

    Marsh 44, Smith 66

    The first ball of the day is slightly short from James Anderson, and Steve Smith drives him nicely through the covers for a couple.

    Steve SmithImage source, EPA
  20. Postpublished at 23:58 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2017

    Joe Root is shining the ball on his sleeve as England make their way to the middle. It's a little overcast at the Gabba. Unsurprisingly, it'll be James Anderson to get this third day under way. There's 18 overs left until the new ball is available.