Summary

  • England chasing record 354 to win

  • Root 67*, Woakes 5*

  • Malan falls for 29 late on thrilling day

  • Root dropped on 56, overturns lbw on 32

  • Aus 138: Anderson 5-43, Woakes 4-36

  • England trail 1-0 in five-Test series

  • Play starts at 03:30 GMT on Wednesday

  1. Postpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    My hands are shaking after all that typing. There's something more dramatic about a game being under lights. It feels more cinematic. And the noise from the England fans, when Root and Malan were going about their business, was the perfect soundtrack. England are one run short of the halfway mark, and there's six wickets in hand, but Australia are still favourites. They've got time to sleep and regroup and come back stronger tomorrow.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Text 81111

    I feel sick after that last hour. I think I'll be phoning in to work as such after my 3am start tomorrow.

    Anonymous, London

  3. Postpublished at 11:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    That was properly gutsy from England. They built on what Anderson started last night. They toughed it out. Malan will be gutted to be out for 29 - he put on 78 with Root and he withstood a really hostile, accurate spell from Cummins right at the start of his innings - but he's given England the hint of a sniff of a chance.

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    My money is still with Australia just because of the history. What England have done is given themselves a sniff. They have given everyone hope. There is a real air of positivity because of the way they have come back. Smith has to be thinking about 24 hours ago when he didn't enforce the follow-on. If he had the game would have been done and dusted.

  5. Postpublished at 11:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Right, some numbers. England still trail by 178 runs. They've got six wickets in hand. It's still a mammoth ask. But Joe Root is still there, unbeaten on 67. It's set up for a corker of a day tomorrow.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    David Kohn: This is like the best box set ever made. Twists and turns, ebbs and flows, constant drama. Finding it somewhat difficult to focus on my spreadsheet.

  7. Postpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    A picture that sums up the day. I haven't been that tense over a match in a long time.

    Steve SmithImage source, Reuters
  8. Stumps: Eng 176-4published at 62 overs

    Target 354

    Chris Woakes, take a bow. Not only does he survive the final ball of the day, he clips it for three, and then runs off.

    That, folks, is stumps. What a day. What a performance.

  9. Eng 173-4published at 61.5 overs

    That's good, solid defence from Chris Woakes. And even better time delaying tactics as he comes down the pitch to do some gardening and chat with Joe Root. Taking inspiration from Nathan Lyon. Oh, what a ball! Swinging in, it's homing in on Woakes foot and he somehow gets the toe of the bat on it to muscle it away for two! That's outrageous from Cummins!

    One ball to go...

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Text 81111

    I am so scared right now. I don't know whether to laugh, cry or just give up watching cricket. I will offer Root my wife's hand in marriage if he bats us to victory... Damn it, he can have my hand as well if he wants. And my motorbike.

    Rob, Essex

  11. Eng 171-4published at 61.3 overs

    Root is off strike to the first ball of the over, thanks to a slight slip in the field from Usman Khawaja. Best of luck, Chris. He blocks and then Cummins unleashes a beauty that just zips past the outside edge as Woakes gets squared up.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Seb Egan: My boss just asked me if I planned on doing any work this morning...

  13. Postpublished at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Joe Root is going to face an over from Pat Cummins. It feels terribly tense.

  14. Eng 170-4published at 61 overs

    Joe Root gets off strike, sensibly, and Chris Woakes then takes his time marking his guard. He blocks his first ball, and then again.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Text 81111

    The last two occasions I went to the loo we lost a wicket. I have been holding it in since the dinner break.

    James Knocks

  16. Eng 169-4published at 60.3 overs

    Pat Cummins is such an exciting cricketer. That's twice he's done Dawid Malan for pace. Josh Hazlewood continues and Joe Root stays back, blocking and blocking again. Jeez, that's a superb short ball! Banged in, it rises quickly as Root ducks, and it just skims across the front of his face. Root is bent down and he backpedals furiously. I honestly don't know how that's not hit him.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Covering a Year 11 lesson at present; luckily it's IT so I have a computer in front of me... keep up the good work everyone!

    Tim, Supply Teacher, Kent

  18. Eng 169-4published at 60 overs

    6 overs remaining

    A 91mph yorker greets Chris Woakes to the crease, and he jabs his bat on it and blocks the ball away. The Australian contingent of the crowd have woken up now.

  19. Postpublished at 10:51 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Chris Woakes is in as nightwatchman. Good luck, Chris.

  20. Postpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It's that man Cummins. He has bowled incredibly well. It goes straight through Malan.