Summary

  • Australia win Ashes

  • Hosts take 3-0 lead in five-Test series

  • Victory sealed before tea on final day

  • Malan 54; Hazlewood 5-48

  • 'Damp patches' delay start by 3 hrs

  • Rain leaks through covers overnight

  1. Postpublished at 07:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    The Barmy Mrmy are tremendous, aren't they? They are making loads of noise, having fun. You know how lucky you are as an England player to have support like this.

    Overton is showing so much courage with a cracked rib. England are going to lose the Ashes but in Malan, Stoneman, Vince, Overton there is a little bit of light.

  2. ouch!

    Eng 201-7published at 66.1 overs

    Close! Craig Overton plays rather edgily at a short ball towards gully and Nathan Lyon, diving, can't quite get there. Oh, and now Lyon's gone off the field! He's cut one of the fingers on his bowling hand. I think he might be missing a nail...

    Nathan LyonImage source, Getty Images
  3. What have you missed?published at 07:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    If you're just poking your head out from under the duvet, here's the news...

    Australia are three wickets away from beating England in the third Test, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and regaining the Ashes.

    A three-hour delay caused by some leaking covers and damp patches on the pitch provided some respite for England, but normal service has been resumed.

    Josh Hazlewood pegged back Jonny Bairstow's off pole, Nathan Lyon did for Moeen Ali for the fifth time in six innings in this series, and Dawid Malan made a doughty 54 before gloving a rare Hazlewood long hop behind.

    It seems only a matter of time...

    Nathan LyonImage source, EPA
  4. Eng 201-7published at 66 overs

    Josh Hazlewood, four wickets to his name, steams in and boucnes a ball up into Chris Woakes' pads, before he jabs his bat down on a yorker.

    A push to mid-wicket gets Woakes off strike and brings up 200 before Craig Overton, in uneasy fashion, sees out the over. You really have to admire Overton, who has never let his body language or his energy dip, despite the fact he's in some obvious discomfort with that rib.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Steve Stone: So many soft wickets by England and players so badly out of form it beggars belief! :(

  6. Eng 199-7published at 65 overs

    Trail by 60

    The best way I can describe Craig Overton's chest pad is it looks like he's sellotaped a pillow to himself.

    Pat Cummins is more than happy to test out this new piece of equipment, banging in a few short balls, and Overton ducks before rubbing at his ribs. Overton's off the mark though, pushing a full delivery down the ground and Mitch Starc, diving to field it, ends up popping it up onto the side of his head. Ouch.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Surely it's time to promote Extras to bat higher up the order.

    Anthony, Manchester

  8. Eng 197-7published at 64 overs

    Craig Overton sees out the over, as Australia all but skip to their fielding positions.

    They're three wickets away from regaining the Ashes.

  9. Eng 196-7published at 63.4 overs

    Craig Overton, giant chest pad strapped in place, is the new man in, and he has a prod at a fine delivery from Josh Hazlewood first up. And again! A corker from the Aussie paceman.

    Hazlewood bowled a superb over to Dawid Malan a few minutes ago. I wonder if that played on Malan's mind.

  10. Postpublished at 06:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Hazlewood is being mobbed by his team-mates.

  11. Postpublished at 06:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    He's trying to play one of his favourite shots. That's what happens when you're on the wrong end of a match. It tends to go for the bowlers.

  12. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 63.2 overs

    Malan c Paine b Hazlewood 54 (Eng 196-7)

    Gone!

    That's easily the worst delivery Josh Hazlewood has bowled all day, and yet it's the one that's got the prized wicket of Dawid Malan. It's short, going down the leg side and Malan can't resist. He swings a pull shot, misses and gets enough glove on it to send it through to Tim Paine.

    Josh HazlewoodImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 06:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    The imaginary horse, Les?

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Text 81111

    I imagine someone will be showing Mark Wood where the horses are kept ahead of the 4th and 5th Test in the hope he might be able to close the door.

    Les, Dorchester

  15. Eng 196-6published at 63 overs

    Trail by 63

    That's a fine looking shot from Chris Woakes, getting up on his toes and driving Mitch Starc handsomely through the covers for a couple. Ooft, and again! A ping off the pads picks up a lovely boundary. Smith folds his arms and shakes his head in disgust.

    Short from Starc, but it's ill directed, and the bowler looks just as annoyed as his captain.

  16. What have you missed?published at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Three hours of waiting for "damp patches" on the wicket to dry after the covers leaked overnight, then two England wickets.

    Jonny Bairstow was cleaned up by Josh Hazlewood's first ball of the day and Moeen Ali was lbw pushing forward to Nathan Lyon.

    That left England - needing 259 to make Australia bat again - tottering on 172-6 and Australia four wickets away from winning the Ashes.

    Dawid Malan, who has an unbeaten half-century, is leading the England resistance, with Chris Woakes currently for company.

    Jonny BairstowImage source, EPA
  17. Eng 188-6published at 62 overs

    This has been a testing over from Josh Hazlewood, mixing up a nasty short ball with three length deliveries that beat the flapping bat of Dawid Malan.

    And again! I reckon four of those six balls beat Malan's outside edge there. Malan has a rueful smile at Hazlewood, who looks like he'd throw an almighty tantrum if he could.

  18. Not outpublished at 61.4 overs

    It's pitching outside leg! Well done, umpire Erasmus.

    Josh Hazlewood goes and has a long, long look at the wicket afterwards.

  19. Postpublished at 06:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    That looks high. It's hitting Dawid Malan on the knee, and his feet are off the floor...

  20. Australia reviewpublished at 06:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017

    Oh, hello. Josh Hazlewood is convinced he's got Dawid Malan out lbw here.

    The umpire shakes his head but Steve Smith likes it. Upstairs we go...