Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

After the first session I thought this was going to be a run-fest. But I've really enjoyed the day because there's been a touch of reverse. Australia are still ahead of the game though.

The first ball doesn't do a lot from Broad and the second is too wide to really threaten. Shaun Marsh has a waft and doesn't make contact. There are a few yelps from behind the stumps but that passed way under the bat.

The ball starting to keep low?

My mistake. The new ball has been called for but not taken. Stuart Broad is starting this over with the old ball.

Four dots from Broad and now England do take the new ball. This is odd. Very odd.

Aus 242-3published at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

06:46 GMT 26 December 2017

Ah. Maybe this will change things. England have called for that new ball.

Stuart Broad will bowl the first over with it.

There are five overs or 15 minutes left today, whichever comes first.

Steve Smith's shadow is lengthening as he fidgets around in his crease before guiding a full delivery behind square on the off side for four.

Curran puts his hands over his eyes in frustration but that's just what Steve Smith has been doing all series, Tom.

It just doesn't feel like anything is going to happen for England before the close. Smith and Marsh milk six from the over.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Why don't England give Tom Curran a chance with the new ball? What are they worried about? They are 3-0 down in the series. Give the young lad a chance.

Still no new ball for England. Tom Curran continues with this battered old kookaburra.

The official attendance has been confirmed at 88,172. That is some effort. The Aussie fans are getting to witness their captain doing what he does best yet again. He has dug in and is just churning out run after run.

Chris Woakes is still plugging away but there is no sign of that reverse swing of earlier. Just the single from the over. Joe Root gives Chris Woakes a big pat on the back as he finishes the over. The end of his spell?

Image source, PA

Daniel Button: Why bowl Malan for an hour if England then don’t take the new ball? Let the game drift after a promising afternoon session and just after tea.

More slower balls from Tom Curran. You can't say he hasn't given his all today. Perhaps he is starting to tire a little though on debut as this delivery is down the leg side and Smith can easily collect another single. Just how do England get Smith out?

Thanks Jack. Like my esteemed colleague I have no idea what's going on here. England spent the last hour bowling Dawid Malan and his leg spin. It seemed they were just saving the quicks for the new ball but we're now into a third over after the new ball was made available and there is no sign of a new cherry.

Tom Curran continues...

Tom Curran is going to continue, but that's me done for the day.

Matt Henry will guide you through to the close. Catch you tomorrrow. Cheers.

Image source, Reuters

Basically, Steve Smith is frustrating England yet again.

Australia dominated the opening session as they reached 102-0 with David Warner making batting look simple on this MCG pitch.

Then after lunch England fought back. Chris Woakes dismissed the scratchy Cameron Bancroft before two balls of remarkable drama. Tom Curran, making his Test debut, had Warner out for 99 only for the batsman to be reprieved due to a no ball. Warner then reached his century the very next ball, resulting in wild celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.

Curran's mistake cost England only five runs though as James Anderson had Warner caught behind while Stuart Broad ended his long wait for a wicket shortly after tea by dismissing Usman Khawaja.

That left the hosts 160-3 but now Steve Smith, aided by Shaun Marsh, has reached yet another half-century.

Woakes over-pitches and Marsh unfurls a delicious cover drive to the fence.

Time for the new ball? Apparently still not.

Image source, PA

Rob Davidson: One of the most frustrating things about this series, like previous away series, the sheer gulf means England can’t capitalise on some real weak links in the Aussie top six. Bancroft and Khawaja, like Bailey and Watson before them, total passengers enjoying the ride.

Dave W: Smith seems to have a different way of playing. Scores from bad balls & defends good ones. Wonder if it will catch on.

It may be just an over delay before England do take the new ball - the fourth umpire looks to be holding a new cherry on the sidelines.

Tom Curran on to ball as Smith and Marsh pick up a single each. Tidy enough.

It looks like Broad might have been off the field for a bit so England could be delaying the new ball until he's available to bowl again.

Woakes will continue with the old ball for now.

Image source, Getty Images

Smith pushes and prods for no run against Woakes before he tucks around the corner for a single.

Marsh defends the last and that's 80 overs bowled. The second new ball is available...

But it doesn't look like England are taking it. What have they been doing for the last hour if not to take the new ball straight away?

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

When Stokes comes back England have to go for Stokes at six, Bairstow at seven and then find a quality spinner. They have to for the future.

If that means Moeen doesn't play, sorry we have to find a better balanced attack.

Smith clips a run into leg as Malan continues.

Malan then makes a total hash of an attempted googly, dragging it down and allowing Marsh to swivel it away powerfully to the fence.

Anderson can't hang on to a Marsh flick and this pair rotate the strike again, with Smith tapping away for another single off the last ball.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Steve Smith now has 22 Test match fifties and 22 hundreds. Overall he has 689 runs at the MCG at an average of 137.

Image source, Getty Images