Summary

  • Australia close on 244-3 - Smith unbeaten on 65

  • Warner makes 103 after being reprieved by Curran no-ball on 99

  • Wickets for Anderson, Broad & Woakes

  • Australia won toss; Bird replaces Starc

  • Australia 3-0 up in five-match series

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Martyn Brown: Steve Smith is like a Jedi with a piece of willow.

    Fran Bleasdale: This is now officially one of those so called key moments, two quick wickets and England are in the hunt.

    Stu in Southport: So Broad finally turns up....pity it's three Tests too late.

  2. Aus 172-3published at 60 overs

    Broad back over the wicket to Smith, who leaves outside off, before unfurling a cover drive that Malan just pulls inside the rope to keep it to three.

    That brings Marsh back on strike, having survived those two big lbw appeals in the previous over.

    A mistimed cover drive sees Marsh get off the mark via an inside edge. Another slightly mistimed drive sees Smith scamper a single.

    Marsh edges it into his boot to finish.

  3. How's stat?!published at 04:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    Stuart Broad's 69 overs between wickets is his longest in Tests beating his 66.5 v West Indies and South Africa in England in 2012.

  4. Aus 167-3published at 04:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Run rate 2.83

    England have had success today by bowling well in pairs. But Woakes can't keep up the pressure, straying onto Smith's pads, with the Aussie captain flicking it away for four.

    A full half-volley is then put away for three, via a parry from Root in the covers.

    Woakes to Marsh for the first time...and the new batsman is forward in defence for no run.

  5. Postpublished at 04:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Stuart BroadImage source, PA

    We have seen a different Stuart Broad today. He came out early bowling with the coaches before play, he has been running around in the field and has now got his speed up. He is revved up.

  6. Aus 160-3published at 60 overs

    Dearie me, what an over that was. Shaun Marsh survives and plays out the final three deliveries.

    Stuart Broad sent down an 89mph ball in that over. He's fired up and bowling brilliantly at the left-handers.

    A cracking spell of Test cricket, this.

  7. Not outpublished at 57.3 overs

    Shaun MarshImage source, AFP

    Howzat?!

    Yet again Broad gets it through onto Marsh's pads. Yet again umpire Ravi says no.

    Looks to be going down leg. Will England review? They didn't lose one the ball before...but Joe Root opts against it.

    Good decision - that was missing leg.

  8. Not outpublished at 04:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Oooof, it's so tight but it's umpire's call so stays with the not out decision on the field. Broad was pleading with umpire Ravi to give it out, he knew it was close.

    A lovely ball from Broad though, jagging sharply back into Marsh, who played all around it.

  9. Postpublished at 04:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    I wonder whether height will be an issue. It looked a decent call.

  10. Postpublished at 04:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Looks a bit high...

  11. England reviewpublished at 57.2 overs

    Are wickets coming like buses for Stuart Broad?

    First delivery to Shaun Marsh raps the pads - given not out on the field but England review straight away.

  12. Postpublished at 04:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    That was an excellent delivery. Broad got too full in the last over and Khawaja punished him. This was perfect and just got Khawaja poking at it.

    There has just been a little bit of movement and that is all you need.

  13. Postpublished at 04:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    The long wait is over for Stuart Broad.

  14. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 57.1 overs

    Khawaja c Bairstow b Broad 17 (Aus 160-3)

    Stuart BroadImage source, PA

    It's been a dreadfully long time but Stuart Broad has finally got a wicket!

    Coming from round the wicket, Broad dangles it up outside off stump, with enough nibble off the seam to draw Khawaja into the drive and tickle the outside edge.

    Bairstow makes no mistake with the catch behind.

  15. Aus 160-2published at 57 overs

    Khawaja 17, Smith 13

    Better from Woakes in this over, bowling a nice wicket-to-wicket line that Smith can't score off.

    Ah, but then he strays wide and Smith drives off the back foot - he didn't quite get that right but hits it well enough to streak away through point for four.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbccricket

  17. Aus 156-2published at 04:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Khawaja flicks off his pads for two before a sweet cover drive races to the fence. That's a lovely stroke, at odds with his pre-tea jitters.

    Another loose delivery is crashed through the covers but this time Khawaja finds the fielder.

    Broad tightens up his line and length and Khawaja just defends the rest.

  18. Aus 150-2published at 55 overs

    Ugh. Dross from Woakes second ball up, gently lobbed down short of a leg and Smith swivels it away through backward square leg to the fence. That's 150 up for Australia.

    Oof. Much better from Woakes, firing one into the corridor of uncertainty and getting Smith to waft at it. A rare loose shot from the Aussie captain, who is duly livid with himself.

  19. Postpublished at 04:33 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    The players are back out at the MCG and the third session will be under way shortly.

    Woakes is first up for England after the break.

  20. Postpublished at 04:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    Back to the subject of how you are when you're at the top of the MCG. This is the view you get when you look back towards the city....

    Melbourne