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

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry and Jack Skelton

  1. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special

    He's out! No, he's going to get a reprieve!

  2. Not out

    NO, NO, NO!

    Tom Curran has David Warner caught at long on for 99 on but it's a no ball!! Warner is called back from his long walk off.

    The MCG goes wild. That would have been Curran's first Test match wicket.

  3. Aus 129-1

    Warner 99, Khawaja 4

    A single to Usman Khawaja. All eyes back on David Warner. Is this the over?

  4. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Rod Jones: Can't understand why we haven't got backward point and two gullies to Warner. He's hit three through there in the air.

  5. Aus 128-1

    Warner 99, Khawaja 3

    Not this time. A drive from Warner is hit straight at the fielder. More groans from the Australians in the stands. They are willing their man to get there.

    Tom Curran is returning to the attack.

  6. Aus 128-1

    Warner is going to get another chance. Khawaja takes a single. Warner back on strike on 99.

    The home fans hum in anticipation.

  7. How's stat?!

    Warner.

  8. Aus 127-1

    Warner 99, Khawaja 2

    Jimmy Anderson is now into the attack after that confusion a few moments ago.

    Huge groans from the MCG crowd as David Warner knocks the ball through the covers and pushes for two but is restricted to the single. That single means he is one run away from his century.

  9. Aus 126-1

    Usman Khawaja gets away with a clip through mid-wicket from his 11th ball. Chris Woakes has been good in this spell. Can he knock another one over? This feels like one of those little openings we have seen England fail to grasp in this series so far.

    No wicket in this over but it's tight at least. Just the 24 runs have come in 11 overs since lunch.

  10. Aus 124-1

    Warner 98, Khawaja 0

    The crowd are right in this now, willing Warner to his 21st ton. The imminent landmark has woken England up. They're buzzing around in the covers and keep Warner on 98.

  11. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    That's the only way in which David Warner has looked like getting out today - he's hit a few in the air through there.

  12. Aus 124-1

    Excellent fielding from Stuart Broad off his own bowling. Warner nails a drive back down the ground and he must have thought that was his century.

    "Catch". Ooooooh. That's what England have been after. Loose from Warner in search of the landmark as he almost cuts straight at point. He gets two. Onto 98 he goes...

  13. Get Involved

    Text 81111

    There's the breakthrough. Now we just need to skittle the rest of them for 50 and we'll be level by stumps. They don't have anyone else who can bat, do they? Oh...

    Nick, West Malling

  14. Aus 122-1

    After all that I forgot to eat my Christmas marzipan after the fall of that Bancroft wicket.

    There's a bit of confusion here. James Anderson wants to come into the attack but the umpires aren't allowing it. There are suggestions he has not been back on the field long enough after a short break earlier.

    As a result Broad will continue to David Warner on 96. Will he repeat the same tactic of the previous over?

  15. Aus 122-1

    Warner 96, Khawaja 0

    Ooooooh. We have a contest here for the first time. Chris Woakes beats Usman Khawaja outside off stump and then the Aussie number three goes for a pull but the ball was too full and it goes under his vertical bat.

    Woakes is backed up by some decent fielding to prevent Khawaja getting off the mark.

  16. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    Sometimes, Jonny Bairstow needs to move the bowler's run-up marker because it is where he wants to stand. Alastair Cook, first slip, might put it in his pocket, but has to remember to replace it. When he forgets, like just now, he has to run all the way to Stuart Broad at the other end to give it back.

  17. Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    How is that not a wide? That's an over of very negative bowling. The only thing Stuart Broad is trying to do there is to frustrate David Warner as he closes in on a century.

  18. Aus 122-1

    Warner 96, Khawaja 0

    England's plan now to Warner is clear. They're testing his patience.

    Stuart Broad throws ball after ball full and wide outside off stump with one slip, a deep gully and a point in place.

    The MCG crowd don't like it. They boo after the fourth wide delivery. The final ball is even wider! Warner couldn't have reached that even if he wanted too. Broad is not doing anything to help his popularity in these parts. More, louder boos.

    How long are you prepared to wait, Dave? A maiden.

  19. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    About 70% of England's deliveries today have been short of the good length. That's been a feature of the whole series and I don't get why none of the staff or the players themselves have just forced the bowlers to pitch it up more.

    The likes of David Warner will punch the odd one down the ground for four but it brings more ways of getting the batsman out into play.

  20. Aus 122-1

    The few England fans that are still awake on the Christmas Day night/Boxing Day morning finally have something to cheer. The replays show that lbw was not as clear-cut as it looked on first glance. The ball tracking has the ball was just clipping the top of middle stump but Bancroft didn't even consider a review.

    Usman Khawaja is the new man but now it is back to the David Warner show. He's back on strike on 96.