Summary

  • Cook, dropped by Smith on 66, makes unbeaten century

  • Australia bowled out for 327

  • Broad takes 4-51, Anderson 3-61

  • Curran bowls Smith (76) for first Test wicket

  • Australia lose seven wickets for 67 after Smith dismissal

  • Australia lead series 3-0; two to play

  1. Aus 268-4published at 98 overs

    S Marsh 38, M Marsh 7

    There's a little bit of spin for Moeen outside the right hander's off stump but Mitchell Marsh looks confident after that century last week at Perth.

    He knocks two to the deep cover fielder and sees out the rest of the over.

  2. Postpublished at 00:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    Moeen AliImage source, PA

    Why is Moeen Ali bowling now? They must think these two are not so good against spin but Moeen has been poor. I hope this works.

  3. Postpublished at 00:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Hmmm. This is interesting. England have a new batsman at the crease in Mitchell Marsh and Joe Root has brought Moeen Ali into the attack.

    Moeen has been ineffective so far...

  4. Aus 265-4published at 97 overs

    So England's two debutant's in this series, Tom Curran and Craig Overton, have dismissed Steve Smith for their first Test wicket. Just bowl newbies at him!

    Mitchell Marsh joins his brother Shaun in the middle and gets off the mark with a steered four through backward point.

    Curran gets a pat on the back from all of his teammates as he finishes his over. What a moment for him.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    SmithImage source, PA

    Philip Wickett: Smith gone!!!!!!! At the MCG! Yes!!!!!

    Will Millard: Weird. Just imagined Steve Smith got bowled. Impossible. Last beer must’ve been stronger than I thought...

    Janet Hopper: Not sure there's a more welcome sight than Curran getting Steve Smith to drag on...brilliant. Now might be a good time to sleep.

  6. Postpublished at 00:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    CurranImage source, PA

    Got him! That's the way to get Steve Smith out! Hang it out short and wide and get him to chop on.

  7. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 96.2 overs

    Smith b Curran 76 (Aus 260-3)

    Steve SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Tom Curran has got Steve Smith for his first Test wicket!! His foot is behind the line this time!

    Curran has probably bowled thousands of better balls than this in his career but he won't care one bit. Smith chops a wide ball back onto his stumps. The MCG is stunned. They thought they were going to see another Smith masterclass but Curran has struck!

  8. Postpublished at 00:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    When they just sneaked that single, Jonny Bairstow ran round and tried to throw down the stumps.

    Shaun Marsh was well in but that's about as close as England have come to taking a wicket for about four hours.

  9. Postpublished at 00:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Tom Curran is coming on for a first ball of the morning...

  10. Aus 259-3published at 96 overs

    Smith 76, S Marsh 35

    It's a good job Stuart Broad has just thrown away a run off his bowling rather than someone else doing it. I think he'd have been a tad angrier if it was a teammate.

    Shaun Marsh just pats the ball back down the pitch and Broad collects and throws at the stumps. His throw hits and ricochets into the leg side meaning Marsh can scamper through for a single. Unsurprisingly since Broad was the culprit the Aussie fans love it.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Rob Essex: Reading the live text on holiday in Cape Verde. Originally couldn't decide if we should come here or go to Australia for Christmas. At least we picked correctly (unlike some of the selections for this Test).

  12. How's stat?!published at 23:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    Steve SmithImage source, AFP

    Steve Smith has now scored 502 runs in the series at 167.33

  13. Aus 258-3published at 95 overs

    Smith 76, S Marsh 34

    Where do you bowl to Steve Smith? Jimmy Anderson bowls around off stump and Smith just whips the ball through midwicket for four.

    The Hot Spot replay shows the ball came right out of the middle. It's incredible how he seems to do that every single time. Has anyone ever measured the width of his bat?

    More runs! This one is poor from Anderson, too short, and Smith swivels on a pull and finds the leg side boundary. More runs in that over than the previous five. Ominous.

  14. Postpublished at 23:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Apparently yesterday a guy poured his beer into his shoe and drank out of it - he was kicked out of the ground. Another guy drank out of a Darth Vader helmet - he was kicked out too.

    It's Christmas! If you want to drink out of weird receptacles then so be it.

  15. Aus 250-3published at 94 overs

    Smith 68, S Marsh 34

    Stuart BroadImage source, Getty Images

    "Caaatch", yelps Stuart Broad as Shaun Marsh drives in the air through the covers for two. Broad thinks he has got the better of his man there and looks like he thinks the world is against him but that was nowhere near a fielder.

    The runs bring up Australia's 250 but that is all that comes from another quiet over. We have had five overs so far, just six runs and no sign of wickets.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Lewis Starks: On this week's episode of "Who will score more... Steve Smith or England?" - We see a valiant 125 posted by Smith with England safely passing this total for the loss of only 4 wickets.

  17. Aus 248-3published at 93 overs

    Picture Test cricket in Australia and this day is it. It's baking hot, the England players have their floppy sun hats on and Jimmy Anderson has white suncream smeared across his face.

    The pitch doesn't seem to be any quicker this morning though as Anderson bangs in a bouncer. Smith has plenty of time to drop his hands and sway out of the way. It's another maiden from Jimmy. Is it going to be another day of attrition?

  18. Postpublished at 23:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England's batsman have got to do a huge job for the bowlers when they bat. They've been in the field for a long time too, but it's a lot easier just having to fetch the odd ball.

  19. Aus 248-3published at 92 overs

    Smith 68, S Marsh 32

    Such little faith.

    I don't want to add to the downbeat feeling of our latest tweeter but in these three overs so far there has been nothing to suggest Steve Smith is going to suddenly give his wicket away.

    The Australian captain comfortably picks up a couple into the leg side and then guides a pull shot for one more to end the over.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Bowser: I'd absolutely love to stay up and watch the cricket. But I'd rather sleep. I know exactly how the day is going to pan out, too. Australia will declare at around 535-7. Smith another 200+* And England will be at least 120ish-6 at the close. We're a complete shambles.