Postpublished at 05:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special
May have been high, may have been going down leg. No hint of a review so they must be convinced it wasn't hitting.
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
Postpublished at 05:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Eng 104-2published at 33.1 overs
As soon as I suggest England could press on, we see a big lbw appeal for the first time in a while.
Slips, wicketkeeper and bowler Mitchell Marsh all plead with the umpire as the ball hits Cook's pads but that looked high. Not out.
Eng 104-2published at 33 overs
Joe Root is unfortunate as he nails Bird's first ball down the ground but his drive hits the stumps. If it hadn't I fancy he would have picked up four.
Bird is bowling really full, looking for movement, but isn't finding any. Two runs from the over. This period is an opportunity for England to accumulate with Marsh and Bird bowling.
Postpublished at 05:17 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
A double bowling change and that means a small victory for Joe Root and Alastair Cook. They have seen off the dangerous Josh Hazlewood.
Jackson Bird returns to the attack.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialI haven't seen the ball do anything for Australia. England are very good exponents of reverse swing - you get Alastair Cook working on the ball to try and get it moving even a little bit from early on.
I think Australia lag behind. They've never worked out how you need to work on the ball, even when I played we weren't very good at it.
Eng 102-2published at 32 overs
Cook 59, Root 8
Oh Alastair. Where have you been?!
You know England's former skipper is in nick when he is driving through mid off and here he jabs one back past Mitchell Marsh through that region to the boundary.
Marsh is nowhere near as quick and so far in this series hasn't looked anywhere near as threatening as his fellow bowlers.
Postpublished at 05:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
We're going to see Mitchell Marsh bowl for the first time in this match. He replaces Pat Cummins.
Marsh bowled 12 wicketless overs at over four runs per over at Perth.
Eng 96-2published at 31 overs
Cook 53, Root 8
Josh Hazlewood looks the more likely of these Australian seamers as Pat Cummins continues to struggle with this stomach upset.
That's nice from Root. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here. He runs the ball through the gap between the one slip and gully down to the third man boundary for four. That hit low on the bat but I think he played it.
Another inswinger from Hazlewood is seen out by Root to finish the over.
Postpublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, PAIf you're a good player, like Alastair Cook is, you have to have the strength of mind to keep going because it will change. It always does.
Postpublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, PAWarm applause from the MCG crowd who recognise a fifty from a very fine cricketer, fighting his way back into form.
50 for Cookpublished at 30 overs
Cook 53, Root 4
Image source, PAAll eyes back on Alastair Cook as he looks to pass 50 for just the fourth time in 2017.
There it is! Classic Cook with a clip off the pads through mid-wicket. A first half-century of the series.
"Ali, Ali, Ali Cook, Ali Cook," sing the Barmies. Go on and make it a big'un.
Eng 88-2published at 29 overs
Cook 49, Root 4
Joe Root is finally off zero! A nice push gives him two runs and the cries of "Rooooooot," can be heard at the G.
Josh Hazlewood is hiding the ball in his left hand in his run up in an attempt to stop Root picking the direction of the reverse swing. It almost works. The England skipper is a little late in getting his bat down on an inswinger.
Hazlewood is bowling really well here. Root needs to see him off but does in fact take two more runs with a pull on the final ball of the over.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 04:57 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
#bbccricket
Pravin Kumar: Am I dreaming, England on top in Ashes, oh just wait a dramatic collapse is in the corner. Business as usual it would be.
Image source, Getty ImagesEng 84-2published at 28 overs
Trail by 243
Alastair Cook is looking comfortable for the first time in this series (apology in advance for the commentator's curse). He looks to have plenty of time to flick Cummins' back of the length deliveries from round the wicket into the leg side. Searching for more success Cummins pitches it up and Cook takes advantage to clip a couple and move to 49.
The England fans are giving their team plenty of support. It's almost as if England are playing at home at the moment as the chants ring out. "Weeee are the Army...". You know the one.
Postpublished at 04:55 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match SpecialEngland would take parity from here. It's a slow, low pitch. Nobody will come in and cream it around. You have to graft for your runs.
Image source, Getty ImagesEng 82-2published at 27 overs
Cook 47, Root 0
Like England on day one and earlier today, Australia have got this ball reverse swinging.
Australian hands are on heads as Hazlewood almost gets one to beat Root's inside edge and cannon into the pads. 13 balls now and Root is yet to get away.
Meanwhile on the boundary Pat Cummins really does not look in a good way. He has been given a towel drenched in cold water which he first puts over his head and then around his neck to try and cool down. He's going to keep on bowling though...
Postpublished at 04:48 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match SpecialYou can't review it if you didn't think you'd hit it. That's not fair on the rest of the team.
Eng 81-2published at 26 overs
Cook 46, Root 0
The TV pictures are still investigating what went on with that James Vince dismissal. A replay shows Alastair Cook told James Vince to call for a review from the non-striker's end meaning it must have been Vince who chose against it. It is not often you see a batsman not know he has hit the ball.
Ooooh. Almost another wicket. Eager to get off the mark Joe Root tries to work Cummins through the leg side but gets a leading edge. Luckily the ball goes along the ground into the covers. Still Root can't get off the mark.
Postpublished at 04:43 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesHazlewood is Australia's best bowler, but Starc is Australia's best bowler of wicket-taking deliveries.
Eng 80-2published at 25 overs
Cook 45, Root 0
What's this??? The replays show a hot spot mark on the bat as the ball goes past the edge on that dismissal. How has James Vince not felt that? Why did he not review? Snicko confirms the inside edge with a wiggle as ball goes past bat. Crazy stuff. The decision would surely have been overturned if Vince had called for a review.
Back on the pitch Hazlewood finishes off a really good over with five dot balls to new batsman Joe Root. A wicket maiden.