Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It was a very full and hittable half-volley. Vince just couldn't get his feet moving. If he'd have been batting for 30 minutes, he would have hit that through mid-wicket. That's why I always implore Joe Root to bowl his best bowlers after a break.

Image source, PA

More runs. Another boundary for Cook. This one is a lovely back foot drive through the covers.

We're told it is an illness and there is clearly an issue with Pat Cummins. There is no spring in his step as he trudges back to his mark. His speed is down at 83mph. He has bowled deliveries almost 10mph faster than that in this series.

Eight from the first over after tea.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Solman: Going to sleep with England 72-1 at tea having bowled the Aussies out for 327, Chef looking in good nick and Vince playing some beautiful shots. Imagine if I wake up and there’s been a huge batting collapse...

Shot!

Pat Cummins starts Australia off after tea despite reports he is struggling with a stomach upset. Cook greets him with a wonderful pull shot that was whacked through mid-wicket.

That might be the best shot I have seen Cook hit in this series.

The tea interval is over. The players have had their 20 minutes to refresh. We're about to get back under way. Alastair Cook and James Vince are about to resume on 37 and 17 respectively.

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

Meg is without doubt the best batter in the women's game by a country mile. I worked so hard to try and get her to Surrey and we were delighted when it happened but injury prevented her from coming over. It was such a shame. She's a once in a generation player. Hopefully we'll see her return in the tri-series in March.

BBC Test Match Special

Australia's Meg Lanning: "We're looking forward to playing a tri-series in India next year, in a series also involving England. It's going to be exciting, a great event and it will be good to play England on neutral soil in what are essentially the conditions we will face in a World Cup."

More on that tri-series here., external

BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

Australia women's captain Meg Lanning is TMS' tea-time guest: "I'm hoping to be back soon after injury. I've had a shoulder reconstruction. It's all gone well. It's been frustrating to have been out for six months but hopefully it's as good as new now. It will take time to get used to batting for long periods but I can't wait to return. I'm generally not the best watcher."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, gett

It has been the Alastair Cook show so far because he has played so much better than previously in the series and has brought a positivity.

Whether it is because he is not worried about the short ball at all on this pitch, only he can answer that. Maybe it is because there is no Mitchell Starc.

Thanks Jack.

As my esteemed colleague says that was another good session for England. Can they make it three sessions in a row and a full day in their favour? I'm not sure that has happened so far in this series.

After sterling work by the bowlers to bring about an Australia collapse from 260-3 to 327 all out, England's top order have backed them up so far.

That's two sessions in a row that have firmly gone England's way. The tourists have rarely put together three straight sessions on top during this series.

Can they do so here at the MCG? Here's Matt Henry back to guide you through the first part of the evening session. Catch you later.

BBC Test Match Special

Australia women's captain Meg Lanning is over on Test Match Special during the tea break.

She missed the recent Ashes victory over England but is hoping to back from injury soon.

You can listen in by clicking the tab at the top of this page.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

England have had a tremendous day. If you had mentioned these kind of scores at the start of the day they would have grabbed your hand off.

They have had opportunities in this series. Can they grab this one?

Shocking it may have been but Vince survives to tea, unbeaten on 17, with a few gorgeous drives in there.

Cook has looked in fine fettle, cutting decisively and playing a few tremendous punches down the ground, usually a sign he's playing well. The former skipper is 37 not out and looking to anchor England's reply to Australia's 327.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

That was a shocking shot. To play at this level you have to realise these moments, restrict yourself and get your team to the dressing room.

Yeesh. James Vince flashes at a length ball with no footwork and is lucky to see his outside edge fly past backward point and to the fence.

That's better - Vince defending and leaving well before playing the final ball before tea with soft hands, running it down to third man for a couple.

That's tea. A very promising start to their innings by England, especially from Alastair Cook.

Nathan Lyon rattles through the over to make sure Australia get two more in before tea.

Alastair Cook defends the first ball before picking out the fielder, trying to whip through mid-wicket.

A quicker one sees Cook rock back and tuck away for no run. That's a maiden for Lyon.

It'll be Bird to bowl the final over before the break.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I don't think it'll be long before we see Hazlewood come back on. He's renowned as the best exponent of reverse swing in Australia and the ball is beginning to shape into James Vince's pads nicely.

Bird has been getting the ball to tail back into Vince's pads. That's too straight though and Vince can work it round the corner for one.

Cook plays it down with soft hands and a good dive from Usman Khawaja prevents a run.

A square drive next up sees Cook rotate the strike once more. Vince leaves the last outside off.