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. Postpublished at 02:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    Stuart BroadImage source, PA

    I wonder if Stuart Broad has given Alastair Cook a pat on the back and said: "Come on Cookie, us old boys can still show them how it's done."

  2. Eng 1-0published at 1 overs

    Alastair Cook leaves a wide one from Josh Hazlewood first up, before a thickish edge to point. The Essex man gets off the mark, working it away square.

    Ooof, Hazlewood gets Mark Stoneman playing and missing with a delightful delivery angled across. Stoneman drops his hands under the last. A very good over to open up.

    Jackson Bird will share the new ball...

  3. Postpublished at 02:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Here come Cook and Stoneman out onto the field followed by Australia.

    A trumpeter from the Richies belts out the Imperial March from Star Wars.

    Will Cook rediscover the force today?

  4. Postpublished at 02:38 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    Sometimes when you're out of form, a dull pitch like this can suit you.

  5. Postpublished at 02:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    This could be Alastair Cook's pitch, it's slow and sluggish - he needs to play those cut shots and adapt to the wicket.

  6. Postpublished at 02:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman will be out to start the England innings shortly.

    They should have seen the ball keep low at times today and know that cross-bat can see you dragging on to your own stumps.

    What price a nuggety Cook century for England?

  7. Postpublished at 02:35 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    There was a lot of pressure before the game on Stuart Broad and he has really showed some guts and a bit of fight.

    The biggest thing is how will England adapt with the bat. Once the ball gets soft the pitch becomes sluggish.

    If they can't adapt, with the extra pace, it could be quite a challenge.

  8. How's stat?!published at 02:34 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    327 is the lowest first-innings score England have conceded in nine away Tests.

  9. Postpublished at 02:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Steve SmithImage source, AFP

    Australia were 260-3 in the first session, with Steve Smith looking imperious on an unbeaten 76.

    He chopped on out of nowhere and that precipitated a collapse. The hosts have lost seven wickets for 67 runs.

    Huge credit to Stuart Broad especially and England's seamers in general - they've bowled to a plan and been rewarded for it.

  10. Postpublished at 02:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    It was an excellent session this morning for England and then they backed it up by mopping up these last two wickets. Now England need Alastair Cook to come out and post the score people have wanted from him all series.

  11. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 119 overs

    Lyon lbw Anderson 0 (Aus 327 all out)

    Sure enough, James Anderson ends the Australia innings as Nathan Lyon is confirmed out lbw.

    A full ball beat the number 11's defences and ball-tracking shows it would've clipped the leg stump. Umpire's call so we stay with the on-field decision and Australia are all out for 327.

    A tremendous effort from England after the hosts were 102-0 at lunch yesterday and started today on 244-3.

  12. Postpublished at 02:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    Lyon is walking off. This should be confirmed as out shortly.

  13. Australia reviewpublished at 119 overs

    Anderson goes full and clatters it into Lyon's pads.

    Looks out. Given out.

    But Australia have a review left so they send it upstairs.

  14. Aus 327-9published at 118 overs

    Broad bustles in and has Hazlewood playing the tailender waft at one angled across, but can't entice the edge.

    A scuffed outside edge slices away, but Tom Curran does well at backward point to prevent runs.

    Last ball of the over - Broad goes round the wicket, Hazlewood drives but it's tame and easily stopped in the covers. A maiden but no wicket this time for Broad.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 02:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Jimmy: Following live text from work a short distance from the 'G at Albert Park. We may actually still be in it when I can go on day 4.

    TweetImage source, Twitter / @Jimmy17_
  16. Aus 327-9published at 02:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

    James Anderson looks to end proceedings, bowling to Josh Hazlewood. The Lancashire man probes away, getting a couple to beat the bat, but he can't find the edge.

    Hazlewood taps away for a quick single to finish and keep the strike against Broad.

  17. Postpublished at 02:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    Stuart BroadImage source, AFP

    I'm looking forward to Stuart Broad's interview after this because he's been protected from the media a little bit. We've heard lots from Jimmy but it'll be good to hear Stuart's thoughts on the tour etc.

  18. Aus 326-9published at 116 overs

    Broad 27-9-51-4

    That was Broad's fourth wicket of the innings - getting a five-for after his recent poor form and the resulting criticism would be a very Broad thing to do.

    He'll have four balls at new man Nathan Lyon to try and get it...but the Aussie number 11 survives, just - playing and missing at a pearler last up.

  19. Postpublished at 02:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2017

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

    It's a decent catch. The wicket is slow and the ball was dying on Alastair Cook but it did carry.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 115.2 overs

    Cummins c Cook b Broad 4 (Aus 326-9)

    Stuart BroadImage source, Getty Images

    Well England are looking to wrap this up very quickly indeed.

    Second ball after lunch and Stuart Broad gets it full, enticing Pat Cummins into a loose drive, the edge flying to Alastair Cook in the slips.

    The former England skipper takes a good low catch - the umpires decide they want to have a look upstairs to make sure it carried...Yes, a clear catch and Cummins continues his walk back to the dressing room.

    One more to go.