Summary

  • Rain ends play: Warner 40*, Smith 25*

  • England deny ball-tampering claims

  • England 491 - first-innings lead of 164

  • Cook 244* - carries bat for first time

  • Cummins 4-117, Hazelwood 3-95

  • Day five will start at 23:00 GMT

  1. Postpublished at 01:44 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    England are still in a very strong position with Australian effectively -94 for 2. They have taken two wickets but the big two are still there and will have a massive influence on the outcome of this match.

    Jimmy Anderson has been brilliant again and Chris Woakes bowled one of his best spells of the series in my opinion.

  2. Glenn McGrath Q&Apublished at 01:42 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    From Joseph Perry - Do you think you would have had more wickets or fewer wickets if DRS was in play?

    McGrath: "It is interesting because I know the ball tracker has good bounce even on flat wickets.

    "I think I would have got a few others that I didn't get and a few that I did get going over.

    "I was only looking to get a batsman out three ways - bowled, lbw or caught behind. It was about that tight line, hitting the top of off stump."

    Glenn McGrathImage source, Getty Images
  3. Glenn McGrath Q&Apublished at 01:39 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Glenn McGrath tweetImage source, Twitter
  4. Postpublished at 01:36 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    England's slip cordon would have been extremely interested to see that shot by Steve Smith.

  5. Lunch - Aus 70-2published at 25 overs

    Trail by 94

    Stuart Broad to bowl the final over.

    Ooooof! He beats Smith. Poor shot for once from the Australian skipper. He tries to drive two balls before lunch when it wasn't there to hit and gets away with it. Smith is annoyed with himself and practices a defensive shot.

    Error or not he'll be there after lunch, as will David Warner. An even session.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:29 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Mo gets a hat trick to win a Test. Mo scores a rapid ODI century. Mo scores lower order runs to save the top order’s blushes. This has all happened yet he has a poor series (not the only one to have done) and his Test career is over. Fickle bunch.

    Ben from Telford

  7. Aus 70-2published at 24 overs

    Warner 28, Smith 4

    There are five minutes left before lunch. Probably time for two overs.

    Anderson is trying that round the wicket ploy to Steve Smith again with a hint of swing available. Smith takes two by clipping into the leg side and that's enough of that plan.

    Back over the wicket now and Anderson is not impressed as Smith is able to take another single with a push to extra cover.

    There will be one more over.

  8. Postpublished at 01:26 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    The Barmy Army are singing louder than they have done all morning, telling the world who they are. Jonny Bairstow shows his appreciation, banging his wicketkeeping gloves together.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:25 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Text 81111

    That's the easy bit done. Now just the small matter of breaking a Smith-Warner partnership...

    Mark, Manchester

  10. Aus 66-2published at 23 overs

    Warner 27, Smith 1

    "Everywhere we gooooo," chant the England fans. The MCG looks very empty today but there are still 22,000 people in the ground. That's more than the maximum capacity of most English Test grounds.

    Yet another maiden bowled by England to David Warner. He is 15 balls without a run.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:21 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    GTFC01: That brief moment of jubilation followed by that horrible feeling of Steve Smith being in. The new Steve Waugh!

    Richard Hinman: Australia's best two batsmen are at the crease with their side 99 behind. This partnership will probably dictate the result of the Test.

  12. Postpublished at 01:20 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England's current crop are much better at bowling reverse swing than Australia.

  13. Aus 65-2published at 22 overs

    Trail by 99

    Steve Smith joins David Warner in the middle. Australia's big two. The game right here?

    Anderson is hiding the ball in his left hand as late as possible in his action. It's a brilliant wicket maiden from Anderson. The England fans stand to applaud.

    That wicket has started a debate in the office here. Who would you rather have batting at number three - James Vince or Usman Khawaja?

  14. Postpublished at 01:17 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

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

    Usman Khawaja will be really disappointed with himself - he's probed at one he really didn't need to play at all. A couple of nice shots and a couple of boundaries won't cut it.

  15. Postpublished at 01:17 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    A superb delivery from James Anderson, a hint of reverse swing from round the wicket and Usman Khawaja's disappointing series continues.

    James AndersonImage source, Getty Images
  16. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 21.1 overs

    Khawaja c Bairstow b Anderson 11 (Aus 65-2)

    Jackpot!

    Another lovely ball from Jimmy Anderson. He is such a good bowler with reverse swing. It is very similar to that one he bowled to David Warner in his previous over, just hanging outside off stump with a hint of away swing.

    That swing was enough to find Usman Khawaja's edge and Jonny Bairstow does the rest. Khawaja's struggles continue.

    James AndersonImage source, Reuters
  17. Aus 65-1published at 21 overs

    Perfect length from Stuart Broad. He beats Usman Khawaja's edge and England are left frustrated. That delivery deserved a wicket. A beauty.

    Khawaja clips a single off his hip and that takes Australia's deficit below 100. Australia's session if England don't get another in the 15 minutes before lunch?

  18. Aus 64-1published at 20 overs

    Trail by 100

    The replays of that Khawaja catch show a young man took an outstanding catch in the crowd. He was leaning forward and took the ball two rows in front. Sign him up.

    Anderson is still trying to dry Warner up. The Australian has 27 runs from his 68 balls. Warner won't like that and now he has to block out another maiden because Jimmy A sticks to that off-stump line from round the wicket.

    Stuart Broad is warming up. He is going to replace Moeen Ali.

  19. Postpublished at 01:05 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

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

    Whereas Moeen Ali's yesterday looked a little bit wild, this six was a more controlled shot by Usman Khawaja.

  20. Aus 64-1published at 19 overs

    Trail by 100

    Usman Khawaja is doing a Moeen Ali to Moeen Ali!

    Just like Moeen yesterday, the under-pressure batsman gets off the mark with a six to the off-spinner! It is a better shot than Moeen's and carries a few rows back into the crowd.

    Down the pitch he comes again! Beautiful. A drive with a flourish through extra cover for four.

    usman KhawajaImage source, Gett