Postpublished at 01:39 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
It is tipping down. The wind it lifting the covers as well. It is a very heavy sharp shower.
Summary
Smith 102* - third century of series
M Marsh 29* off 166 balls
England take two wickets in day
Warner 86, S Marsh 4
Australia lead 3-0 in five-Test series
Final Test in Sydney starts on 4 Jan
Postpublished at 01:39 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Postpublished at 01:38 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Oh dear. A few more umbrellas up around the MCG now. Looks to be getting heavier out there.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 01:35 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
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Aussies 14-4 technically. New ball due in 4 overs. Bowlers rested over lunch. First time I'm slightly confident of a win this series.
Paul
Postpublished at 01:34 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match SpecialIf England keep Australia to anything from 80 to 100 ahead, it keeps this game alive.
Postpublished at 01:34 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Hmm. Any rain delay today would really scupper chances of a positive result.
Thankfully it doesn't look too heavy in Melbourne and they haven't applied the full covers.
Postpublished at 01:32 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in MelbourneIt's raining during the interval. The covers are coming on.
Postpublished at 01:31 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match SpecialThat was the first ball we have seen any sort of venom in the bounce.
Image source, Getty ImagesLunch - Aus 178-4published at 01:30
Lead by 14
No time for Mitchell Marsh to replace his brother out in the middle so that's the lunch interval.
A dreary and at times disheartening start for England before Joe Root drew David Warner into his first really rash shot and James Vince took the catch at cover.
Then a top delivery from Broad and a great catch from Bairstow does for Shaun Marsh.
A big lift to take into lunch. Can England kick on after the restart?
Postpublished at 01:28 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentatorThat is a very good catch from Bairstow. England are still in with a chance.
Where did that wicket ball come from?
WICKETpublished at 76 overs
S Marsh c Bairstow b Broad 4 (Aus 178-4)
Got him! Terrific snaffle from Jonny Bairstow, diving to his left to take a one-hand grab.
Stuart Broad gets a bit of extra zip and bounce, Shaun Marsh fends loosely at it and nicks off.
A big wicket for England. It's not Steve Smith, but the tourists can now go about getting into the Australia lower order after lunch.
Image source, Getty ImagesHow's stat?!published at 01:26 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statisticianIt was just two balls short of Steve Smith's slowest fifty.
He now has 552 runs in the series at an average of 138.
Postpublished at 01:25 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentatorIt has been a hugely disciplined innings today from Steve Smith. Concentration, determination and technique.
50 for Smithpublished at 75.3 overs
Aus 178-3
A touch short and Smith swivels it away for the single he needs to reach his 23rd Test match fifty (he's got 22 centuries by the way).
Terrific concentration and application from the Aussie captain so far as he tries to guide his side to safety.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 01:24 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
I don't want this pitch to be punished by a bore draw...
Postpublished at 01:23 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match SpecialThis could end up being an undeservedly exciting finish. You want these pitches to be punished.
Aus 177-3published at 75 overs
Lead by 13
Bairstow and the slip cordon are standing very close for a keeper in Test cricket to make amends for this slow pitch - most edges have not carried to conventional fielding positions behind the stumps in this Test.
Nice variation from Anderson to Marsh, who defends or leaves all six. Another maiden.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 01:20 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
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There are a lot of armchair selectors out there. If there were players performing well enough behind the scenes to earn their place in the team then the selectors would pick them. If no one else is good enough then we build a team with what we've got. We can't just be selecting people to play for England in an Ashes Test just to "give them a go" as some are suggesting, surely?
Pete, London
Aus 177-3published at 01:19 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Smith 49. S Marsh 4
Again, Broad will have to bowl at Smith first up.
Six defensive shots. Six dot balls. A maiden.
Can England nip out another before lunch? Just over 10 minutes to go...
Postpublished at 01:16 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017
Joe Root's successful cameo is over. Here comes Stuart Broad to partner James Anderson for the 178,529th time. (Roughly).
Aus 177-3published at 73 overs
Lead by 13
Anderson strays onto Smith's pads and the Aussie skipper clips it away for one.
That'll give Anderson a potential three balls at Shaun Marsh though.
Ooof. Anderson finds the edge as Marsh just pushes at it and it runs through third slip to the fence. It wouldn't have carried to third slip, mind.
Bowling, Jimmy. An effort ball whistles past off-stump as Marsh whisks his bat away late on. Good leave in the end. A solid defence to finish.