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

  1. Aus 118-2published at 55 overs

    Warner 52, Smith 28

    Moeen Ali on round the wicket to David Warner - there are barely any man around the bat at all. Bizarre.

    Warner duly knocks it to deep mid-off for a single.

    This is better - two more close catchers come in for Smith. Moeen stays round the wicket and draws a leading edge as Smith tries to work it to leg. It flies across the ground to point and Smith picks up one.

    Again a spread field to Warner. Again the opener easily clips it away for one. Smith defends the last two.

    David WarnerImage source, PA
  2. Postpublished at 23:44 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Moeen is coming into the attack and that is right. To get 20 wickets here your spinner has to play a part. Moeen has to join the party.

    Moeen AliImage source, Getty Images
  3. get involved

    I'm staying awake by...published at 23:43 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Steve C Lawley: I am staying awake by setting wicket alert notifications at top volume. Will undoubtedly fall asleep if nothing happens soon.

  4. Aus 115-2published at 54 overs

    Trail by 49

    The Barmy Army try to rouse Stuart Broad as he continue to charge in at Steve Smith.

    The stoic skipper will still not be moved though, calmly playing out another maiden.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:38 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    TweetImage source, Twitter
  6. Aus 115-2published at 23:38 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Anderson 16-7-28-1

    OK, a bit of kick off a length from Anderson that catches out Warner, who ends up playing it with the top of his bat.

    A bit more venom, Anderson firing down a bouncer that Warner has to duck under.

    Fuller one to finish but Warner is happy to tap it into off for no run.

  7. Postpublished at 23:35 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    England have to offer up opportunities to score.

    It looks like the only way to create a chance, by making Australia playing a shot. Most of the dismissals this week have come from batsman error.

  8. Aus 115-2published at 52 overs

    Trail by 49

    Broad draws a false shot from Smith, whose attempted cover drive ends up streaking along the floor to the man at backward point. England need that to be in the air though.

    Smith shelves that shot for the rest of the over, instead opting for the checked drive to just defend away into the off side.

    That's a maiden to start from Broad.

  9. Postpublished at 23:30 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Here comes Stuart Broad into the attack for Chris Woakes.

    What price one of *those* Broad spells here...

  10. get involved

    Cricketing dreamspublished at 23:30 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Text 81111

    I had a dream this was a timeless Test and England were batting next week trying to reach a ridiculous target (in the thousands). I woke up before the result. Wish I knew who won...

    Andrew, Somerset

  11. Aus 115-2published at 23:30 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Smith pushes it away into off for a single and that's the 50 partnership for him and Warner.

    Warner soaks up another five dot balls, not tempted by anything Anderson serves up so far.

  12. How's stat?!published at 23:28 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    David Warner's fifty came in 161 balls with four fours in 219 minutes. His previous slowest was 133 balls against West Indies in 2012.

    He has never taken more than 101 balls to get a fifty in Australia.

  13. Aus 114-2published at 50 overs

    Obviously the state of the game is partly behind David Warner's patient knock, but he also deserves credit for adapting his style accordingly, as do England for bowling accurately at him.

    He's able to leave the last couple of balls from Woakes.

  14. 50 runs

    50 for Warnerpublished at 23:25 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Aus 114-2

    Woakes strays at touch wide and Warner guides it away behind point to scamper two and reach his fifty. His slowest in Test cricket.

    Steve Smith and David WarnerImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 23:23 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    There's a strong breeze blowing across the ground this morning - the flags are billowing.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:23 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Text 81111

    So our newborn son is 11 hours old at the start of play. Even he's aware of the need to get Warner and Smith early. C'mon England!

    Alex, Chris and a baby whose name might be Jimmy, Stuart...or Moeen of he finds some form

  17. Aus 112-2published at 23:22 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Trail by 52

    Hello! First moment of excitement on day five as James Anderson draws Steve Smith into fending at one in the corridor.

    It was close but no nick on it - the ball died and bounced before it reached Jonny Bairstow anyway. Still a bit of promise for England there.

    Smith - who will be livid at himself for play at that - duly leaves well alone for the rest of the over.

  18. Postpublished at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    MCGImage source, BBC Sport

    Understandable, but quite strange to see so many empty seats in such a big ground. The sound of ball on bat echoes around. We'll probably be able to hear what the players are shouting too. Best behaviour...

  19. Postpublished at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Moeen Ali plays such a big role today. He needs wickets and he needs to hold down an end for 15 or 16 overs. I want to see spin at one end and pace at the other. At the moment, he might as well not be playing.

  20. Aus 112-2published at 48 overs

    Warner 48, Smith 26

    England put in a silly mid-off and silly mid-on to Steve Smith - the sort of field you only ever really see when you select it for a laugh on a cricket computer game.

    They are also flanked by men at close-in cover and short mid-wicket - but it's not enough to stop Smith casually tucking Woakes off the pads for one.

    Woakes round the wicket to Warner, getting one to tail in and then one to shape away, but both are too wide and Warner can leave.

    A solid forward defence to finish.