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

Live Reporting

Jack Skelton and Matthew Henry

  1. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It was in the air for a while but most things on this pitch have gone down pretty quickly.

  2. Aus 111-2

    Trail by 53

    England have only one slip and one gully because there have been hardly any edges in this Test.

    Warner duly edges one through vacant third slip - but like most edges this match it died off the bat and would've fallen short of the man.

    Still, that's four runs to Australia, to Anderson's consternation.

    James AndersonPA

  3. Get Involved

    Text 81111

    Left home just after the final ball of day four was bowled. Just returned in time for the first of day five. Get me a beer. And some wickets.

    R, a very tired doctor

  4. Aus 107-2

    Woakes will continue after having to bowl that remaining ball first up.

    The Warwickshire man drops a touch short and Warner swivels away for one.

    Anderson now comes in to a close catching position for Smith, standing pretty much in front of the non-striker.

    Tidy stuff from Woakes and Smith just nudges and dabs it back.

  5. I'm staying awake by...

    #bbccricket

    Andy: Loaded myself up on festive sugar and beer, will stay awake for the #Ashes.

  6. Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    You can't afford to sit in for three or four hours and bore them out. The key to winning is getting Smith or Warner early.

  7. Aus 106-2

    Warner 43, Smith 26

    England have one slip and one gully in place for David Warner, with two men close-ish in either side of point.

    Five balls on the mark by Anderson, a touch of shape away from the left-handed Warner.

    The last is nicely placed by Warner, guiding through the covers for three.

  8. James Anderson will open up proceedings from the other end...

  9. Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It will be about reverse swing again today...

  10. Aus 103-2

    Trail by 61

    It's Chris Woakes to bowl the final ball of his over that was interrupted by the rain yesterday.

    Nice line and length and Steve Smith just defends.

  11. Everyone out on the field at the MCG.

    The sun is out and play is imminent.

    Don't go to bed early - it's Saturday tomorrow anyway.

    Here we go...

  12. Australia batsman Usman Khawaja on ABC: "We just need to bat for the majority of the day - it's as simple as that. There's a lot of hard work to be done."

  13. Cricketing dreams

    Text 81111

    I also had a dream that Anderson took a hat-trick. David Warner was bowled first ball and next ball Shaun Marsh chopped on followed by Mitchell Marsh hitting it straight back to big Jimmy. Maybe it was a dream too many...

    Trevor Kirkpatrick

  14. Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I'm a strong advocate for five-day Ashes. In this Ashes, if there had been four-day Tests it would still be 0-0.

  15. And if you're perturbed by the different typeface used for Cook's board then don't worry...

  16. Remember the MCG taking down that board in the member's bar once Alastair Cook surpassed Viv Richards' 208, the previous best by a visiting batsman?

    Well the England opener's name and 244 not out is now up in its place. They don't hang around...

    Alastair Cook board in the MCG barEngland Cricket

  17. Right, we'll leave the treatment of the ball row stuff there for now.

    Let's look ahead to the actual cricket.

    Test Match Special is on air - listen by clicking the tab at the top of this page, on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra or on Radio 4 Longwave.

  19. Oh, and there was a strange "ball tampering" row in the aftermath of day four.

    I don't want to give it too much credence - at best it was a bit of fuss over nothing, at worst it was irresponsible mud-slinging. You can read more about it here.

    The fact is there has been no report of ball tampering and England coach Trevor Bayliss has dismissed it as "Pommie bashing" by the Australian media.

    The umpires have warned both teams about deliberately throwing the ball in on the bounce to try and scuff it up quicker to induce reverse swing.

    It's a bit of a grey area - everyone does it - but both sides have been a bit blatant at doing it throughout this Test on a slow, low pitch where reverse swing can really help the bowlers.

    Joe RootGetty Images

  20. Weren't able to stay up yesterday? Here's what you missed...

    James Anderson was out to the first ball of the day, ensuring Alastair Cook carried his bat in a sublime 244 not out, with England all out for 491, a lead of 164.

    That gave Australia's openers just 10 minutes to get ready but they started well in response, until Cameron Bancroft chopped on and Anderson had number three Usman Khawaja caught behind.

    The hosts were on 65-2 but David Warner and Steve Smith steadied the ship, looking to occupy the crease rather than score in the face of some nagging England bowling.

    After a 30-minute delay post-lunch, the rain returned at about 04:00 GMT and this time that was it for the day.

    CoversEPA