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. Postpublished at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Steve Smith and Mitchell MarshImage source, Getty Images

    So Steve Smith ends unbeaten on 102, with Mitchell Marsh 29 not out.

    England did get two wickets today - David Warner looked on course for a second ton in the match but skied Joe Root to James Vince at cover for 86.

    And Stuart Broad then produced a rare delivery that did a bit off the seam, with Shaun Marsh nicking behind for four to give England hope as they went into lunch. ]

    But this pair just shut it all down after that.

  2. Postpublished at 05:52 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    Congratulations to Steve Smith. He gets on the back foot and it is difficult on these flat pitches to get him out of the comfort zone.

  3. MATCH DRAWNpublished at 05:52 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Handshakes all round as Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh depart the field, followed by England.

    A quick word on Marsh - he looked like he'd nick off at any time during his first 20 balls faced but then looked like he could've batted for five days straight thereafter. That's a stoic innings in support of his captain to save the Test.

    England are back out, crossing the field to applaud their travelling support.

    Joe Root and Steve SMith shake handsImage source, Getty Images
  4. MATCH DRAWNpublished at 124.2 overs

    Aus 263-4 dec

    How very pointless. Moeen Ali bowls another dot ball and Australia do then declare.

    Joe Root and Steve Smith shake hands and agree to the draw.

    Australia lead the five-match series 3-0 after the fourth Test.

  5. Aus 263-4published at 124.1 overs

    The umpires have asked Australia if they would like to declare now as that would give the captains the option to shake hands on the draw.

    "Nah, we'll chase them down," chirps Jonny Bairstow from behind the stumps.

    At least he's kept his sense of humour out there.

  6. How's stat?!published at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    They were the first extras of the innings. We were on course for the second-highest total without any extras in Test history.

    That was the only excitement left in the game for me.

  7. Aus 263-4published at 124 overs

    Lead by 99

    Root slides one down and Smith tries to flick it fine, misses with the bat but it runs away for four byes.

    Brief lbw appeal as Root gets it through Smith's defends but that pitched miles outside leg and probably wasn't hitting anyway.

  8. Postpublished at 05:46 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Joe Root is bringing himself back on. It's the England captain's 27th birthday today.

    It's safe to say his day very much peaked when he got David Warner out.

    The rest? Not so happy.

  9. Postpublished at 05:44 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    I feel sorry for Alastair Cook. You like to make hundreds when you win the game or save the game.

  10. Aus 259-4published at 123 overs

    Smith 102, M Marsh 29

    Moeen to Marsh. Six dot balls.

    I haven't quite lost the ability to type, it's just there really isn't much to say about what's going on out there.

  11. From the press boxpublished at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

  12. Postpublished at 05:41 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    Smith hasn't played and missed at many balls.

    There was one from Jimmy Anderson this morning and a couple of times he was drawn wide and played half-hearted shots away from his body.

    The rest of the time he has just sat on the back foot and England haven't seen able to get him off it.

  13. Aus 259-4published at 122 overs

    Lead by 95

    Curran to Smith. Six dot balls.

  14. Postpublished at 05:39 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    Even the children in the MCG creche came outside to applaud Steve Smith's century.

  15. Aus 259-4published at 121 overs

    I mean 23 centuries in 60 Tests is just utter madness. What a player. It took Justin Langer 105 Tests to score the same amount of hundreds.

    A couple of runs to Marsh off Moeen, not that it matters now.

    Should be six overs until the captains can agree to the draw.

  16. get involved

    How do you get Smith out?published at 05:36 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Make him bat in front of giant 8ft-high stumps.

    Nathan, Oxford

  17. Aus 257-4published at 120 overs

    Lead by 93

    Tom Curran on. A few singles follow.

    The final ball is drive-able and Marsh obliges, picking up three through the covers.

  18. How's stat?!published at 05:32 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    It is Steve Smith's 23rd Test hundred. It is his eighth against England and fourth at the MCG. It is only the third time he has got a second-innings hundred.

  19. Aus 251-4published at 119 overs

    Smith 100, M Marsh 23

    A more muted celebration from Smith than his previous tons this series - acknowledging the crowd with his bat and quick kiss of the Australian badge on his helmet.

    Perhaps a reflection of the unfussy way he's gone about it, just grinding away and batting England out of contention.

    Moeen sends down an anonymous maiden.

    Eight overs until they can shake on the draw.

  20. Postpublished at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2017

    Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    This has been the story of the series, the story of the winter - England bowling at the middle of Steve Smith's bat.