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

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    Steve SmithGetty Images

    It might not be four runs but it has to be 9.8 for artistic impression.

    Andy from Gosport

    'He still can't get the hang of the YMCA dance.'

    Paul H

  2. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's on a knife-edge at the moment. These two need a partnership to get Australia into a safe position.

  3. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    England will not be out of this game for a long time yet. Even if they had about 120 to get off 17 overs, you can bet they would have a dash at it on this pitch.

  4. Aus 189-4

    Smith 57, M Marsh 4

    Plenty of you have got in touch to ask how many times a player has spent every minute of the match on the field, as Alastair Cook may well do for the third time.

    Nice use of the shin from Anderson to prevent what may well have been a boundary from Marsh in his follow-through. I think that hurt. Anderson grimaces.

    Chris Woakes is going to come into the attack.

  5. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    There's a disgusting dark cloud just about to appear over the back of the Ponsford Stand.

  6. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't like cover point being back on the boundary. On this pitch you've got to tempt the batsman into playing the big drive. You have to give them the boundary offer.

    People will be asking why England don't have more slips in place. But nothing has gone to the slip cordon all week.

  7. Aus 188-4

    Lead by 24

    Broad tries another bouncer to Steve Smith after that questionable effort two overs ago and this is played much more convincingly. He gets on top of the ball and pats it into the leg-side for one.

    Now Marsh finally gets off the mark and in fine style. A crunching drive through the covers which results in Broad instantly ordering his cover fielder to go back to the boundary.

  8. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The new ball seems to be doing just a little now - more than it has done at any other point in this Test.

  9. Aus 183-4

    59 overs remaining

    England are creating chances after lunch but have not had the luck they need. A few times the ball has passed the bat of Marsh and Smith, as well as that stray pull from Smith in the previous over.

    Still Marsh can't get off the mark. He has been out there 19 balls without scoring. It has suddenly got very dark.

  10. Aus 182-4

    Lead by 18

    Broad continues with new ball in hand for the first time. After two maidens to Marsh since lunch he now has Steve Smith to bowl at.

    More hands on heads in the field for England! Broad bangs one in to Steve Smith and the Aussie top-edges his pull but it lands safely.

    Broad can't believe his luck - or lack of it. Now he beats Marsh again. Another brilliant over.

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    Just got back from the pub, managed to get landlord to put the cricket on for the last two hours. A draw looks the likely outcome.

    Legs in the south west

  12. Aus 181-4

    Lead by 17

    I like it Tom but Geoffrey won't be happy with you playing away from your body like that.

    Better pace through the air and carry for Anderson with the new ball. Unsurprisingly there is no huge swing. We haven't seen much in the match so don't expect it to suddenly happen now on day five.

    Just one run from the over as Anderson gets a little straight to Smith.

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  14. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport in Melbourne

    During the morning session, I went past a couple sitting at the Southern End of the ground. The chap was quite into the cricket and the lady was turned in her seat, back almost to the action, reading a Jojo Moyes book. I've just seen them again, two hours later. She's still reading.

  15. new ball

    England take new ball

    A quick conflab between Root, Broad and Anderson and they decide to take the new ball. The old one is discarded with. Anderson will bowl the first over with the new piece of leather.

  16. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's a strange position that James Vince is fielding in. If he was in a conventional gully position that would've hit him in the chest.

    Sometimes it feels like Joe Root is taking an each-way bet. He's trying to save runs but then at the same time take wickets. It perhaps explains why Vince was so deep there.

  17. Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    A terrible shot from Mitchell Marsh when you're trying to save a Test match.

  18. Aus 180-4

    Lead by 16

    That's really nice from Stuart Broad. Perfect line and perfect length and Mitchell Marsh plays a questionable defensive stroke.

    "Caaaaaaaatch!" Did this carry? No! Marsh plays a ridiculous shot in the situation, a big drive from a wide delivery, and hits the ball in the air through the gully. James Vince is deep in that position and the ball drops a yard short.

    Joe Root drops his cap over his face in frustration. England need everything to go their way and so far since lunch it has not.

    Stuart BroadReuters

  19. Ed Smith
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't think Australia can set England a target they would be able to bowl them out below. You'd need Shane Warne at his best.

    Glenn McGrath: Shane Warne looks young and fitter now than he did when he was playing...

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    Deppo: If we bowl Australia out for a low total, I would send Moeen Ali out to bat as opener, and ask him to village cricket us to victory.