John, Newcastle: So it's left to individual players to take tactical decisions on the batting order? Why bother with a captain? Joe has not been even remotely convincing in the role this tour but there is a worrying lack of alternatives.

MM, Halifax: I think Bairstow chose to go in as there is a lack of options for nightwatchman. No doubt Broad and Anderson refuse now due to their seniority and who do you send in Crane in first test or Curran in second test??

Right, this one's got you lot more torn than a 90s' Natalie Imbruglia music video...

A poor choice from Jonny Bairstow to go out in the final few overs? Or was it up to Joe Root to rein him in and send out a nightwatchman?

More from Dawid Malan, speaking to ABC: "Ten minutes in Test cricket can change the whole game. We knew it was a crucial period but unfortunately Joe got out, and then Bluey [Bairstow].

"I've found Josh Hazlewood the toughest to face with his lengths. I feel he nags away with a couple of bouncers. He never really gives you much to drive."

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Stewart: I know very little about cricket, but I enjoy following matches and I've watched some of the Ashes so far. I saw this referenced on #bbccricket, external - what is the 'nightwatchman' role all about?

Good question, Stewart... generally, a tail end of lower order batsman sent out to block and see out the remaining few overs of the day instead of putting in your next middle order in tricky circumstances.

Here is Malan, speaking to BT Sport: "It just shows what Test cricket is like.

"I've waited long enough to get a shot, so I don't want to give it away when I get in. It's a fine line - do you attack or just stick in.

"Thankfully I got away with a few things and I'm still there a the end."

It was another decent outing for England batsman Dawid Malan, who made 55 not out.

And that was his fifth 50 in 10 Tests.

Joe Root looked destined for a big score, says Australia bowling coach David Saker.

He told BT Sport: "He looked destined for a big score. It's a great wicket for us and that exposed the last few overs for Jonny Bairstow.

"Those two wickets were big for us tonight. It was a big change late in the day. Two wickets, bang bang, and you're back in the game."

• A new ball, but Joe Root plays a sumptuous straight drive down the ground for four.
• Root jabs his bat down at a Mitchell Starc delivery and edges it past his stumps. How did that not hit? England remain on 228-3.
• Wicket! The England captain walks after clipping a Starc delivery towards square leg where Mitchell Marsh makes a fine catch.
• In comes Jonny Bairstow…
• Bairstow is hit on the pads! Huge appeal from Australia. Given not out. It goes upstairs, but Bairstow survives.
• Josh Hazlewood begins the final over of the day, Bairstow smacks him through the covers for four.
• Wicket! Bairstow’s gone… edging behind to Tim Paine.
• That's the close of play, with England 233-5.

Thanks, Jack.

Yes, keep that reaction coming. Plenty of it will include nightwatchman, I assume...

And not a Game of Thrones reference in sight.

Plenty to debate from day one at the SCG and plenty more reaction to come so stick with us.

I'm off though to get some much needed sleep before day two. Catch you then. Here's Alex Bysouth...

More from Paul Farbrace, speaking to TMS: "The good thing is we've got Malan at the crease and we've got Moeen who knows he's a fine player and he's due a score. Let's hope tomorrow is his day to fill his boots. We need to get as close to 400 as we can. It's a good pitch. Those last five minutes have been a massive dent in our search for 400."

So Dawid Malan will resume tomorrow, batting alongside Moeen Ali. How they get on against the new ball that is still less than two overs old will determine whether England can post a competitive total.

The tourists should have been comfortably looking at over 400. The hosts might fancy nipping them out for 300 with an early wicket tomorrow.

After rain washed out the morning session on day one, play will start half an hour early on day two, starting at 23:00 GMT.

It was all going so well for England just 40 minutes ago. Honest.

At that point they were 220-3, with captain Joe Root unbeaten on 83. But once again the England skipper couldn't convert, chipping a full delivery from Mitchell Starc with the new ball to a diving Mitchell Marsh at square leg.

Jonny Bairstow opted to go out himself, instead of sending in a nightwatchman, and he got a pearler from Josh Hazlewood, edging it behind to complete a horrendous 10 minutes at the end of the day for the tourists, who closed on 233-5.

Earlier, Mark Stoneman looked in good touch but struggled to deal with the short ball again and edged Pat Cummins behind.

James Vince also looked in great touch, but then misjudged a wafty cut shot and nicked off. While Alastair Cook played around a full and straight one, and was out lbw to Hazlewood on review.

That left England 95-3, but Root rebuilt well in a century stand with Dawid Malan, who remains unbeaten on 55.

A much better wicket here at Sydney than at Melbourne, with a bit in it for the bowlers. But Australia will be delighted to grab five wickets on a good pitch for batting.

Image source, Getty Images

Dawid Malan, speaking to ABC, on England not using a nightwatchman: "I was surprised. It's always left to us as the next batsman in line. I'll always have one! But good on Bluey for backing himself."

On his experience of Test cricket: "I feel like I've gutsed out performances in tough times. A couple of my fifties, I've really had to work hard for. I feel like I've found a method that I feel comfortable in and I've got belief that I can play Test cricket. If you don't back yourself, it's pretty pointless walking out."

What a dreadful last 10 minutes of the day for England.

It's probably not even their worst 10-minute spell in this Ashes, but it could be up there if it ultimately costs them this Test.

Dawid Malan has played a fine innings and will hope to kick on tomorrow. But what support will he have from the other end?

Moeen Ali is desperately sort of form and it's tough to guess how he'll approach his innings. Tom Curran is in at eight and that kicks off a long tail for England. Mitchell Starc looked to be suffering at the end of the day but you can bet he'll be fired up if he gets to go at the tail early on.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Mark Stoneman has flickered in this series, but really not much more than that.

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Stoneman has a big problem with the short ball. His hands almost go up to his eyeline and he has very little control. Today's dismissal was one that had been looming. That said, I think there's something there about him that's nice and well suited to opening the batting.