Summary

  • Root & Bairstow fall to new ball

  • Root superbly caught for 83

  • Malan 55* - dropped on 34

  • Stoneman 24, Vince 25, Cook 39

  • Crane makes debut; Woakes injured

  • Australia lead 3-0 in five-Test series

  1. Eng 194-3published at 70 overs

    I really wish Tim Paine came with a mute button. There's so much noise going on behind the stumps.

    Dawid Malan plays an ugly sort of pat as he tries to play the ball down, but it bounces just in front of Cameron Bancroft at short leg. That'll be a maiden.

  2. Postpublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Drinks are over and done with, and it'll be Nathan Lyon to continue.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Text 81111

    Does Andrew know how many runs Steve Smith’s drops have cost his team in the series? I’m aware it’s still accumulating....

    Adam, Cambridge

  4. get involved

    I'm following from...published at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

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  5. drinks break

    Eng 194-3published at 69 overs

    Root 65, Malan 39

    A loud cry of "wait!" from Joe Root as he pushes Pat Cummins into the covers, playing a little loosely away from his body. Root's talking to himself in between deliveries, just settling himself down. He does well to keep a fine yorker off his toes to end the over.

    And with that, it's time for drinks.

  6. Postpublished at 06:57 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia have looked a bit flat today but they'd take another wicket before the close as a good day. With Tom Curran coming in at number eight, if you get England six wickets down then it could be over quite quickly.

  7. Postpublished at 06:57 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Joe Root is into the 60s, so Australia bring Pat Cummins back. Smart.

  8. Eng 194-3published at 68 overs

    Dawid Malan wallops a cut shot away for one before another fiddle off Joe Root's hip brings him another single. I wonder if Nathan Lyon's tiring a bit. He's bowled 22 overs today, and just three maidens at that.

  9. Postpublished at 06:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Steve Smith converts fifties into hundreds because he just plays his own way, without risk. Joe Root gets out between 50 and 100 because he plays unnecessarily risky shots. To become a great player, he needs to realise when the hook or pull is getting him into trouble and shelve them.

  10. Eng 192-3published at 67 overs

    Nice and easy for Joe Root as he works singles here and there off Mitch Marsh, first through gully and then square. A sharp short ball ends the over from Marsh and Root, who looked a bit taken aback before he dropped his hands, grins widely at him. He looks like a toddler who has been caught with their hand in the sweet jar.

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  12. Eng 185-3published at 66 overs

    Nathan Lyon whizzes through another over, spearing in a shorter delivery that Dawid Malan carves away for a single. A little shovel through the off side brings Joe Root another couple.

  13. Postpublished at 06:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    The only way you feel Joe Root is going to get out today is playing the pull or hook shot.

  14. Eng 183-3published at 65 overs

    Root 57, Malan 36

    Joe Root defends before he's half-tempted by a Mitch Marsh short ball. It's not a great delivery from Marsh, not into Root's body, but Root can't resist a bit of a swish. Dawid Malan wanders over for a word with him, and Root drops a single down by his feet.

  15. Postpublished at 06:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Mitchell StarcImage source, PA

    Australia have looked quite tired today. Their seam bowlers have looked down in pace, particularly Starc who has been around 4mph down compared to previous Tests. Maybe their legs are beginning to tire.

  16. Eng 182-3published at 64 overs

    Lyon goes full and Root leans on it, driving through the covers for two, before a clip to mid-wicket brings one.

    Can the spinner trouble Malan again? The number five is happy to drive but picks out the fielder in the covers. A couple of defensive strokes to finish.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

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    Mark Walker: Maybe Steve Smith should spend a little less time practising his batting and should start practising his catching.

  18. Eng 179-3published at 63 overs

    Malan 36, Root 53

    Mitch Marsh continues, with two slips hovering. Steve Smith is still shaking his head after dropping that catch. Not a happy bunny.

    A little push from Joe Root brings about the only run from Mitch Marsh's latest over.

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  20. Eng 178-3published at 62 over

    A tough chance for Steve Smith, but it's a drop nevertheless. Nathan Lyon wheels through the rest of his over and Dawid Malan defends.

    Nathan LyonImage source, EPA