Postpublished at 06:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Dan Norcross
BBC Test Match Special
Dawid Malan has had a few nervy moments recently. That would've been a classic off-spinner's dismissal of a left-hander.
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
Postpublished at 06:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Malan dropped on 34published at 61.3 overs
Steve Smith has dropped Dawid Malan!
There's an outside edge from Malan as he presses forward and the ball takes a deflection off Tim Paine's pads, which wrong-footed Smith at slip. He got two hands down low to the ball and it brushed his hands, but he couldn't cling on. Smith is fuming.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 06:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
I can sympathise with Glenn. I've been awake for so long that I don't know what day it is.
Postpublished at 06:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialI arrived at the ground at 6am today because of all my commitments with the McGrath Foundation. I'm about ready to crawl under the desk and go to sleep.
Eng 175-3published at 61 overs
This isn't the most fluent I've seen Dawid Malan, as a one-handed drive is cut off again by point. Oh, shot! Full and wide from Mitch Marsh, a half-volley if ever there was one, and Dawid Malan gets down on one knee to cream it through the covers. Four!
In better news for Australia, Usman Khawaja is back on the field after seemingly jarring his knee a little earlier.
get involved I'm following from...published at 06:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
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Eng 171-3published at 60 overs
Malan 30, Root 51
No-one came out of that run out attempt well, frankly. Joe Root and Dawid Malan settle for working a couple of singles, with the shouts of yes and no just cranking up a notch.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 06:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialThat was a big mess from Australia. If Mitch Marsh had taken another second and thrown to the bowler's end then that would've been a run out.
Close!published at 59.2 overs
Eng 189-3
Oh, what is that?! Dawid Malan cuts for a single and calls Joe Root through. Root runs quickly but Malan starts, stops, and then sets off again. Mitch Marsh, at backward point, throws the ball to Tim Paine, who chucks down a truly awful shy at the stumps and misses by a mile. Malan dives gratefully home. What a palaver.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 06:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentatorJoe Root has looked very determined today and yet again the challenge for him is to turn a half-century into a century.
50 for Rootpublished at 59 overs
Eng 168-3
Image source, ReutersBrought up with a boundary!
That's the fourth half-century of the series for Joe Root as he carves a Mitch Marsh delivery through mid-wicket and away to the ropes. He needs to convert this one. There's a look of determination on his face as he raises his bat towards the England fans.
Postpublished at 06:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Another change for Australia - here's Mitch Marsh in place of Josh Hazlewood.
get involved I'm following from...published at 06:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
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Eng 162-3published at 58 overs
There's a leg slip in place for Joe Root as Nathan Lyon wheels his arm over, with Lyon trying to entice him into tickling one down the leg side.
Root lets the first two deliveries bounce off his pads before pushing a single through mid-wicket.
get involved I'm following from...published at 06:12 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
I'm following from an empty nightclub at midnight in Miami. Although I'll agree with Ed, it's freezing by local standards, it's still at least 15 degrees warmer than New York (although London will be just as warm as Miami tomorrow - yikes!).
Daniel Phipps
Image source, Daniel PhippsEng 161-3published at 57 overs
Malan 28, Root 43
Josh Hazlewood continues and Joe Root pulls him away for one. Mitch Marsh is fielding in the deep and, not surprisingly after seeing what happened to Usman Khawaja, stays on his feet and doesn't dive to cut off the ball.
Dawid Malan shoulder arms as another Hazlewood delivery shapes over his stumps, and he defends his way through the rest of the over.
What have you missed?published at 06:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
An absorbing day's play.
Much of it won't surprise you: England won the toss (again). Mark Stoneman started brightly before falling when well set (again). James Vince batted beautifully before edging behind courtesy of a loose stroke (again). Alastair Cook was undone by a full, quick delivery (again - Melbourne appears a one-off). Joe Root and Dawid Malan are attempting to rebuild (again).
Pat Cummins has two wickets and Josh Hazlewood one, on a green-tinged pitch that has offered lateral movement and no little carry. Much better than Melbourne.
England will need a decent total to justify batting first after winning the toss. It's evenly poised...
By the way, the first session was washed out by rain, meaning play can continue until 08:00 GMT if needed.
Image source, Getty ImagesEng 160-3published at 56 overs
Nathan Lyon completes his over as Dawid Malan gently defends the final ball away.
Postpublished at 06:06 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in SydneyMitchell Starc was the nearest fielder to Usman Khawaja and was straight to him. It looked nasty, memories of Simon Jones. Starc stayed with Khawaja as he hobbled to the physio, then off the field, clutching his left knee.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 06:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018
Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match SpecialOh no! I hope Usman Khawaja is OK because that looked horrible.