Summary

  • Warner 56, Khawaja 91*, Smith 44*

  • Smith rides luck in stand of 107*

  • Eng 346: Root 83, Malan 62, Curran 39

  • Cummins 4-80, Hazlewood 2-65

  • Day three starts at 23:30 GMT

  • Australia lead 3-0 in five-Test series

  1. Postpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Right then. That is that for our coverage from day two of the fifth Test.

    We will be back at about 23:00 GMT for more live text coverage from the final (and not deciding) Test.

    In the meantime, here's Stephan Shemilt's report

    And here's a link to the TMS highlights.

  2. Fifth Test, day two recappublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    • England bowled out for 346
    • Malan makes 62, Curran 39
    • Cummins 4-80
    • In reply, Bancroft out for a duck
    • Australia recover, with Warner scoring 56
    • Khawaja 91*, Smith 44*
    • Australia are 193-2 and trail England by 153 runs
  3. Anecdote time...published at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Steve WaughImage source, PA

    I would have Steve Waugh ahead of Smith in my Australia XI.

    Waugh was a great hero of mine and the first sportsperson I had interviewed.

    It was the late-ish 1990s and Australia were playing the Minor Counties in Jesmond, Newcastle.

    I was doing work experience at a dance radio station which was trying to win a licence in the city. I wasn't one of the DJs, but in fact helping write the news bulletins. Imagine me DJ-ing?

    Anyway, I realised the Aussies were in town so went with a mini-disc recorder (they're from the olden days) to try to interview Waugh.

    The press person gave the green light. But as I walked upstairs to see the skipper, one of the players, I think it was Jason Gillespie, said, "you won't get anything out of him mate, good luck".

    I obviously started to worry. Luckily, Waugh was great. Never smiled, but great.

    I then braved it and asked, "Steve, could you say I'm Steve Waugh and you're listening to Galaxy Radio?".

    He accepted and did as I asked. Legend.

  4. 'Crane has bright future'published at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    More from David Warner on ABC: "Brad Haddin [Australia fielding coach] has been nailing the guys. Myself and the bowlers did some slip fielding the other day. That wasn't pretty to watch! The guys have done a lot of catching in training. The preparation has been there. We've just dropped some easy chances."

    On England's leg-spinner Mason Crane: "He was a little bit nervous, as you could see. I feel like he gives the ball a good rip. I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. He's got to be as consistent as he can. As a leg-spinner, it's a very hard art."

  5. Who would Richie have had in his XI?published at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    The RichiesImage source, EPA

    Maaaaavellous.

  6. Which five batsmen would make your Australia XI?published at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    Here is my choice - they aren't necessarily the greatest Aussie batsmen of all time.

    • Don Bradman (obvs)
    • Steve Smith
    • Ricky Ponting
    • Steve Waugh
    • Justin Langer
  7. The difference-maker?published at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Steve SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Here's four-wicket man Pat Cummins on the importance of Steve Smith to the Australia team, in case you hadn't previously been alerted to the level of his importance. Must be a bit like when Mauricio Pochettino keeps getting asked about how good Harry Kane is...

    Cummins: "We're stoked he's on our team so we don't have to bowl at him.

    "Those big innings he has played have been really important. In Brisbane and Perth they were match-winning and in Melbourne it was match-saving. "It's just incredible and I think he's been the difference between the two sides."

  8. Postpublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Anyone who is saying about Smith that when the ball swings, he gets out, is talking nonsense. This guy is a freak. I'm not backing against him getting another hundred here tomorrow.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    Steve Purton: Can't see England bowling Smith out again. Ever!

    Extreme, but fair.

  10. Fifth Test, day two recappublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    • England bowled out for 346
    • Malan makes 62, Curran 39
    • Cummins 4-80
    • In reply, Bancroft out for a duck
    • Australia recover, with Warner scoring 56
    • Khawaja 91*, Smith 44*
    • Australia are 193-2 and trail England by 153 runs

  11. 'The rewards will come'published at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Mason CraneImage source, PA

    England debutant Mason Crane on TMS: "It's in the balance. Take a couple of wickets and you don't know what can happen. They've got to bat last on this.

    "We've got to keep plugging away. The new ball is not too far away - it's a big morning for us tomorrow.

    "Maybe the luck didn't go my way. I'll keep plugging away, do the right things and the rewards will come."

  12. Postpublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I liked Mason Crane. I think he's got the right style of energy. He gets plenty of revolutions on the ball. He didn't look phased. He's not the kind of bowler you'd see him playing every single Test match but you've seen enough today to know that, if England work well with him, there's things to be worked on over the next few years. Tom Curran is the same.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    Lewis Starks: Come on... Change the headlines! Pretty sure this is the 12th consecutive day in this Ashes series that I have woken up to "A N Other & Smith frustrate England"

    If there was a cricket-themed Black Mirror....

  14. Crane in constructionpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Mason CraneImage source, Rex Features

    Despite the Aussies posting 193 for the loss of only two wickets, there was 'a positive' for England's bowling in the guise of 20-year-old Hampshire leg-break bowler Mason Crane, who led England's spin attack, perhaps to the relief of Moeen Ali.

    The debutant bowled a relatively hefty 17.0 overs, with 58 runs coming off those.

    He'll be hoping he doesn't get battered around the park on Saturday.

    Look, I have been trying to put a positive spin on things. No pun intended.

  15. Pint-sized Ashes: Khawaja stars as TMS accidentally pull the plugpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Listen to the best moments from Test Match Special as Australia take charge on day two of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

    Read More
  16. Where's Pint-sized Ashes?published at 08:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    You're right in asking. Let's dig around...

  17. Australia display ominous signspublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Usman Khawaja (left)Image source, Getty Images

    In reply, Australia got off to an imperfect start when Ashes new boy Cameron Bancroft was bowled for a duck by Stuart Broad.

    But both David Warner and Usman Khawaja were allowed to settle in.

    Jimmy Anderson eventually claimed the wicket of the vice-skipper who made 56 to leave the score on 86-2 but Khawaja marched on and built another sizeable partnership with that man Smith.

    Where next Australia? 400-plus?

  18. England's tail show more mettlepublished at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    Tom CurranImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Tom Curran won't want to see this photo

    England eased down to a halt after beginning the day on 233-5.

    Dawid Malan, who was 55 at the close of play on day one, made seven more runs before he was brilliantly caught by... yes... Steve Smith at second slip off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

    Moeen Ali made 30 before the tail showed a bit more bite than in recent times with Tom Curran scoring 39 and Stuart Broad adding 31.

    Pat Cummins starred for Australia with the ball with 4-80.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:47 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    #bbccricket

    Reid Warren: It's easy for armchair supporters to throw rocks at the England team. They are doing the best with what they have. English football is in the same boat.

  20. Change the record, Smithpublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2018

    #bbccricket or text 81111 (UK only)

    Steve Smith (right)Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Give it a rest, mate!

    He won't will he?

    Immovable

    And cheers, Jack.

    The Aussie skipper is on 44* and Usman Khawaja has played the innings of his Ashes so far with 91* as the home side finished day two on 193-2, 153 runs behind England who were on the canvas for 346.

    Should they have got a few more having batted first? Yes, probably.

    We'll have glance past second slip look back at day two.