Mark Cage: 1 or 2? Would you rather have Smith's wicket or Khawaja + the nightwatchman's wickets but Smith still in?

Dan Norcross
BBC Test Match Special

Smith has been mightily troubled today by a couple of deliveries. That gives hope to England, on a pitch that hasn't turned dramatically.

Moeen to Smith, who calmly defends or leaves the first four balls. England's off-spinner then drifts down leg and Smith flicks it fine for one.

Ho-hum.

Yet...Khawaja is 14 runs away...

Smith works it to deep point for one, before Khawaja taps towards mid-off and scampers a quick single.

The Aussie skipper then slashes down and away to point for one more.

Here's Mason Crane back into the attack for James Anderson...

England's tail swung, and swung hard, this morning to help them post a first-innings score of 346, but it's not been plain sailing with the ball.

Resuming on 233-5, Dawid Malan was the first man to go, dismissed by a superb, one-handed catch from Steve Smith. Moeen Ali made a patient 30 before Tom Curran and Stuart Broad struck some lusty blows to frustrate the Australia bowlers. Pat Cummins finished the innings with 4-80.

Cameron Bancroft fell eight balls in to Australia's reply, bowled by Stuart Broad, before David Warner busied himself with making 50. He eventually fell for 56 after edging James Anderson behind.

Since then it's been all about Usman Khawaja, who has compiled a patient half-century, and Steve Smith, who has looked uncomfortable for the first time in an age. And yet, he's still there.

Image source, EPA

Moeen continues as we enter the last five overs of the day.

Another humdrum over - Khawaja punches for one through mid-off and Smith drives away a short ball for three.

Anderson drops short and Khawaja slices away past the dive of Moeen at point - but it doesn't quite reach the fence on this slow outfield and he has to settle for three.

Smith leaves a couple outside off before a nice back-foot drive brings him two.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

There's bounce there for Moeen. Bairstow took that ball at chest height.

Here is Moeen Ali - ooh, he finds a bit of turn and bounce and rips one past Khawaja's outside edge.

Khawaja defends a few then picks up a single off the last.

For all the evidence of turn at the SCG, there have been 67 overs of spin in the Test so far, for just one wicket.

And that was Nathan Lyon getting Stuart Broad out slogging.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, who has to defend all six deliveries. That's another maiden for Anderson, who has rarely bowled a bad ball today.

You feel England would have been absolutely pulverised without Anderson in this series.

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

England would love to get a breakthrough, similar to what happened last night when they were batting. This is an important partnership for Australia.

Right. Eight overs left in the day. England have been a bit flat since tea, with Khawaja and Smith looking settled, save for a few streaky edges.

Can England spark a mad 10 minutes like the one that scuppered their innings at the end of day one?

Thanks Amy, great work. Mason Crane will continue to Steve Smith, who drives into cover for one.

Usman Khawaja then unfurls a controlled reverse sweep that doesn't quite reach the fence thanks to a good bit of fielding from Tom Curran, saving one.

Crane again decides not to release at the end of his run up. He goes again - Smith clips off his legs for one more.

The young leggie now goes over the wicket to Khawaja and that's a lovely cover drive that gets him one to the man out in the deep.

Andrew Gell: It's just a different game when Australia bat. England have to talk themselves up about being close at times but we are not and we can't win key moments.

Tidy stuff from James Anderson, hugging the off stump, and Khawaja sees off a maiden. There are about nine overs left in the day's play, and it'll be Jack Skelton who'll take you through them.

Something of a rally from the England tail, who took the score from an overnight 233-5 to a respectable 346 - but then a struggle for wickets.

Dawid Malan, who made 62, fell to a blinding Steve Smith catch, but Moeen Ali scored a patient 30 (something of a triumph given his form), Tom Curran struck an impish 39 and Stuart Broad swung merrily for 31. Pat Cummins finished with 4-80.

A fired-up Broad cleaned up Cameron Bancroft in the second over of Australia's reply, but David Warner's 56 delayed England, while Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith - both of whom have enjoyed several slices of fortune - have been in situ ever since.

Khawaja is eyeing his first century of the series, while Smith - looking as vulnerable as he has in recent memory - has scratched his way into the thirties.

Image source, Gett

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

Mason Crane has been steady, it's going OK. There is a bit of turn out there. He won't be too disappointed with his debut performance but he'll be desperate to get a wicket.