England are facing a 4-0 series defeat, unless they can survive day five at Sydney with only six wickets remaining.

The tourists closed on 93-4, still trailing by 210 runs, in reply to Australia's ruthless 649-7 declared.

The hosts ground down a beleaguered England bowling attack with Shaun Marsh (156) and brother Mitchell (101) both completing their centuries in a stand of 169.

After putting England in about an hour before tea, Mark Stoneman was snared lbw for a duck by Mitch Starc, before Alastair Cook was bowled by a Nathan Lyon snorter on a deck that England's spinners failed to enact the same turn from.

James Vince then did a James Vince - looking pretty for 18 before edging Pat Cummins to first slip - while Dawid Malan was trapped lbw by a Lyon delivery that skipped on.

England's hopes rest on captain Joe Root (42 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (17 not out).

Image source, Getty Images

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

I don't think this series leaves you with much optimism about this format. I am concerned about how predictable a lot of the cricket has been.

Talking of the bowling, here are a few relevant England stats from day four:

• James Anderson equalled Derek Underwood's England record of 1,239 maidens in Tests

• England have gone through a series without taking 20 wickets in a match for the first time since the 2009 tour of West Indies

• Mason Crane's 1-193 are the most expensive figures by an England Test debutant, and the third worst by an England bowler
• The 1,003.2 overs England have bowled is the most since the 1994-95 Ashes (1,013.4 overs)
• This is the fifth time in 15 away Tests since New Year 2016 that England have conceded 600

Macca: England are the most one dimensional team in Test history.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Jimmy Anderson has been the only England bowler to look threatening. The rest have looked mediocre.

Simon is exactly right.

Whereas Steve Smith has been able to have Nathan Lyon tie down one end and rotate three dangerous seamers, England have rarely if ever bowled well in partnerships, due to the gap in quality between Anderson and the rest.

So it was again on day four. Moeen Ali was tidy enough, but Lyon's prodigious turn on the same pitch later in the day highlighted the England all-rounder's limitations.

Stuart Broad charged in gamely and was a tad unlucky at times but carried little threat, while this pitch showed up Tom Curran's lack of pace, save for a great ball to remove Mitch Marsh.

And Mason Crane is a 20-year-old leg-spinner in his first match, who went for the most runs of any England player making their Test debut and third most of all time.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Out here, though, Anderson needs the support.

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Anderson has bowled superbly all tour. He's bowled as well in unhelpful conditions as he did when he had so much success in the English summer. His spell today was very impressive. On this tour, there has been no evidence that Anderson is a diminished bowler.

A well-deserved word for James Anderson. Once again England's all-time leading wicket-taker was easily his side's best bowler. Despite the heat, he ran in hard during every spell with unerring accuracy and no little menace.

There was one over to Shaun Marsh in particular with two very close lbw shouts that had the set number five beaten all ends up.

This Test has shown the gap between these sides is wider than England claim. You feel it would be a veritable chasm without Anderson.

Image source, Reuters

Australia's Shaun Marsh on James Anderson, speaking to ABC: "I thought he bowled fantastically well today. It was hard work. He's been a tough bowler to face all series. He doesn't give you any four balls to hit."

On Mason Crane: "He's got a lot of potential. He spins the ball and he's got some varieties there."

On the day's play: "It was a lot of fun to be out there with Mitch. It's been a fantastic day. For me, I try and take it one game at a time and keep enjoying it."

That was a touching moment that could have ended calamitously. Mitch Marsh picked up the single he needed for his century and then, returning to complete an easy two, stopped to hug brother Shaun in the middle of the pitch.

With the throw coming in, both realised just about quickly enough they needed to make their ground, with Steve Smith aborting his applause to yell in wide-eyed terror from the dressing room that there was about to be a run out.

Mitch survived - only to be bowled next ball by Tom Curran. But the Marsh brothers had done the damage - a partnership of 169 ensuring the hosts would likely not need to bat again.

Image source, Getty Images

Australia batsman Shaun Marsh, who made 156, speaking to ABC: "It was great to be out there with my brother when he got that hundred. Just lucky he didn't get run out! I think emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to give him a hug, and sort of forgot the ball was in play.

"I saw him starting to celebrate and luckily enough, it all worked out well. It was pretty funny in the changing room at lunch time. Steve Smith's reaction was pretty funny."

On his batting form: "I went to England and really enjoyed it over there. When I came back, I didn't put any expectations on myself. I tried not to put too much pressure on myself and enjoy it for what it is."

BBC Test Match Special

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Plenty more recaps and reaction to come on this live text too...

England are facing a 4-0 series defeat, unless they can bat out day five, with only six wickets remaining.

The tourists closed day four on 93-4, with Joe Root unbeaten on 42, despite taking a whack to the fingers, and Jonny Bairstow 17 not out.

Australia racked up the runs on a scorching day in Sydney, with temperatures climbing into the 50s in the middle. Brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh both completed their second centuries of the series, celebrating both with each other.

They put on 169 to grind England down, with the hosts finally declaring on 649-7, a lead of 303.

Mark Stoneman went for a duck, lbw to Mitch Starc. Alastair Cook was bowled by a Nathan Lyon ripper. James Vince edged off (shock horror). Dawid Malan was trapped lbw by Lyon.

Image source, Getty Images

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace, asked whether England can save the game, on TMS: "Of course we can. There's absolutely no point coming tomorrow if you don't believe that. If you don't, you're in a tough position as a team. Our belief is we can get through tomorrow and get something out of the game."

Sounds about right...

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace on Mark Stoneman and James Vince being under pressure: "Course they are. Every player that doesn't score runs in the series is under pressure. It doesn't matter who you are.

"They know that and they're disappointed they've not made the big scores they hoped for. We picked them because we thought they were right for this series. Certainly in Vince and Stoneman's case, they will have learnt a lot about themselves and about Test cricket."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

James Vince was James Vince. He got to 18 and you felt he was going to throw his hands to the ball. That's only something he can improve. Technically, he's alright. Mentally, there's something not right. He's too good a player and he's got a nervous night or two before the Test squad to New Zealand is around. I think they'll stick with him, because there's no-one glaringly obvious to replace him.

If you're just joining us, you already know how James Vince got out.

But just to make sure - he looked assured for 18 runs but then drove hard at a ball that Pat Cummins sent down just a touch short of his regular length, with Vince nicking to Steve Smith at first slip.

I understand the temptation to stick with him. He often looks so comfortable at this level. His cover drive and pull shot are gorgeous.

The problem is that those gorgeous shots are both the only ones he scores off and the ones that get him out, especially the drive. He's nicked behind for six out of his nine dismissals in this series.

Say he teaches himself not to flash at it - that takes his main scoring shot away and then where do the runs come from? He doesn't nurdle and tuck off his pads nearly as much as other batsmen and scores a remarkable percentage of his runs off boundaries.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

With James Vince, it's how long do they stick with someone who looks the part but always gets out in the same way.