Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Sydney

Root batting depends on when the next wicket falls. Not likely at the moment. Maybe if Jimmy holds out until 10 minutes before the close...

James Anderson adeptly fends away Josh Hazlewood, while also being frankly not a good enough batsman to nick a couple of wicked short balls.

Josh Hazlewood will replace Mitch Starc to have a go at James Anderson...

Nigel, London

Tom Curran really is showing tremendous character out there.

Can this pair survive long enough for Joe Root to feel well enough to return?

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Curran hasn't even rubbed his arm.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Tom Curran didn't flinch at all. He just wandered off to short leg. He's tough. That was a nasty blow and he ducked into it - it's hit him right on the bicep.

Eng 171-8published at 86 overs

86 overs

Short and Curran ducks. Short and Curran goes to play but then wisely withdraws from the pull - that one was too close to him.

Guess what's next? Correct - it's short but doesn't bounce much and Curran wears it on the forearm.

Ooof. The last is short-ish and Curran chips it just about past short leg.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

That is a great shot! He smacked that. Tom Curran has really got some talent.

Glorious! Tom Curran anticipates the short ball next up, backs away to leg and thwacks a pull shot to the rope.

Chutzpah from the 22-year-old.

Shot! Pat Cummins pitches it up and Tom Curran drives him on the up and down the ground for four.

Anderson does play a couple of short ones with a nicely angled bat to guide them down.

Starc varies by going full and Anderson clips deftly off the pads for two.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

There's no let-up here at the end. It's short, short, short to Anderson. It's what Australia promised at the start of the series.

Tom Curran flicks off his hip for a single from the first ball.

I'm sure James Anderson will be delighted he now has to face Mitch Starc too...

James Wroath: Re 02:50, I understand Michael Vaughan’s point, but surely he doesn’t consider the pitches from this series as ‘better’?

Dan Norcross
BBC Test Match Special

This is problematic of Jimmy Anderson's performance in the whole series. He's not running away from the short ball - he's getting in behind them and making Cummins bowl as many deliveries as he can.

I had a feeling while England were talking about the value of having two spinners when bowling on the final day on this deck, they were making an assumption that Australia would actually be the team batting last on it.

Now it is the hosts bowling last, they are finding turn, swing, pace and variable bounce.

Cummins enlists the latter two weapons against Anderson, who flails and fends his way through a maiden, hanging on admirably.

Mr T, London

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

If you want the England team to just be a good side at home, then continue playing on those pitches. But if you want them them to be competitive away from home, then prepare better Test match pitches.