Summary

  • England lose three late wickets

  • England slip from 166-2 to 196-5

  • Burns 81, Root 71, Roy 22

  • Four wickets for Hazlewood

  • Burns & Root add 141 from 25-2

  • Rain & bad light shortens day

  • Australia 497-8 dec: Smith 211

  • Fourth Test, day three, Old Trafford

  • Australia will retain Ashes with win

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry and Amy Lofthouse

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    John Russell: You need to be careful not to burst an inflatable dolphin or you'll be deflating the porpoise.

  2. I'm not so sure that Joe Root saw the funny side of this.

  3. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Good from England, as if the lessons of Headingley have been learned. Be careful, though. There are still more overs left today than we've had, ditto for the amount left in the match. Stick two wickets on that score and it doesn't look clever.

  4. More of this, please, England.

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    What sort of music is bad for inflatables? Pop.

    Anonymous

  6. Matthew was genuinely reduced to tears at one point because of all those inflatable puns.

    Anyway. That was good, wasn't it?

  7. That was a fun session. I'm going to lilo for a while. Amy is going to take over. Speak later.

  8. 'Perfect batting'

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    This is perfect batting. These two are the most able to adapt and play in traditional Test match fashion, and they've done that. They got England out of a bit of heat, but England need a lot, lot more.

  9. Tea - Eng 125-2

    Trail by 372

    Well that has gone as well as many England fans could have hoped. Root leaves the final ball of the over and that is tea.

    This was a mammoth session of almost three hours but, after the early loss of Craig Overton, Root and Rory Burns have fought through.

  10. Eng 125-2

    Oh, almost just what Australia were after. A good ball from Pat Cummins and Joe Root drives loosely. The ball just misses the bat and Root goes and gives himself a good telling off.

  11. Eng 125-2

    The crowd falls quiet for the first time in a while. Are they just aware of how important it is for Root to get to tea?

  12. Niche.

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    Why don't batsmen wear inflatable boots? Because of the popping crease.

    Joe, Guernsey

  14. Pat Cummins will bowl what will probably be the final over before tea.

  15. Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

    You have to give it the crowds this year. They've been like a 12th man at times, especially at Headingley.

  16. Eng 125-2

    Trail by 372

    With Lyon back in the attack, the cheers every time he catches the ball before bowling returns. Just imagine how loud the crowd will be if he drops one.

  17. How's stat?!

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    That two brought up the hundred partnership from 204 balls. It's the second hundred partnership this pair have had together after their 132 at Edgbaston.

    Joe Root and Rory BurnsGetty Images

  18. Eng 123-2

    Rory Burns cuts away for two to bring up the hundred partnership. He punches gloves with his skipper. Well played.

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    Will Collins: I split up with my last girlfriend because she got a puncture. We still live together, but now she's just my flat mate.

  20. Nathan Lyon is back in the attack. I'll squeeze one more pun in before he starts the over.