Postpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Thanks Jack. This first day is tantalisingly poised. It could still go either way from here.
Summary
Buttler unbeaten with 64 at the close
England slump from 130-2 to 226-8
Root - dropped three times - is bowled by Cummins for 57 to bring about collapse
Four wickets for Marsh and two each for Cummins and Hazlewood
Australia - 2-1 up in series - have already retained Ashes
Australia won toss; 5th Test, day one, The Oval
Postpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Postpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
And on that cheery note of how Steve Smith will fare on this pitch, I'll hand you back to Matthew Henry...
Cheers.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
#bbccricket
Hawkesy: Steve Smith is gonna be in until October on this pitch.
Postpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The OvalEdgbaston has the Hollies, there's the new stand at Headingley and Lord's is, well, Lord's. For me, though, the best spot to watch Test cricket in England is the very top of the Oval pavilion. You're right on top of the action, able to drop a coin on a boundary fielder (don't do that) and, at the back, is a spacious bar with windows that retract to let the air and atmosphere in. In the distance, in all its glory, is London. The Eye, the BT Tower and the Union flag flying proudly over the Houses of Parliament. Superb.
Postpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialRoot has walked off almost apologetically but who cares? He's still there.
Tea - Eng 169-3published at 52 overs
Root 57, Bairstow 22
Nathan Lyon to bowl the final ball of the session...
...and Joe Root gets forward well to defend.
England in a decent position at tea, though it could've been a stronger one save for two tame dismissals.
Eng 169-3published at 51.5 overs
Joe Root goes back to Nathan Lyon, trying to tuck round the corner and the ball flicks the pad on its way through to Tim Paine.
Australia go up for caught behind, briefly talk about the review and wisely opt against. All pad that.
Postpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match SpecialEngland will be reasonably happy at the moment, but they've had three soft dismissals. One of their strategies in this series has been to try and keep Australia out there and tire their bowlers down. Just bat, bat, bat.
Image source, ReutersEng 166-3published at 51 overs
Joe Root watchfully plays out another Josh Hazlewood maiden.
Postpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialThis is better from Lyon - a lot more fizz and a lot more energy.
Eng 166-3published at 50 overs
Better from Nathan Lyon, fizzing it past Joe Root's outside edge from round the wicket.
Postpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialEvery session, you should have your allotted overs that you have to get in, and if by the end of each session you haven't got them in, you should be fined 10 runs.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Text 81111
Root into the nervous 50's.
Dom in London ( feeling nervous about my 5th day tickets)
Postpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Amy Lofthouse
BBC Sport at The OvalIsa Guha reckons that Simon Mann looks like Harrison Ford. Tuffers isn't having a word of it. "He's 77!" is Simon's indignant response.
Eng 164-3published at 49 overs
Josh Hazlewood returns and Joe Root has a little nibble at one in the channel but it misses the outside edge.
That's a maiden.
How's stat?!published at 15:27 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statisticianJonny Bairstow is the 34th England player to reach 4,000 Test runs.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialNathan Lyon has lost his action a little bit. He's losing his front arm a bit and everything is sliding down. Right-arm spinners should be going outside off stump, spinning back, with a bit of drift. The trajectory of the ball, when it's released, makes it difficult to open the right-handed batsmen up.
Eng 164-3published at 48 overs
Run rate 3.42
Nathan Lyon bowls it a long way down the leg side, Tim Paine can't pouch it and England pick up two byes.
Ooh. A quirky flap round the corner by Joe Root for one before Jonny Bairstow and the England captain exchange singles.
Postpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Sadly, it won't be Steve Smith bowling.
Frontline spinner Nathan Lyon is coming on instead.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 12 September 2019
Amy Lofthouse
BBC Sport at The OvalI don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but Steve Smith is loosening up at slip, and frankly, that's what this Test has been missing.