Summary

  • Smith and Labuschagne take superb catches as England lose two quick wickets before close

  • Buttler (47) counters after England lose four wickets for 65 runs

  • Denly hits 94 before being caught at slip by Smith

  • Stokes - dropped on 7 by Smith - makes 67 in 127-run stand with Denly

  • Lyon takes three wickets as pitch begins to take turn

  • Australia - 2-1 up in series - have already retained Ashes

  • Australia won toss; 5th Test, day three, The Oval

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry and Jack Skelton

  1. Mitchell Marsh coming back into the attack.

  2. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    Once you get closer to a declaration, the runs just seem to flow. You can start scoring at five an over without really noticing.

  3. Eng 249-4

    Lead by 318

    There are still 21 overs left in the day. If Buttler and Bairstow stay in then England could add another 70 runs tonight. That would get England close to a 400-run lead.

    Jonny Bairstow (L) and England"s Jos Buttler chat during play on the third day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at The OvalAFP

  4. Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Phwoar! No need to run for that. That's a beauty!

  5. Eng 247-4

    I'm sure they won't be looking at it like this but if England do decide to change the balance of their team this winter then this could be a little contest between Bairstow and Buttler for a place in the lower order.

    If so, Bairstow has just grabbed a point with another thumping shot for four.

    That was an over from Cummins of a man who had bowled nearly 200 overs this summer.

  6. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    This is not the quickest Oval outfield I've seen so there is a lot of hard work for the fielders chasing the ball all the way to the fence.

  7. Eng 243-4

    Cummins won't like this. The first ball of his spell is crunched to the boundary by Bairstow.

  8. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Tom Hague: England can bat. Absolute scenes.

  9. It seems Tim Paine knows he needs to break this partnership quickly if his side are to have any chance. Pat Cummins is brought back into the attack.

  10. Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I've been in this position before and it's tough - you just think 'can we just give them 100 runs and crack on with batting?'

  11. Eng 239-4

    Lead by 308

    Buttler's attacking instincts are almost his undoing as he tries to repeat that back-foot punch off the bouncier bowler Hazlewood. Where the previous attempt from Siddle went for four, this one only just misses his edge.

  12. Amy Lofthouse
    BBC Sport at The Oval

    Earlier, Caspar asked if today's afternoon session was the first time a team had batted an entire session without losing a wicket. I set Andrew Samson the challenge and I report back that it's the second time - after Steve Smith and Tim Paine, who batted between lunch and tea on the second day at Old Trafford.

  13. Eng 239-4

    Josh Hazlewood is back but Jos Buttler still looks keen to press on.

  14. Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England must declare by lunch tomorrow. They can't rely on the pitch breaking up - it's still playing quite well.

  15. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    England have got to make sure they don't give Australia a sniff - get to 400, then 450.

  16. What this clip doesn't show is the three good deliveries that came before it from Siddle.

    Joe Denly fell agonisingly short of a first century for England.

  17. Eng 237-4

    Lead by 306

    Peter Siddle may have got the wicket of Denly but this is a painful over for him. 15 runs from it. Bairstow drives to the fence off the final ball.

    England now lead by more than 300.

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  19. Eng 230-4

    Oooooh. Buttler collects a second boundary but this was one just out of the reach of bowler Peter Siddle. It would have been an outstanding return catch from Siddle low down to his left.

    Peter Siddle of Australia reacts while trying to field the ball off his own bowling during day three of the 5th Specsavers Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Kia OvalGetty Images

  20. Eng 226-4

    Not a bad way to start. Jos Buttler with a lovely back-foot punch to the boundary off Siddle.