Summary

  • Half-centuries from Root & Malan give England hope

  • Root breaks record for Test runs in a calendar year for an England batsman (1,482)

  • Burns & Hameed both caught behind by Carey

  • Australia, who resumed on 343-7, bowled out for 425 - a lead of 278

  • Head hits 152; three wickets apiece for Wood & Robinson

  • Day four begins at 23:30 GMT

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry and Callum Matthews

  1. 'The first hour will be really important'

    England's Dawid Malan: "As soon as we think too far ahead you open the door for Australia and they are so brilliant at closing that door. The first hour will be really important and then we can think about how well we can play. We need one good 100-run partnership to put a good score on the board and then who knows what can happen.

    "We spoke about not going into our shells. If they bowl good balls then respect it and then if they bowl bad balls make sure we have the intent to score. We got away with a few especially when Nathan Lyon dropped short a few times. The wicket has definitely changed. The second new ball will be crucial for them."

  2. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    Another 200 runs will make it interesting. They should have the resources to get there but the new ball is dangerous. Australia are clearly still favourites to win.

  3. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BT Sport

    The way England started - they let Australia get too many - I wondered if that would set the tone.

    But Joe Root and Dawid Malan looked comfortable once they got in. They judged the pace of the pitch well. They are right in control of this match at the moment and are bringing England right back into it.

    The pitch will get better to bat on tomorrow I think.

  4. From the press box

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    We'll have short website highlights for you shortly, but don't forget you can watch extended highlights on BBC iPlayer from 17:00 GMT.

  5. In case you're just joining us enjoy these clips of Joe Root and Dawid Malan dragging England back into the first Ashes Test.

    England had a 278-run deficit after the first innings - that is now just 58 after Root and Malan have put on an unbroken 169 for the third wicket.

  6. The new ball is exactly 10 overs away, so Australia will likely get that around 40 minutes into day four.

    A reminder, play will start at 23:30 GMT tonight. We're still making up time that lost because of the rain on day one.

  7. 'The new ball will be crucial'

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't think it's too much to ask of England to come back tomorrow and see off the new ball. That new ball is going to be crucial and where the most erratic bounce is.

    If you can see off Starc and Cummins with the new ball and get into the change of bowlers, I don't think it's out of the question for England to get a 150/200 lead.

    With momentum and other factors in your favour, we could look into a far more positive result than anyone thought.

  8. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Rachel T: And this is why Test cricket is just the best form of the game. End of.

  9. Joe Root is glancing, pulling and driving his way up that list. Tomorrow he could remove the biggest monkey off his back by notching his first Test hundred in Australia.

  10. Most Test runs in a calendar year

    1,788 - Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) in 2006

    1,710 - Viv Richards (West Indies) in 1976

    1,656 - Graham Smith (South Africa) in 2008

    1,595 - Michael Clarke (Australia) in 2012

    1,562 - Sachin Tendulkar (India) in 2010

    1,555 - Sunil Gavaskar (India) in 1979

    1,544 - Ricky Ponting (Australia) in 2005

    1,541 - Joe Root (England) in 2021

  11. The highlights, available on BBC iPlayer from 17:00 GMT, are worth watching today if you're an England fan.

    You won't be wincing every two minutes like the last two days.

  12. 'Hopefully we can cash in'

    England's Dawid Malan: "It was a good partnership between me and Joe. We were in the game yesterday when we had them five down but then Travis Head played an unbelievable knock.

    "Hopefully we're back in the game and we can get at least another 100 run partnership between me and Joe and then whoever comes in next.

    "The wicket has changed a lot from the first innings. It is a little bit two-paced but you can trust the bounce a little better. When the ball gets soft, it loses that dip a little bit.

    "It's become a good wicket and hopefully we can get a good day tomorrow and cash in."

  13. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    England were in a horrible place this morning. It felt pretty gloomy after how the first two days panned out.

    The bowlers did well. It was good to see Ben Stokes out there, able to bowl and rushing around the field in an energetic way. There was no strapping or anything on his knee.

  14. 'A huge day tomorrow'

    Australia's Travis Head on BT Sport: "There wasn't a massive difference today to yesterday. Both last night and in our innings it was challenging with the new ball so we'll see that tomorrow - it will be key for us.

    "They are two high-quality players. We created opportunities throughout and I'm sure we'll speak about how we're going to come back in the morning. It is no surprise that they've got themselves back into it. We're in a great position at the moment with a 60-run lead and a new ball round the corner.

    "If we can get one or two wickets before the new ball or if not dry the runs up. If we can get them five or six in the game before it is evens we can drive the game.

    "It will be a huge day tomorrow."

  15. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    MalanGetty Images

    Malan is a hard cricket player. He stands up and plays well on these pitches. Yes, he was exhausted at the end but that is because he has worked so hard.

  16. Dawid Malan has just sat down for his news conference. He looks absolutely shattered.

    He ended the day 80 not out from 177 balls.

  17. Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BT Sport

    We know that this Australia side have cracked under pressure - we saw that against India last year and at Headingley in 2019.

    This side are getting closer to finding out how they cope under pressure under the new captaincy of Pat Cummins.

  18. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Neal: Fair play to England, a game of cricket appeared out of nowhere there.

    Michael: If we can can still be batting at tea tomorrow then we could be in with a chance of getting a draw. Need to get those 58 runs scored off before the new ball then see it off.

  19. 'A significant day for England'

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Regardless of the result, it's been a significant day for this England team. They have set a precedent of how to bat against Starc, Cummins and everything Australia have going for them.

  20. Day four playing times

    There's no work for most of you tomorrow. England have hope. All nighter?

    • First session: 23:30-02:00 GMT
    • Second session: 02:40-04:40 GMT
    • Third session: 05:00-07:00 GMT (play can continue until 07:30 GMT)

    Test Match Special and our live text and clip coverage will start at 23:00 GMT.