Summary

  • Australia reach target of 20 for loss of one wicket

  • England lose eight wickets for 74 runs in morning session

  • Lyon removes Malan for 400th Test wicket

  • Root caught behind off Green, adding just three to overnight score

  • Hobart to host fifth Ashes Test after it is taken off Perth

  • Daily highlights programme on BBC iPlayer from 17:00

Live Reporting

Timothy Abraham and Matthew Henry

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

    LyonGetty Images

    I suspect Lyon will be more dangerous for that.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Malan c Labuschagne b Lyon 82 (Eng 223-3)

    Malan gone! Nathan Lyon has his 400th Test wicket. A big, big blow. England's number three skips down the pitch, tries to push a single but gets an inside edge onto pad. Marnus Labuschagne is there to take a simple catch.

    Lyon looks a relieved man. He gets a handshake and a hug from almost all of his team-mates.

  3. Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I get mistaken for Neil from the Inbetweeners. I actually got in trouble during my first Test match for watching it on my phone. We were batting well and I thought I'd nip off to watch, and Andy Flower caught me.

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

    I got into the back of a taxi last night, wearing a face mask. The driver said "Ah, Mr David Lloyd".

  5. Eng 223-2

    England's stay on Richie Benaud's favourite scoreline - 222-2 is brief as Dawid Malan nudges another single. No alarms yet. The new ball is seven overs away.

  6. Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    There's no natural movement through the air, but there's still good carry. It's been a fantastic Test match pitch.

  7. Eng 222-2

    Trail by 56

    You're not the only one, Peter.

    Root is, of course, batting with the weight of a small primate on his back. He is 13 runs away from his first hundred in Australia.

  8. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Peter: My coffee bill has is going through the roof with the Ashes!

  9. Eng 221-2

    Nathan Lyon, still stuck on 399 Test wickets, is going to bowl. He's got sunglasses on today. Are they his lucky pair?

    Joe Root flicks England's first run.

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  11. Eng 220-2

    Malan 80, Root 86

    "Till we have built Jerusalem...

    "In England’s green and PLEAS-ANT LAAAAND."

    There might not be 100 England fans in the ground but you can hear them. Malan sees off the first over.

  12. Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    If Australia don't take a wicket for an hour, they won't be smiling as much as they are right now before the start of play.

  13. Eng 220-2

    Trail by 58

    I have the same anticipation as Christmas morning. Pat Cummins bowls the first delivery which is left alone by Dawid Malan.

    I can hear Jerusalem being sung through my TV.

  14. Stuart Clark
    Former Australia fast bowler on Test Match Special

    RootGetty Images

    This is the biggest hour of the whole series in many ways.

  15. A punch of the gloves between Dawid Malan and Joe Root on the boundary edge. They're on 80 and 86 respectively.

    Grab a cushion to hide behind, something else to nervously fiddle with.

    Here we go.

  16. Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia will come out galvanised and England will have to weather the storm for an hour or so.

  17. Hobart for a decider anyone? We can only hope.

    I can see umpires. Nervous?

  18. Hobart to host fifth Ashes Test

    Bellerive OvalGetty Images

    If you haven't got work tomorrow just stay with us because it is going to be enthralling.

    Elsewhere, we have had confirmation from Cricket Australia that Hobart will host the fifth Test in this series.

    It will be the first time the Tasmanian city will have held an Ashes Test.

    Perth was due to host the series finale, but the match has been moved because of Covid restrictions in Western Australia.

    It will be the second day-nighter of the series, joining the second Test in Adelaide.

    It begins on Friday, 14 January.

  19. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Mickey Wallis: Don’t think I’ve been more excited about a Friday night in years… and all I’ll be doing is sitting on the sofa for eight hours. Come on the boys!

  20. Geoff Lemon
    Australian journalist at the Gabba

    Australia will be the tiniest bit apprehensive after that unbeaten partnership of 159 between Dawid Malan and Joe Root.

    It’s not that Australia’s position is bad, but an opposition at 220-2 will be feeling pretty good about life. And this is an Australian team that has made a habit of letting sides back into matches after being at substantial disadvantage.

    Like Australia’s most recent match in January this year, which happened to also be at the Gabba ground. The home team was well on top, but didn’t quite bat India out of the game in either innings. The end result was India chasing 329 to win.

    The Sydney Test before that was another, with India holding on for a unlikely draw.

    Then there was of course Headingley in 2019, when Australia bowled out England for 67 on the second day of the match before losing to a Ben Stokes century on the fourth. Here we are again: England all out for 147 on the first day, Australia piling up 425 in the best of the batting conditions, and yet not being able to turn the screw after dismissing both openers with the lead at 217.

    Of course things can still change, and probably will. One wicket today and England can be dismissed with only a modest lead. A proper collapse could still see England lose by an innings. But for now, at least, there is the prospect of Root and Malan underpinning something more imposing. Australia will not be comfortable with the fact that even a chance exists.