Summary

  • Australia close day three on 45-1, leading by 282

  • England slump from 150-2 to 236 all out

  • Australia opt not to enforce follow-on

  • Malan (80) & Root (62) play well but their wickets lead to yet another collapse

  • Daily highlights programme on BBC iPlayer from 18:00 GMT

  • Listen to Test Match Special commentary by clicking the play icon

  1. Eng 88-2published at 26 overs

    Nathan Lyon resumes after drinks and Root nails a reverse sweep off his final ball for yet another boundary.

    The weather looks absolutely stunning in Adelaide. I'm not saying I'm jealous, but I am considering whether I ought to go and refill my hot water bottle.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Arjun Singh: I’ve watched a lot of cricket. Root is one of the best players of spin I’ve seen. It’s been a masterclass this year especially.

  3. Postpublished at 04:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    There has been a a big difference between the tactics of the teams. England have been a lot more proactive. They have been prepared to score runs and play shots earlier in their innings.

  4. drinks break

    Eng 84-2published at 25 overs

    Malan 43, Root 28

    Have we gone back an hour? Malan drives, gets an inside edge past his stumps and sneaks a single. Please stop doing that.

    He makes up for it by cutting off the back foot for four from the final ball. A lovely way to take us to drinks.

  5. Postpublished at 04:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    I was the only loyal one who stayed in South Australia. The other turncoats shot through.

  6. Postpublished at 04:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    The stand here is called the Chappell Stand but really it should be the Ian Chappell Stand.

  7. Eng 77-2published at 24 overs

    An absolute pie from Lyon is crunched to the point boundary by Dawid Malan, who probably can't believe his luck as Lyon was building some pressure on him in the previous over.

    Enjoying this aggression to the spinner.

  8. Postpublished at 04:48 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    Joe Root has now pushed mid-on and mid-wicket back. That is the way you have to play Lyon.

  9. Postpublished at 04:48 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    This is going to be a fascinating battle.

  10. Eng 73-2published at 23.2 overs

    Maybe not! Root skips down the pitch to the first ball of Lyon's next over and plonks it over mid-off for four! Delightful.

    He takes a single from the next ball to get Malan on strike and I think that's what we call Good Cricket.

  11. Eng 68-2published at 23 overs

    Malan 34, Root 21

    Michael Neser returns for a second spell and concedes just a single. The scoring has slowed down a little in the past few overs - the Nathan Lyon effect?

  12. Eng 67-2published at 22 overs

    Nathan Lyon zips the ball past Dawid Malan's edge with a beauty. He just loves bowling to left handers.

    Oh, now then! Joe Root plays a rather uncharacteristic slog sweep in the air that draws cries of 'catch it!' but it lands safely for a single.

  13. Eng 65-2published at 21 overs

    Joe Root has some bat problems. He tests out a couple of spares that are offered, selects his choice and plays out a Mitchell Starc maiden.

    There is no swing at all for the seamers out there today.

  14. Postpublished at 04:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    Root has looked positive. The run-rate has been good for England.

  15. Most Test runs in a calendar yearpublished at 04:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    1. Mohammad Yousuf (Pak, 2006) - 1,788
    2. Viv Richards (WI, 1976) - 1,710
    3. Graeme Smith (SA, 2008) - 1,656
    4. Michael Clarke (Aus, 2012) - 1,595
    5. Joe Root (Eng, 2021) - 1,563*
  16. Eng 65-2published at 20 overs

    Lyon's first over concedes just a single.

    Marnus Labuschagne is chirping away at short leg, which I imagine he'll be doing for a significant part of the day. England must be so fed up of him by now.

    Meanwhile, Joe Root has just ticked off Sachin Tendulkar's 2010 tally on his quest to score the most Test runs in a calendar year.

  17. Postpublished at 04:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Here comes Nathan Lyon.

    He gets a huge round of applause. Not sure if it's been mentioned enough that he could be the key for Australia today.

  18. Postpublished at 04:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It is a contrast from last night. Australia would have wanted to make up the time lost last night under the lights.

  19. Eng 64-2published at 19 overs

    Malan 33, Root 18

    The crowd comes to life a little Starc bowls a vicious bouncer - but Malan sways brilliantly out of the way, bending his back like he's performing the limbo at a birthday party.

  20. Postpublished at 04:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special

    They have played very positively. It is good to see.