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 220-8published at 79 overs

    Yep, Stokes has had enough of blocking.

    He gives himself room and thumps Lyon over extra cover for four more. He then demonstrates just how smart a cricketer he is by dabbing and running for a single to keep the strike for the next over.

  2. 6 runs

    Eng 215-8published at 78.3 overs

    Stokes gets down on one knee and slog sweeps Lyon into the stands for six!

    That really is like going back to Headingley. More, please.

  3. Postpublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's Ben Stokes v Australia, Headingley-style, just in different circumstances.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Daniel Cooper: How many matches won in an Ashes series in Australia? Not many. Exactly. Why is anyone surprised when the England team is made up of injured, inexperienced, out of form and just down right poor players?

    Mickey Wallis: Can anyone actually say these pink ball tests are a fair contest? If you bat first the advantage is just a complete joke… old ball at twilight… then attack opposition at twilight the following day. Nonsensical.

  5. Eng 208-8published at 78 overs

    Stokes 23, Broad 0

    Stokes upper cuts the final ball for a single to keep the strike.

    There are two overs left until the new ball, but with the way Nathan Lyon is bowling, they may not even need it.

  6. Eng 208-8published at 77.3 overs

    Well, that suggests so.

    Stokes swings absolutely everything at a ball from Cameron Green, trying to send it into the stands but it goes down to third man off the inside edge instead.

    A horrible looking shot but not sure Stokes has much choice. Headingley 2019, anyone?

  7. Postpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Are we going to see Ben Stokes open his shoulders?

  8. Eng 204-8published at 77 overs

    The ball is spitting and spinning all over the place.

    Oh, how England must be wishing for a Nathan Lyon.

  9. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Robinson lbw b Lyon 0 (Eng 204-8)

    Nathan Lyon has his third as Robinson goes back to a ball that turns sharply.

    It was umpire's call on impact but because it was given out on field, it doesn't matter. England's day just keeps getting worse and worse.

  10. Postpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    He might as well review, but he might be clutching at straws.

  11. England reviewpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Nathan Lyon pins Robinson lbw, the umpire raises the finger.

    He reviews, but looks like desperation to me.

  12. Postpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Cameron Green gets extra bounce. That is what is unsettling batters.

  13. Eng 203-7published at 76 overs

    In the battle of the two tall fast bowlers, Green is on top so far. The game has completely changed since he got Joe Root out just after lunch.

  14. Postpublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Does that go down as two drops?

  15. dropped catch

    Robinson dropped on 0published at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Well, Australia have dropped a catch.

    Robinson edges to Mitchell Starc at gully who gets two hands to it, parries it to Smith at slip who can't quite cling on to the rebound.

  16. Eng 202-7published at 75 overs

    Ollie Robinson is the new batter. Again, I can't imagine how fuming England's bowlers are at having to bat after two brutal days in the field in extremely hot conditions.

  17. Postpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    He went back when he should have been forward and left the gate open.

  18. Postpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I wonder if that was slightly flatter, quicker. It hit the top of off.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Woakes b Lyon 24 (Eng 202-7)

    The misery continues.

    Clever, clever bowling. The ball before Lyon extracted some real turn and bounce to slice Chris Woakes in half, so he fires one in quicker and forces Woakes to go back and the ball sneaks through.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

    Text 81111 (standard message rates apply)

    I mean, we're that bad in Australia that I bet even the Australian fans are pining for some proper competition. Shambles.

    Carl, Halifax.