Summary

  • Crawley's smart catch in the gully ends Warner's punchy knock

  • England skittled for 185 after being put into bat

  • Root only player to reach 50

  • Three wickets each for Cummins & Lyon

  • Australia need draw to retain Ashes after wins in Brisbane and Adelaide

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

  1. Postpublished at 03:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    Once again Australia have got rid of Root when he's set. Mitchell Starc struggled in his first spell but has come back and got the skipper. England are in real trouble here.

  2. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 33 overs

    Root c Carey b Starc 50 (Eng 82-4)

    Ah. Joe Root's wait for a Test century in Australia goes on as Australia find a way to get rid of him when he's well set.

    He is livid with himself, too, swiping his bat around like a lightsaber. It's a classic Mitchell Starc delivery, finding that extra pace and Root can't resist nibbling outside the off stump.

  3. Eng 82-3published at 32 overs

    I think we're running out of words to describe Joe Root's efforts in 2021. What on earth would England's batting be without him?

  4. 50 runs

    50 for Joe Rootpublished at 03:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Another day, another Joe Root half-century.

    He clips off his pads for a single and raises his bat for the third time this series. What a player.

  5. Eng 81-3published at 31 overs

    Root 49, Stokes 4

    FansImage source, Getty Images

    A solid defence from Stokes concludes the over.

  6. Postpublished at 03:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    The captain has got to have a word with Labuschagne. He is in the covers and started running flat out towards the wicketkeeper to appeal.

  7. Eng 81-3published at 30.3 overs

    Australia think they have Ben Stokes caught down the leg side ... but no.

    Labuschagne gives a very animated appeal from cover, naturally, while the bowler Starc barely offers a shrug.

  8. Postpublished at 02:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    I'm not sure we need to put any more pressure on him, Thomas.

    Coming in at 12-2 for the thousandth time in his career with the Ashes on the line is hard enough.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 02:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Thomas: Would you say this is Root's most important innings ever?

  10. Eng 77-3published at 30 overs

    Root 48, Stokes 1

    Root closes out the over with another glorious cover drive for two.

  11. Postpublished at 02:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    Joe Root makes good use of the cut shot. He just guided it and didn't try to hit it too hard.

  12. Eng 75-3published at 29.2 overs

    Scott Boland offers Root some width, which is not advised, as England's captain cuts it effortlessly to the boundary.

    Root follows it with a less convincing dab through the slips but he doesn't seem to care as it also races for four.

  13. Postpublished at 02:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    It has got to be a mental thing for Root getting a hundred in Australia. He is certainly a good enough player to go well past 100.

  14. Eng 67-3published at 29 overs

    Mitchell Starc replaces Cummins.

    Joe Root pushes one firmly down the ground to add another three runs to his tally. He is just a joy to watch.

  15. Postpublished at 02:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    Stokes looked good in Adelaide. He played defensively very well and let a lot of balls go. But that is just not the way he plays. I didn't think he showed enough.

  16. Eng 64-3published at 28 overs

    Stokes gets off the mark as Boland bowls another tidy over but without any real venom.

    In fact, that's been the trend of the day. Only Cummins has looked a real threat.

  17. Postpublished at 02:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Scott Boland takes the second over after lunch but is delayed briefly by a pesky plastic bag floating across the pitch.

  18. Postpublished at 02:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Ian Chappell
    Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

    No wonder they call Cummins Postman Pat. He delivers.

  19. Eng 61-3published at 27 overs

    Stokes leaves his first ball relatively comfortably but is beaten by a beauty next up as Cummins finds that awkward bounce once again.

    The crowd is cheering Cummins in as if every delivery is a hattrick ball.

  20. Postpublished at 02:39 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    The players are lurking on the boundary edge, waiting for play to resume.

    Pat Cummins looks very relaxed, lounging in a chair and sporting his baggy green and sunglasses. He has three balls remaining of his over.

    Joe Root sprints to the middle followed by Ben Stokes. He could do with a score this series and now would be a pretty handy time to do it.