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. How's stat?!published at 01:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    In five opening partnerships in this series England's openers have scored 38 runs with an average partnership of 7.6.

    In series in Australia you have to go back to 1876-77, the first Test series ever played, to find an example of England openers having a worse average partnership.

  2. Postpublished at 01:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    "We'll get 650 on this, skip... 325 each!"

    Smith & LabuschagneImage source, Getty Images
  3. Eng 29-2published at 11.0 overs

    Dawid Malan is off the mark from his 18th ball. He's played a delivery from Scott Boland with soft hands and the ball finds a thick edge through gully for four.

  4. Postpublished at 00:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Here's the wicket of Zak Crawley from moments ago.

  5. Postpublished at 00:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I love watching Pat Cummins bowl. I probably shouldn't say that as an England fan and ex-player but he has everything. It is really annoying to watch actually.

  6. Eng 22-2published at 10.0 overs

    *Adopts Richie Benaud voice. "England are twentytwofortwo"

    Dawid Malan eager to get off strike, and off the mark, on the last ball of Pat Cummins' over and is sent back by Joe Root.

    Incidentally, a friend of mine says February 22nd, 2022 should be declared national Benaud day.

  7. Eng 22-2published at 9.3 overs

    The Aussie slip cordon leaps in the air in unison after Pat Cummins spears a delivery which beats the edge of Joe Root's bat.

    Australia want the big fish. Next ball, Root drops back ever so slightly in the crease and works it of his legs for a couple.

    Once again Root looks to be playing a different game to his England team-mates.

  8. Postpublished at 00:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    It has been a sad day for everyone who loves English cricket with Ray Illingworth passing away. England are paying their tribute with black armbands.

    Read this excellent obituary by BBC Sport's Mark Mitchener here

  9. Postpublished at 00:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    What an arena!

    MCGImage source, Getty Images
  10. How's stat?!published at 00:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

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  11. Eng 18-2published at 8.4 overs

    Scott Boland strays on to Joe Root's legs and the England skipper shows delicious time to flick it off his legs for four. England's first boundary of the day.

    Boland's next three deliveries spit off the pitch and strike Root on his thigh pad. He's not quite being struck in the particulars as per Adelaide, but it's not far off.

  12. How's stat?!published at 00:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    The average score at the fall of England's second wicket is 36.2. That is the worst such figure for any Test team that has played nine Tests in a calendar year.

  13. Eng 14-2published at 8.0 overs

    Joe Root is the new man at the crease.

    The England captain has his top button done up, collar turned up, and is sporting a sleeveless cable-knit jumper.

    He's off the mark first ball, working Pat Cummins off his legs for a single. Could today be the day he gets that Ashes Test century in Australia?

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Mark Poole: England gifting wickets. I’d say it’s because of Christmas but they’ve done that all series. Nice to see those firm conversations have gone down well.

  15. Postpublished at 00:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Great piece of bowling from Pat Cummins. His line has been impeccable. He is not showing any signs of having being in isolation for a week.

  16. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 00:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Crawley c Green b Cummins 12 (Eng 13-2)

    Oh, Zak. It started relatively promisingly but Pat Cummins gets one to climb off a length and it grazes the shoulder of Zak Crawley's bat. The ball whistles off in the direction of Cameron Green at gully who takes a tumbling catch.

  17. Eng 13-1published at 7.0 overs

    BolandImage source, Getty Images

    Must confess I've only seen snippets of Scott Boland in ODIs for Australia. Square-jawed and powerfully built, he bowls a heavy ball.

    He's quite straight and full to Zak Crawley first up and his first over passes off without real incident.

  18. Postpublished at 00:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    This is a big moment for Scott Boland.

  19. Postpublished at 00:31 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    An early bowling change for Australia as Scott Boland is brought into the attack on his debut.

  20. How's stat?!published at 00:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

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