Stokes also looked as if he wanted to go on the attack before his departure.

He's given us glimpses of his genius throughout the series without kicking on.

Bairstow looks like he only wants to play one way and that is by attacking. Starc drops short and Bairstow swivel-pulls him away for four.

A brief pause in play as an inflatable orange ball finds its way onto the sight screen.

Ant: Buttler's wiggling his shoulders. He's going to go on the attack.

Jos Buttler, who battled so hard in Adelaide before agonisingly treading on his stumps, joins Bairstow in the middle.

No Chris Woakes means that Ollie Robinson is in next at eight and England's tail looks vulnerable. If the Stokes/Bairstow partnership was crucial, this one is even ... crucial-er.

And on that note, Buttler misses a beauty from Green that bounces millimetres over the stumps.

And breathe.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

Cameron Green has a knack of getting good batters out.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Huge wicket for Australia. Cameron Green has been troubling Ben Stokes with the bounce. The ball darts back in this time which left him struggling for room and it's simple catch for Nathan Lyon. Now everything is riding on this next partnership for England.

You're not the only one, Steven. "It's Christmas!" has been my excuse for eating too much since the first of December.

A quiet passage of play for England as the bowlers attempt to halt their counter-attack.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

I'm getting through the small hours by eating and drinking too much. I might be a little bit more rotund the next time you see me.

Oooh, close! Cameron Green continues to cause problems as Stokes drives aggressively but misses, the ball fizzing through to Alex Carey behind the stumps.

Green has now bowled seven overs for just seven runs.

Nathan Lyon whizzes through another over in his short-sleeved sweater.

Bairstow connects with a sweep but it clatters into Marnus Labuschagne's foot at short leg. I wonder what his self-commentary would've been on that one.

TeddingtonTownCC: Who’s next after Nathan Lyon as Australia’s first choice spinner? England have struggled after losing Swann but will Australia have the same issue down the line.

The baby-faced giant that is Cameron Green beats Stokes' outside edge with that awkward bounce he so often finds.

He looks like a real gem for Australia's Test team going forward.

Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special

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There's not much to suggest there is as much in this pitch for Nathan Lyon's spin as there was in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

England are growing in confidence. Ben Stokes has been a little more expansive than he has been in this series, but a lot is riding on these next two partnerships. They aren't going to get enough runs by simply trying to survive.

Bairstow attempts a sweep off Lyon but misses and thumps into his front pad, way outside the line. The crowd appeals raucously but Lyon doesn't even blink.

The over passes rapidly, the pair taking a single each from it.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Stokes has seemed to commit more with what he is doing in the last 10 minutes or so. He's giving the bowlers much more to think about. He looks like he's got a measure of the pitch now so has the confidence to do that.

Cameron Green bowls the first over after drinks.

Stokes attempts an extravagant upper cut over the slip cordon that he misses, drawing loud gasps from the Australian players and crowd. Not fussed on playing himself in after the break, then.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

Relatively positive signs from England with these two at the crease but with such a long tail now a lot depends on these new couple of batters.