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Live Reporting

Timothy Abraham and Kal Sajad

All times stated are UK

  1. Post update

    So that's our lot for today. Well, I say today, we're back at 23:00 (GMT) for day three of the third Ashes Test.

    We'll have live text, radio commentary, analysis, reaction and in-play clips.

    You can read Ffion Wynne's report of today's play here. And if you're still in a bit of a festive mood, entertain yourself with our bumper BBC Sport Christmas cricket quiz.

    Enjoy the rest of your day!

  2. Post update

    Steven Finn

    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    At the change of innings, I thought if England could set somewhere near 200 it would be game on. But that would mean scoring 280 runs from here so right now it looks a long way off.

    From the position they're in now, if they can get to a 120-run lead then there is something to play for. I still think this is a naughty wicket.

  3. Post update

    James Anderson speaking to TMS: "It was a strange start after what happened at the hotel but once we got on the field we focused on our job very well. Stuck at it all day. The ball was doing a little bit and we battled hard.

    But then a really disappointing end to the day for us. With 12 overs to battle through and as good the spell was from Starc and Cummins, to lose four wickets in 12 overs was very disappointing."

  4. Post update

    England will resume on day three at MCG on 31-4, still trailing by 51 runs.

    Ben Stokes and Joe Root will return to the crease. To put it simply, England will need something special.

  5. Post update

    England sent out nightwatchman Jack Leach.

    The mission? Defend, defend, defend.

    The result? Leach leaves and is bowled. A second wicket in the over for Boland.

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    Kevin Simons: We are witnessing the end of Hameed's Test career, simply not good enough.

  7. Post update

    Jonathan Agnew

    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    Hameed seems to attract good balls at the moment. I feel sorry for him. I don't know who he has offended. He's having a hard time but I really want him to get a good score because he can bat. I'll be disappointed if they drop him. The only other option is to go back to Rory Burns.

  8. Post update

    It was time for a change after Pat Cummins bowled a brilliant, albeit wicketless, six over spell.

    On came Test debutant Scott Boland on his home ground. Out went opener Haseeb Hameed.

    Video content

    Video caption: Boland removes Hameed as third wicket falls

    England, not for the first time, were stunned. The noise at the MCG was on another level.

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    GRB: Let’s be honest, Crawley was got out by some great bowling. Dawid Malan should not be playing his first ball on the back foot.

  10. Post update

    Fear not, we've been here before. Dawid Malan has been one of the more stable England batters on this tour. He'll steady the ship and see England through to stumps.

    Erm... maybe not. Malan was out lbw first ball to Starc. It looked high and he reviewed the decision but replays showed it was clipping leg stump.

    Two in two for Starc and Australia.

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    SMS Message: The bowlers heeded the call and pitched the ball up, the batters have to take responsibility for our constant dismal performances. from Josh Capstick
    Josh Capstick
  12. Post update

    Jonathan Agnew

    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    The question with Crawley is why was he brought in? Because they thought Burns was shot and they needed to move and shift him? Or did they bring in him because they thought he'd bat better? The only place they've seen him bat this tour is in the nets and that's completely different to being out there in the middle.

  13. Post update

    The new opening partnership of Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed made a watchful start against some hostile bowling.

    You could just sense a wicket was coming. And it did, courtesy of this beauty from Mitchell Starc...

  14. Post update

    With Australia leading by just 81, England were buzzing. This would surely have to be the tourists' day, right?

    Wrong.

    What followed next was an hour of remarkable bowling as Australia took the game away from their rivals.

  15. Post update

    There were also wickets for Jack Leach and Ben Stokes...

    And after a bit of tail wagging, Australia were bowled out for 267...

  16. Post update

    But the undoubted star for England was a Mr James Michael Anderson.

    The 39-year-old rolled back the years with a fine bowling performance, finishing with a brilliant 4-33.

  17. Post update

    Opener Marcus Harris overturned an lbw decision...

    And played a patient and watchful knock against some top-quality bowling, top-scoring for the hosts with 76...

  18. Post update

    Once play started, it didn't take long for Ollie Robinson to take the wicket of Australia nightwatchman Nathan Lyon...

    Before Mark Wood dismissed the world's number-one ranked Test batter...

  19. Post update

    So the day started in somewhat unusual circumstances.

    England suffered a Covid-19 scare in the morning after two of their support staff and two travelling family members tested positive.

    Play had been due to start at 23:30 GMT but England delayed leaving their hotel to wait for their test results.

    All players tested negative but the start of play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was delayed by 30 minutes.

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    Jon Evans: Thank goodness the Aussies didn't request an extra 30 minutes.