Summary

  • England close on 31-4 after Australia take 82-run lead

  • Starc takes two wickets in two balls & Boland removes Hameed & Leach

  • England's bowlers fight back on second day

  • Anderson stars with four wickets; Harris top-scores with 76

  • Daily highlights show on BBC iPlayer from 17:00 GMT

  1. Postpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

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  2. Postpublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Nice one, Tim.

    I was fresh as a daisy. Then I woke up in time to see England lose four wickets and I'm now completely drained.

    Sigh.

    I'll be taking you through the next hour as we mop up all the reaction, analysis and bring you the best clips from day two in Melbourne. As always, get in touch via Twitter using #bbccricket or text us on 81111 - standard UK message rates apply.

  3. Postpublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    My head is spinning after that last hour. I'm off for a long lie down in a dark room so will leave you with Kal Sajad who is fresh as a daisy and will attempt to make sense of the chaos.

  4. Postpublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Australia batter Marcus Harris speaking to ABC Radio: "It was good to spend a bit time in the middle today. Had a bit of a battle in the first couple of Tests but good to be home and play on a familiar wicket.

    "There's a lot of media around but the support I've had from within and my close circle of people has been unbelievable. It's about trusting what I do.

    "The way the wicket is, the amount of grass, there's always something in it for the bowlers. Jimmy Anderson bowled unbelievably, as did our bowlers in the end."

  5. Postpublished at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Here's nightwatchman Jack Leach having his off stump uprooted without playing a shot.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Jemma Brook: When you trail by only double figures that should be motivation to try get that to a lead of triple figures … not us … 24-4! I just can’t even!!

  7. Postpublished at 07:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    When you talk about the skill of the bowlers, there's nothing between the two sides. It's about the batting. That is the difference.

  8. Postpublished at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    England seamer James Anderson looked a little shellshocked speaking to BT Sport after play.

    He said: "It's a very disappointing finish to the day. It wasn't easy to bowl Australia out but it was a good effort to do so. It was a challenging hour from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at the end but you expect that from world-class bowlers.

    "It's been a frustrating tour so far. We are working hard and trying to put things right. We hit our areas with the ball but a frustrating end to the day

    "We are together as a group. We know how hard the batters are working and as bowlers we are doing the same. The cohesion is definitely there, it's just frustrating we are not putting the two things together at the same time."

  9. Postpublished at 07:49 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Australia have taken a very firm grip on this Test match. A grim situation for England.

  10. Postpublished at 07:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    England's bowlers did a fantastic job of getting England back in the game. A real committed performance and took their chances. All they needed and wanted was for England's batters to stand up. But they didn't. They fell over again.

  11. Postpublished at 07:46 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Australia's fast bowlers went full tilt at England in that last hour. If you get the chance to watch the highlights later on this evening, it's compelling viewing even for the most dyed in the wool England fan.

    Pure drama and Test match cricket at its best.

    England had worked so hard to get back into the match. Scrapped and fought for every run while Australia were batting. Yet, in the space of 12 overs it was all undone during a spellbinding passage of play.

  12. Postpublished at 07:45 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England have their toughest batsmen out there. Root and Stokes will have to put on a big partnership tomorrow but it's a long way back for England here.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Text 81111 (standard UK message rates apply)

    Embarrassing now. I appreciate it's inspired bowling but there's no fight whatsoever. Players not suited to Test cricket at all. What money on Root and Silverwood trotting out the same media friendly sound bites afterwards? Something's got to give and soon.

    Ben in Somerset

  14. Postpublished at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    What an hour that was. I'm still coming down from it. It was Test cricket at its absolute best and brutal.

  15. Close of playpublished at 07:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Phew.

    That's stumps on a topsy turvy second day at the MCG.

    Catch your breath, pop the kettle on, pour yourself a bowl of cereal, and stick with us while we bring you all the reaction and recap everything that has happened today.

  16. Eng 31-4published at 12.0 overs

    Trail by 51 runs

    Calm as you like Joe Root drives straight down the ground past mid-on and England add three more to the total.

  17. Eng 28-4published at 11.5 overs

    Four leg byes added to the total as the MCG bay for another wicket when the ball ricochets off Joe Root and Alex Carey dives.

    Root leaves Cummins' next ball then defends well.

    One ball to survive.

  18. Postpublished at 07:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That was a lovely delivery from Cummins. Full in length and moving away from Root.

  19. Eng 24-4published at 11.2 overs

    Trail by 58 runs

    Australia captain Pat Cummins with the last over the day.

    Ben Stokes edges his first ball down to long leg before Joe Root is beaten outside his off stump tentatively poking.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021

    #bbccricket

    Ben: Can always count on England to ruin your cornflakes.