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 23:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Marcus HarrisImage source, Getty Images

    Australia captain Pat Cummins, speaking to ABC: "Marcus Harris has played a lot of cricket here and done really well for Victoria. He's a really quality opening batter and it doesn't get much better than this. I won't be giving him any extra pressure - just letting him go out and do his thing."

  2. Postpublished at 23:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    If you're just joining us wondering why Australia aren't yet 70-5...there's been a 30-minute delay to the start of play on day two after some Covid-19 issues in the England camp.

    We're about 10 minutes until the start of play when, hopefully, we can start to focus on the cricket.

  3. 'England will have PCR tests today'published at 23:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Full statement from Cricket Australia: "Cricket Australia has been informed that two members of the England Cricket Team’s support staff and two of their family members have returned a positive COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test. The affected individuals are currently isolating.

    "The entire playing group and all other support staff have undertaken Rapid Antigen Tests this morning and all have tested negative. The England Cricket team will also have PCR tests today, and both teams will take extra precautions throughout play. Both playing squads remain unchanged."There is currently no further impact on fans or other parts of the venue. Cricket Australia and the MCC will continue to monitor the situation and follow the endorsed Victorian Government COVID-Safe Event Plan."

  4. Postpublished at 23:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    A statement from Cricket Australia says there are four positive tests within England's touring party.

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  5. From the press boxpublished at 23:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

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  6. Postpublished at 23:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    BBC weather forecastImage source, BBC Weather

    The forecast looks good for Melbourne today - the sun is shining over the MCG at the moment and while there's the odd shower around it should not impact upon play too much.

  7. How's stat?!published at 23:33 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    Yesterday was the 12th time in 15 Tests that England have been bowled out for under 200.

  8. From the press boxpublished at 23:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

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  9. Postpublished at 23:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Geoff Lemon
    Australian journalist on Test Match Special

    Joe Root is having the greatest year of his life, and no-one else is able to do anything to stay with him. There is no batting. Systemically, England are not producing the batters of the quality to play Test cricket.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:26 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Can England fight back? Will Jack Leach follow-up his six-hitting heroics from day one with a bag full of wickets?

    Let us know your thoughts on how you think day two will pan out.

    Tweet us using #bbccricket or text 81111.

  11. From the press boxpublished at 23:23 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

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  12. Postpublished at 23:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

    The Australians got here and were oblivious to what was going on - I can't see a single Australia player on the field. I think they've done their warm-ups and gone back for an extra half-hour to read a newspaper and have a cup of tea or something.

  13. Delayed start at MCG after Covid-19 scarepublished at 23:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    England team at MCGImage source, Getty Images

    England's players arrived late at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for day two after the ECB confirmed they were "awaiting results from RFT Covid tests following a positive test in the team’s family group".

    All of them tested negative and they arrived at the ground approximately 35 minutes before the scheduled start at 23:30 GMT.

    As a result the start of play was delayed by 30 minutes to midnight so not too much disruption to things, thankfully.

  14. Good evening...published at 23:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2021

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    Day one of the third Test was chastening for England cricketers in Melbourne.

    Indeed, it was as miserable a day as they have experienced in this Ashes series so far.

    It feels like Australia's grip on the urn has started to tighten. The body language of England's players looked pretty terrible as they trudged off the field.

    But there's still plenty of cricket to be played in this Test match, and a clatter of wickets at the start can swing the momentum back their way.

    It feels like now or never for Joe Root and his players.