Postpublished at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
Starc and Cummins are very useful lower order players. They can still do some damage.
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
Postpublished at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Postpublished at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialJack Leach has looked a different bowler to the right handers.
Aus 225-8published at 76.3 overs
Lead by 40 runs
Pat Cummins is thinking quick runs rather than batting time here.
The Aussie plonks his front down the pitch and biffs Jack Leach back over his head for four.
Joe Root reacts by dropping mid-off back to the boundary.
Postpublished at 05:26 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialEngland's bowlers have really fought back. It's that brave length that Joe Root spoke about after Adelaide, just pushing the ball a touch fuller.
Aus 219-8published at 76.0 overs
A poor shot as Aggers said, but England's lengths have been spot on today.
Ben Stokes has Mitchell Starc fetching at one and the ball flies through to gully where it falls short of Haseeb Hameed who parries it on the bounce.
Anything below a lead of 50 and England will be pretty happy given where they started the day.
Postpublished at 05:23 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's a loose shot. Carey knew as soon as he played it that he was gone.
WICKETpublished at 75.3 overs
Carey c Buttler b Stokes 19 (219-8)
England rampant. Will they even need the new ball?
Ben Stokes bowls full and induces Alex Carey to drive expansively outside off stump and he edges into the gloves of Jos Buttler.
The tourists into the Aussie tail now and they will not want it to wag.
Aus 218-7published at 75.1 overs
Joe Root turns to Ben Stokes with one eye on using Ollie Robinson with the new ball, perhaps. He gives Alex Cary a freebie on his pads first up which the Australia wicketkeeper clips away and they run three.
Postpublished at 05:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialIt seems like the sort of pitch where a lead of just 50 could be so significant.
Aus 213-7published at 05:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Lead by 28 runs
Jack Leach has a spring in his step. He fizzes one down which turns away from the right-handed Pat Cummins and finds the edge.
Joe Root dives at slip but is unable to get a hand on it and Australia pick up a couple of runs.
England making things happen at the MCG.
Postpublished at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match SpecialJoe Root is jumping up and down like a man on a pogo stick at first slip.
Aus 211-7published at 74.0 overs
Lead by 26 runs
That wicket is a real Brucie Bonus for England before the new ball. Jack Leach's primary role here is to contain before the new ball.
Ollie Robinson finds the edge of Alex Carey's bat with the first ball of the next over but it goes beyond Jonny Bairstow at third slip to England's chagrin.
Postpublished at 05:13 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match SpecialLeach will feel so much better about that. He's done a good job.
Postpublished at 05:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialThat's a big wicket - shows what we know about having two seamers bowling together after tea.
WICKETpublished at 72.5 overs
Green lbw b Leach 17 (Aus 207-7)
GONE! Well bowled Jack Leach. He's come out with a plan for Cameron Green after the tea break and executed it.
Green, a tall man, was deep in his crease and the ball struck him on the knee roll after skipping on.
No evidence of bat on review and the ball tracking went with umpire's call with it clipping leg stump so the Aussie all-rounder is on his way back to the pavilion.
Postpublished at 05:09 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match SpecialLeach had really darted that one in. It wasn't an instant review that suggested an edge.
Australia reviewpublished at 05:09 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Jack Leach pushes a ball through which skips through to the gloves of Jos Buttler, just missing the edge of Cameron Green's bat.
A couple of balls later and Green is struck on the pad in front and the umpire's finger goes up.
Green reviews but this looks plumb to me.
Postpublished at 05:07 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialIt's interesting that Leach is bowling from the other end. I felt England missed a trick after lunch by not bowling two seamers.
Aus 206-6published at 72.0 overs
Lead by 21 runs
Eight overs until the new ball is due so left-arm spinner Jack Leach is going to do a kind of containing job for Joe Root after tea.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 05:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2021
#bbccricket
Harish: English fans need to get back behind their team. Even a 100-run lead is winnable if they bat well, which they can. The pitch should be easier to bat on. Believe, guys.