Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

I think that is out - or umpire's call on clipping leg stump.

Stuart Broad bowls too full and Steve Smith drives him through the covers for four. Albeit not particularly elegantly.

Next ball Smith leaves the ball and is struck on the pad. England review...but this smacks a little of desperation.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

It feels like this is going to be a long Test match.

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith both happy to defend and leave to James Anderson. A couple of singles off that over.

Kevin Tanner: Is it time for Australia to declare yet?

Encouragingly for England, Ben Stokes is back out on the field having gone off with a side strain earlier. He takes up a place in the slip cordon.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

It has. Even Mark Wood - he bowled some quick balls but you don't feel like Australia have been put under any pressure.

Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

It has looked too easy for Australia today.

The flags atop of the green corrugated pavilion roof at the SCG are fluttering in the breeze as Stuart Broad attaches his ice-white headband and is tossed the ball.

Around the wicket to Usman Khawaja his second delivery draws the Aussie left-hander forward but he blocks it. A ball later and he punches it for a single through mid-on.

Double Nelson.

Roberto Colombi: England sleepwalking into conceding another huge first-innings total - no pep, no sparkle, no animation.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

England have to strike with this new ball.

A hint of movement through the air from James Anderson, but Steve Smith content to leave him well alone.

Zak Crawley claps his hands encouragingly from the slip cordon.

New ballpublished at 02:23 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January 2022

02:23 GMT 6 January 2022

Umpire Paul Reiffel holds up a freshly unwrapped Kookaburra to signal England have taken the new ball.

James Anderson has the fresh cherry in hand and has a quick chat with Stuart Broad before striding purposefully to his bowling mark.

Andy Zaltzman
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Image source, Getty Images

The 100 partnership came up in 38.5 overs. It is the seventh that Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja have shared as a pair. They also have another six 50-plus partnerships. They average 63 as a pair.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

Haseeb Hameed had to dive for cover at short leg. It is not a place to be when a spinner bowls a long hop.

A single for Steve Smith off Joe Root's second ball, brings up the century partnership with Usman Khawaja.

Root drops it a little short with his fourth both and Khawaja rocks on to the back foot and quick as a flash pulls it through mid-wicket for four.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

This looks to be a case of just getting these six balls out of the way and then getting James Anderson and Stuart Broad into action for England.

Australia have ground themselves into this position.

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith content to milk singles off the rest of a subdued over from Jack Leach.

England skipper Joe Root brings himself into the attack.

Image source, Getty Images

Roberto Colombi: Is it possible to draft in Sophie Ecclestone as the specialist spinner for our second innings? At least she spins the bowl and has attacking wicket-taking fields!

Jack Leach with the first over after lunch and let's hope his first ball does not set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

Short, wide and asking to be hit. Steve Smith cuts it easily for four.

That really was absolute dross.