Australia vs England, The Ashes, 2021/22 Full score card

OUT! TIMBER! Dominance, just dominance from Australia! Green takes his first wicket and runs with joy. Incredible scenes here at MCG! A cracker of delivery to seal the series though. This was on a length and around off, it lands and shapes in sharply. James Anderson is squared up as he looks to defend and the ball hits the off stump.

We can see Ben Stokes sitting in the dugout with his head down. Not a good sight for England fans.

Fuller delivery, outside off. Jos Buttler pushes it to covers and scampers through to the other end, which brings James Anderson on strike. Australia will be happy with that.

A short ball, down the leg side. Jos Buttler looks to pull but misses.

On a length, outside off. Jos Buttler looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Length and on off. James Anderson defends it out.

Length and outside off. Left alone.

Anti-climax! A length ball, on middle. James Anderson tucks it to deep square leg for a brace. The crowd is shouting Boalnd! Boland! Boalnd! They are loving the home boy right now.

James Anderson comes to the crease.

OUT! TAKEN! We are running out of words for Scott Boland! What has he had for breakfast because England are not liking it at all! Unbelievable scenes here at MCG! A length ball, outside off, this one nips slightly away. Ollie Robinson has a poke at it and gets a thick outside edge to third slip where Marnus Labuschagne takes a good low catch. 6 wickets for just 5 runs. Extraordinary figures by Scott Boland.

Beaten! Another ripper by Scott Boland! A length delivery, around the fourth stump line. Ollie Robinson, on back foot, looks to defend but gets beaten as the ball whizzes past the outside edge. An appeal for caught behind. But the umpire says no.

Ollie Robinson walks out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Extraordinary scenes here at the MCG! Baggy Green and then a five-fer. Take a bow Scott Boland! Just what dreams are made of. This was on a length and on off. Mark Wood stays back and chips it back to the bowler. Scott Boland gets his hand down in time and everything is happening as he likes right now The ball sticks to his hands nicely. All the players appreciate and gather around him. Boland waves the ball to the dugout as he celebrates his wicket.

Short in length, outside off. Jos Buttler pushes it towards covers.

FOUR! Glorious drive! Cameron Green misses his length, serves a low full toss ball, outside off. Jos Buttler lunges and drives it through covers for a boundary.

A length delivery, outside off. Jos Buttler plays this with soft hand and gets an outside edge towards gully.

Too short on this occasion, around middle. Jos Buttler ducks under it.

Back of a length again, around middle and leg. Jos Buttler hangs back and defends it out.

Cameron Green drops it short, on middle and leg. Jos Buttler hops and blocks it out.

Beaten again! A fuller length this time, outside off. Mark Wood lunges and looks to block that but gets beaten once again.

Shorter delivery, outside off. Mark Wood gets beaten on the outside edge as he looks to defend.

DRINKS! Australia now just inches away from clinching the series. Root gone, Bairstow gone, Buttler and then the tail-enders. The script looks crystal clear for Australia.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE!  It is the captain and Australia have one hand on the series. Scott Boland with a beautiful delivery. Surely that was the wicket Australia were looking for and there are all smiles in the camp now. Boland hurls and serves a full-length delivery, angling outside off. Joe Root looks to drive but away from the body. It takes the outside edge and goes to David Warner at first slip holds onto it. It is all in hands of the Jos Buttler now to at least keep the hopes alive.

A length ball, on off. Root defends it off the front foot on the off side.

This is full and outside off. Root shoulders arms to it.

Short of a length, outside off, punched to point.

Fuller this time, on middle. Jos Buttler lunges and blocks it out solidly.

Good-length, outside off. Jos Buttler pushes it back to the bowler.

On a length, on middle. Jos Buttler blocks it out.

Back of a length, outside off. Jos Buttler leaves that alone.

Shorter, around off. Joe Root pushes it towards mid-wicket and scampers through to other end.

A length delivery, angling it onto the pads. Joe Root jabs it towards gully.

JAFFA! What a peach of a delivery! Scott Boland delivers a back of a length, outside off. Jos Buttler looks to defend but gets beaten as the ball zips past the outside edge.

OUT! LBW! Jonny Bairstow reviews it straightaway. No bat there clearly, confirmed by UltraEdge as well. Ball Tracker is umpire's call and the same on wickets hitting. Jonny Bairstow retains the review but he does not retain himself here. Scott Boland can do no wrong here. He is loving life at the moment. A length ball, around off, this one nips away. Jonny Bairstow is early as he looks to flick and gets hit on the back pad. Height was the only issue. An appeal for LBW and the umpire takes his time before raising his finger. Joe Root shakes his head as he watches wickets tumbling on the other end.

Review time! Jonny Bairstow has reviewed an LBW decision! The replay rolls in. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, and its umpires call on impact and on wickets hitting as well, which means Jonny Bairstow has to walk back.

On a length, on middle. Jonny Bairstow blocks it out.

Nicely done! Scott Boland serves a back of a length, outside off. Joe Root hangs back, jumps a tad and punches it solidly through the covers for three runs.

Short of a length, outside off. Joe Root, on back foot, blocks it out.

DROPPED! That was quick and it needed reflexes from Cameron Green! Short of a length, outside off. Jonny Bairstow looks to cut off the back foot but gets a thick outside edge to gully where Cameron Green dives to his left and fumbles it. Good start from Scott Boland.

Change from both ends then. The local boy, Scott Boland is back into the attack. 2 wickets in his first over so far.

Length, outside off. Joe Root blocks it towards point.

Fuller this time, outside off. Joe Root pushes it towards mid on.

Extra bounce! Cameron Green serves a back of a length, on the body. Jonny Bairstow looks to defend that but misses as the ball bounces off the surface and hit the top of the bat and lands just wide of gully. A single taken.

A shorter one this time, on the body. Joe Root pulls it towards fine leg. A single taken.

Good-length delivery again, on middle. Joe Root defends this one.

Cameron Green begins with a length delivery, on middle, getting the ball to nip back in a tad. Joe Root blocks it out.

Cameron Green is into the attack.

Back of a length, outside off. Jonny Bairstow pushes it to the man at point. A maiden over for Mitchell Starc.

Tad shorter, outside off. Jonny Bairstow guides it to point.

Mitchell Starc changes his angle now, goes around the wicket, serves a length ball, on middle. Jonny Bairstow jumps and blocks it from the toe-end of his bat.

On a length, around middle. Jonny Bairstow pushes it towards gully with the outer half of his bat.

Starc pulls his length back here, around leg. Jonny Bairstow blocks it towards short leg.

Touch fuller, outside off. Jonny Bairstow shoulders arms to it.

This one comes back in with the angle, on off. Root solidly defends it on the surface. Quality stuff from Pat Cummins, so accurate with his lines and lengths.

A length ball, slanting outside off. Root shoulders arms to it.

A length ball, outside off. Root stands tall and punches it to point.

Root gets hit on the box and he is in some pain here. Deja vu for Root after getting hit at the same area in Adelaide as well. A length ball, on middle. Joe Root looks to defend but gets hit near the groin area.

On a length, on middle. Jonny Bairstow tucks it to square leg and takes a quick single. There is a shy at the keeper's end but misses. Root was well in.

Ohh, What was that? A length ball, on off, it wasn't that short but the ball climbs off the deck. Jonny Bairstow looks to pull but misses and gets hit on the shoulder.

Outside off. Left alone.

FOUR! Anything that is loose and Root pouches on it. Beautiful shot! Pitches it up, on off. Root drives it straight down the ground for a boundary. Holds the pose for a while as well.

A length delivery, outside off. Joe Root looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

A length ball, way outside off. Root with an easy leave.

On a length, on middle. Root blocks it on the leg side.

A length ball, outside off. Left alone.

Slight halt in play. Joe Root has some issue with the side screen. He walks to the umpire and asks to resolve it. Ready to resume.

Now a short ball, outside off. Jonny Bairstow lets it through to the keeper.

On a length, angling on off. Jonny Bairstow knocks it to point.

Length ball, outside off. Left alone.

EDGED AND JUST SHORT! A length ball, outside off. Jonny Bairstow lunges and tries to defend but the ball shapes slightly away and takes the outside edge. Green carries it on a bounce to gully.

Jonny Bairstow is off the mark! A length ball, on middle. Jonny Bairstow tucks it with soft hands to deep square leg for a brace.

Quick single! A length ball, on off. Root taps it on the top, towards cover and takes a quick single.

A length ball, on middle. Jonny Bairstow gets inside the line of the ball and defends it.

Jonny Bairstow comes to the crease now.

OUT! TIMBER! Superb stuff from Mitchell Starc! Just when you thought that England will fight, Starc comes with his brilliance. This was a full-length delivery, some inward movement and it is enough for the ball to roll through the gap as Stokes looks to defend away from the body. The ball rattles the middle stump and Australia get the big wicket. England trail by 36 runs.

Now looks to drag it on the off side but gets an inside edge to mid-wicket.

FOUR! This is good and positive cricket from England! A full ball, outside off. Stokes drives it through mid off for a boundary.

Length and on middle. Defended out.

Starc continues to target the stumps. Stokes is solid in his defense.

Length ball, outside off. Root blocks it to covers.

A short ball, on off. Root sways away from the line of the ball.

Finally some inward movement. A length ball, on off. Root defends it more off the inner half of his blade back on the deck.

On a length, on off. Root defends it on the off side.

Length ball, around the 5th stump channel. Left alone. The ball is rolling straight, no signs of movement till now.

A length ball, on off. Root prods and defends it under his eyes.

Length and on off. Blocked out.

Full and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket. The fielder there dives and stops it.

FOUR! Good signs from England early on! A full ball, on middle. Stokes punches it through mid on and the ball races away to the fence.

Starc continues to serve it on a length, on middle. Stokes nudges it to mid-wicket.

Short of a length, outside off. Stokes leaves it alone.

A length ball, on middle. Stokes defends it solidly. The wicket looks flat and it is nice to bat on.

Shortish delivery, outside off. Joe Root leaves that alone.

On a length, outside off. Joe Root, on back foot, pushes it towards gully.

Fuller in length, outside off. Joe Root leans and blocks it out.

On the pads. Stokes shuffles across and flicks it to square leg for a single.

On a length, on the pads. Stokes rocks back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Pat Cummins will bowl from the other end.

Serves a full ball, on off. Stokes defends it off the front foot.

Another good looking drive from Root! A full ball, angling on off, driven to covers.

FOUR! Root with positive intent! A full ball, on off. Root drives it nicely and wide of mid off for a boundary.

This was full and on middle. Root eases it to mid on.

Short in length, on off. Root punches it through point for a couple.

BEATEN! It doesn't take long for Starc to correct his line. Short of a length, outside off. Root looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Starc serves it on a length, on off. Root pushes it to cover.

We are all set for the action. Pat Cummins leads his team out to the middle. Joe Root and Ben Stokes will resume their innings and a big partnership is needed from them. Mitchell Starc to start with the ball.

Joe Root is still out there and all the hopes rely on him and so on Ben Stokes. Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler will follow but we all know how much England have relied on their skipper in this series. So much will be going on in Root’s mind right now and with time not an issue. The fascinating thing would be to see if England will go all defensive or we have some different tactics lined up. Stay tuned for further updates.

The deadly duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins didn’t allow a breather to the visitors and then the debutant, Scott Boland joined to scalp two wickets in an over. The way Australia ended the day, they will look to continue somewhat the same type of bowling in this morning session. Australia have a chance to fold things pretty early and Root’s wicket will be very vital for the host.

Hello and a warm welcome to Day 3 of the third Test match of the Ashes. A penny for what Root might be thinking? After bossing the morning session of the second day. England suddenly find themselves in trouble again on 31/4 and trailing by 51 runs. With this pitch assisting the bowlers and the Aussies pumped up, England have a big task ahead of them. Also, the players of both the teams have returned with a negative Covid report. That means we shall resume the play on time.

... Day 3, Session 1 ...

Needless to say, Australia will be overjoyed. It is not them being on top which will be the reason, but the way they found a way to fight back, after England had them in trouble. We don't want to think too much ahead of ourselves but the way things are going, there may not be a Wednesday in this Test. However, if England do manage to take this to Day 4, rest assured, the Test match and the series will spring back to life again. Join us then, on Tuesday, 28th December, 2021 at 10.30 am local (2330 GMT, Monday) for all the action from Day 3. Until then, you have got plenty of cricket to look forward to - the opening South Africa-India Test and action from the Big Bash League as well. Enjoy the cricket. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

However, not surprisingly, Australia found a way to claw back. The lower order rallied around, to get the lead close to a 100, 82 to be precise and then, the momentum just dismantled England's top order. England have two of their most experienced players in the middle and they will be relieved that Root is still out there. They have a few problems in front of them. 1. They are already 4 down but the deficit is still 51. 2. They need to get a lead of at least above 150 to make Australia worried. 3. There is plenty of time left in this match, with 3 days to go. So they cannot even play out for time!

The day began with plenty of expectations - Harris scoring a century, then the usual 50-plus from either or both, Labuschagne and Smith, some tail wagging and seeing Australia go past 400, with England getting battered again. But no. The wily James Anderson decided to change the script. He picked the perfect length and made sure the entire bowling pack hit it. Australia struggled to score runs and in around an hour, the prospects of 400 became 300, which further slid down to 200 at Lunch.

Who left the grass out, who, who? Take a bow, Mr. curator. Your decision to leave grass on this deck has perhaps produced the most exciting Test match of this series so far. 24 wickets in 6 sessions - 13 falling on Day 2. Whose day was it? England started well, but Australia have ended tremendously. Fantastic day of cricket.

Root finishes the day with peace! A full ball, very full, on middle. Root punches it down the ground before the fielder cuts it off. Three taken. That will be STUMPS on Day 2.

On a length, on off. Root hits it to point. Last ball of the day coming up. Can Root hold onto it?

A length ball, outside off. Left alone.

FOUR LEG BYES! Flies away from the keeper! A full ball, slanting way down the leg side. Root misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls away from the diving keeper and races away to the fine leg fence.

BEATEN! This is outstanding bowling from Cummins! A length ball, outside off. Joe Root has a poke away from the body but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge.

A length ball, on middle. Ben Stokes wrists it to deep square leg for a single.

What an over by Scott Boland! A length ball, angling on middle. Ben Stokes shuffles in his crease and flicks it to deep square leg for a single. He takes his position after the over at deep square leg and there is applause from behind for him.

Who walks in? Shane Warne is pumped up in the commentary box. He wants the extra half hour tonight as he reckons the game could be done! Michael Vaughan though, calms him down and says that it is not going to happen. And after an eternity, BEN STOKES walks out to a chorus of boos! He almost got timed out here, almost utilizing the allotted 3 minutes to come to the crease.

OUT! BOWLED! Left alone and gone! Well, Leach did not want to play at that and as Ian Chappell always says - 'Mate, you have got a bat, use it!' On a length, outside off, Jack Leach shoulders arms, probably trusting the bounce on this deck and expecting it to go over. But to his horror, the ball nips back in and hits the top of middle stump! It can be put down to misjudgement of length but really difficult to judge at this time of the day. Cannot blame Leach much there. England are 4 down in next to no time!

Almost played it on! Scott Boland is fired up. A length ball, on off. Jack Leach defends it under his eyes. The ball bounces just over the stumps and missed by inches. Not just Boland but Australia and the whole MCG is pumped up here. England nowhere to be seen.

No options left. It has to be the night watchman now. Who comes out though? Robinson or Anderson? Ah... forgot this man. Probably the most important score of 1 not out in Test history. Here's Jack Leach. 5 minutes to go for Stumps. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 slips waiting...

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Boland strikes immediately on being given the cherry in the second innings! He is pumped up and the MCG roars along with him. Almost a replica of Hameed's dismissal in the first innings of this Test and the second innings of the previous Test. On a length, in the avenue of apprehension, around off, Haseeb Hameed is not sure whether to play or let it go. He puts bat on ball pretty late but a tinge of late away movement takes the outside edge. Simple catch for Alex Carey.

Boland serves a length ball, outside off. Hameed offers no shot there.

A length ball, outside off. Hameed leaves it alone.

Scott Boland comes into the attack.

A full ball, on off. Root toe-ends his drive to mid on.

On a length, on off. Root hops and taps it to point.

Outside off. Root with an easy leave.

Length ball, outside off. Left alone.

Short of a length, angling on middle. Root is squared up as he looks to defend. Gets hit high on the pads.

Fullish delivery, outside off. Root leaves it alone.

Eventful over from Starc. This was on a length, outside off. Hameed looks to push but gets hit on the pads and the ball rolls to the slip cordon.

Short ball, outside off. Hameed leaves it alone.

FOUR! First boundary from Hameed's blade! Starc pitches it up and bowls it around off. Hameed pushes it nicely past mid off. The fielder gives a chase but to no avail as the ball races away to the fence.

Length and outside off. Left alone.

A length ball, outside off. Root tries to defend with soft hands but it takes the outside edge and the ball falls just short of the keeper, Alex Carey who dives to his right and palms it away to third man. A single.

Targets the stumps, Root defends it solidly.

A full ball, outside off. Hameed toe-ends it as he pushes it back to the bowler.

Short of a length, just around off. Hameed does really well as he stays away from the line of the ball.

On a length and on off. Hameed defends it on the off side.

A short ball, on middle. Hameed sits under it.

Full ball, on off. Blocked out.

A huge appeal for LBW but not given. Australia opt not to take the review. That one came sharply. On a length, around off and comes back in sharply. Haseeb Hameed leaves but this one shapes in and hits him on the pads. That looked really close.

Short of a length, on middle. Root hops and blocks it back on the deck.

EDGED, FOUR! Dear me, through the slip cordon, that too, a packed one! Full, outside off, a touch wide, Joe Root flays hard at that, as he looks to drive. But the pace from Starc induces an outside edge and it flies. But between third slip and gully, to the third man fence!

On a length, outside off. Root shoulders arms to it.

A length ball, on middle. Hameed flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Fuller ball, outside off. Hameed leaves it alone.

JAFFA! These two are keeping the batters on their toes. A short ball, on off. Haseeb Hameed stands tall and keeps the bat away from the line of the ball.

Tad shorter, outside off. Joe Root leaves that alone.

FOUR! Something to smile about for England! Pat Cummins overcooks this one, outside off. Joe Root punches it past mid off for a four!

Beaten! A shorter delivery, outside off. Joe Root gets beaten as the ball zips through the outside edge.

Shaping it back in, On a fuller length. Haseeb Hameed gets an inside edge towards square leg. A single taken.

Full in length, around off. Haseeb Hameed blocks it watchfully.

NOT OUT! A huge appeal for LBW, but turned down by the umpire! The Aussies are on fire here! Pat Cummins bowls in fuller length, nipping it back into Haseeb Hameed. Haseeb Hameed looks to block that but gets beaten and the ball hits him high on the pads. The replay confirms that would have missed the wickets.

ALMOST A HAT-TRICK! Saved by a hair's breadth. Phew! What an over from Mitch. How did he survive that? Full, around off, Joe Root is forced to play at that but the ball nips away off the seam and almost takes the outside edge. Root survives as the MCG roars. Cannot blame them. We all thought that took the edge. But Starc just smiles and walks off. When was the last time we actually saw Starc smile in a match? It has been a torrid year for the speedster. Good to see him in high spirits.

The skipper, Joe Root, walks in now, at number 4, replacing Malan. 47,000 people at the MCG chanting 'STARC! STARC! STARC!'

OUT! LBW! Is it two in two? Malan has taken a review. What does Hawk Eye suggest? Hit high on the knee roll. UMPIRE'S CALL AND STARC IS ON A HAT-TRICK! One of the worst first balls to get, if you are a batsman and that too, against Starc. A length ball, outside off, Malan stays back and looks to work it on the leg side but his feet are not quite warmed up to the occasion. The ball jags back in, beats the bat and hits the pad. The umpire raises his finger on the appeal and Malan reviews but it is a golden duck for Dawid.

Normally, a night watchman would come in at this time. But given that 35 minutes are left, it is Dawid Malan at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Starc strikes! Crawley fails to make use of the reprieve given to him by Carey. Excellent line and length by Mitchell Starc. He was struggling in his first over but since then, has found some rhythm. And now, that rhythm has got him a wicket. Nothing much that Crawley could really do here. He is constantly waiting for the ball to come in but this one moves away a bit. Takes the outside edge and Carey does the rest. Actually, he does not go up but Warner at first slip is charging at the umpire. Starc celebrates too. But Crawley is not going anywhere as the umpire has not raised his finger. Well, they appeal now and up goes the finger! Crawley does not bother reviewing.

A length ball, outside off. Zak Crawley leaves it alone.

Length and on off, Defended out.

An appeal for caught behind but Starc was not interested that! Short of a length, on off. Zak Crawley without any foot movement looks to defend but misses. The ball takes the thigh pad on its way to the keeper. A muted appeal follows mostly from the slip cordon.

Touch fuller, on middle. Zak Crawley leans and looks to flick but gets an inside edge to square leg for a single.

A length ball, on middle. Blocked out.

WOW! What a delivery! The ball is swinging sharply here! A length ball, on off, this one nips back in sharply. Zak Crawley is beaten on his defense and the ball whizzes past the inside edge and the ball bounces over the stumps. Good carry for Alex Carey as well.

EDGED, MISSED, FOUR! This is not done by Carey. That is the second time in two matches he has been reluctant to go for a catch. Full, around middle, swinging away, Zak Crawley has a tentative poke at it. Gets a thick outside edge, which flies right between the keeper and first slip. Now, when this happens, it has to be the keeper's catch. Alex Carey makes an initial movement to his right but does not go for it in the end. David Warner at first slip is looking at Carey and naturally, seeing the keeper's initial movement, he stays still. The ball escapes through the gap, to the third man fence. The last time Carey did this mistake, Jos Buttler almost made them pay in Adelaide. Is it going to be more of the same with Crawley?

Length ball, outside off, steep bounce there and Zak Crawley leaves it alone.

An appeal for LBW but not given. Might be drifting down. Yes, and missing the stumps as well. This was on a length and angling on middle and leg. Zak Crawley misses his flick and gets hit on the pads.

Maiden over! A length ball, outside off. Hameed has a poke to this wayward delivery and misses it completely. What a start from Australia!

Short in length, slanting outside off. Hameed shoulders arms to it.

On a length, on middle. Hameed gets inside the line and blocks it out. Good defense from Hameed.

Full ball, slanting outside off. Hameed lets it through to the keeper.

Length ball, outside off. Hameed leaves it alone.

JAFFA! Two experienced guys going against two inexperienced players. Serves a short ball, on off. Haseeb Hameed stands tall and the ball whizzes past the blade.

Brilliant over from Pat Cummins!  A length ball, on middle. Zak Crawley solidly defends it.

This one swings back in very late. Full ball, outside off. Zak Crawley leaves it alone.

On a length, on off, it lands and jags back in. Zak Crawley is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit high on the pads.

BEATEN! Pat Cummins with his probing lines! What delivery! This was on a length and outside off. Zak Crawley looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Full ball, outside off. Defended out.

Leg bye! In the air and drops safe! It came off the arm though! Fiery start from Pat Cummins. Short of a length, on middle. Haseeb Hameed ducks but keeps his bat out. The ball hits him on the arms and lobs over the slip cordon. A leg bye given.

Pat Cummins will bowl from the other end.

Full ball, outside off. Zak Crawley leaves it alone.

England and Haseeb Hameed are underway! Short of a length, on the hips. Haseeb Hameed flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Full ball, angling outside off. Haseeb Hameed with yet another leave. Mitchell Starc is yet to target the stumps!

This was much better. On a length, just around the 4th stump channel. Haseeb Hameed shoulders arms to it.

Starc drags his length ball, and keeps the outside off line. Haseeb Hameed watches it all the way through to the keeper.

Starc starts with a fullish delivery, slanting way outside off. Haseeb Hameed lets it through to the keeper.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! And England finally bowl out Australia. The lead stops at 82. A length ball, outside off, Scott Boland stays inside the line and looks to slice it through the off side. But the extra pace defeats him and he is late into the shot. The outside edge is taken and Zak Crawley takes a nice catch at second slip. AUSTRALIA BOWLED OUT FOR 267!

Short in length, outside off. Scott Boland offers no shot on that.

Fuller this time, outside off. Mitchell Starc drives and gets an outside edge towards deep point for a single.

Adding some handy runs here these two! Short of a length, outside off. Mitchell Starc chops it through backward point for two runs.

Mark Wood serves a full-length delivery, on the pads. Scott Boland uses his wrists and flicks it towards deep mid-wicket. Three runs taken.

DRINKS BREAK. Well, quite a few people are awaiting that final wicket. This could be the last time Jimmy will be touring Australia. Imagine a 5-fer at the MCG, in his last outing. Think about the English openers. They have been waiting for perhaps 10-12 overs now. Right from the time Carey fell. Australia have swelled their lead to 76, thanks to once again, some lower-order rearguard action. Here's Mark Wood after Drinks. 19-2-65-1 so far.

Fuller, outside off. Mitchell Starc drives it straight to the fielder at cover.

On a good-length, around off. Mitchell Starc presses forward and looks to defend that gets a slight inside edge towards mid-wicket.

Shortish delivery, on the thigh pad. Scott Boland flicks it away towards square leg for a single.

The MCG roars! Oh... how much do they love their lads...Full, outside off, Scott Boland lunges, opens the face of his bat and guides it behind point, for his first runs in Test cricket! The crowd almost gives a standing ovation! Two runs taken.

Beaten! A peach of a delivery, A full ball, just outside off. Scott Boland goes for the drive but gets beaten as the ball nips away a tad bit.

Full in length, around off. Mitchell Starc pushes it down towards long on for a single.

On length, outside off. Scott Boland leaves that alone.

Short delivery, Starc swivels across and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

LEG BYE! An LBW shout but the umpire signals a leg bye. A full delivery, drifting onto the pads. Scott Boland misses his flick and gets rapped on the pads. A shout for LBW but umpire thinks otherwise. The batters steal a leg bye in return.

Back of a length, around the off pole. Mitchell Starc guides it towards third man and rotates the strike.

Short of a length, outside off. Mitchell Starc looks to play that but gets beaten by the lack of pace.

Tad slower this time, outside off. Mitchell Starc shoulders arms to it.

Great to see Ollie Robinson back fit as he is ready to bowl now.

Yes, he does! This was on a length and way outside off. Boland offers no shot to it.

On a length, on off. Boland blocks it towards cover. Can he survive this over?

A length ball, outside off. Scott Boland leaves it alone to the keeper.

Short of a length, on middle. Starc stands tall and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Debutant and local lad, Scott Boland, walks out at number 11.

OUT! CAUGHT! The quickfire stand is broken. 34 in 53 balls. A length ball, outside off, Pat Cummins backs away and swings like there is no tomorrow. But there is lack of pace on the ball, which means the shot is played in July, while the ball arrives in the month of December. A top edge is induced and Haseeb Hameed takes the simplest of catches at backward point. Decent knock by the skipper. Australia lead by 68.

Touch fuller, on off, pushed to mid on.

FOUR! TONK! 250 UP FOR AUSTRALIA! The lead has now swelled to 65, 34 of which, have come in this 9th-wicket stand! A short ball, around off, angling away, Mitchell Starc gets on top of the bounce and pulls it audaciously over mid-wicket!

On middle. Starc again gets lucky as he hits it off the slice through covers and another couple of runs are added to Australia's lead.

Valuable runs! A length ball, on off. Starc looks to go straight but it takes the splice and goes through point for a couple.

A length ball, outside off. Starc shoulders arms to it.

Oh dear. Robinson is not looking good. He comes running in but cannot complete the ball. He looks at his captain and... ROBINSON WALKS OFF. England are a bowler down now. It is Mr. 'Call-me-anytime' to finish Ollie's pending over. Here's Ben Stokes. 10-1-39-1 so far. He has to bat, he has to bowl, he has to captain when Root is off the field and now, he has to complete others' pending overs. Keeping is the only thing left now.

DROPPED! Toughie, toughie for Robinson and dear me, what do we see next? ROBINSON IS CATCHING HIS HAMSTRING! No, England do not need this. Coming to the ball, it was full and straight. Mitchell Starc did not need any second invitation and went straight back. However, the bat came before the ball could arrive. The ball took the inner half of the bat and went towards Robinson. But the bowler seemed to react a bit too soon. He felt the ball would come quicker but it came on slower than his anticipation. As a result, he was surprised and could not quite take it in the first attempt. Tried to do it in the second but then, the spikes on his shoes gave away and he slipped, with the ball slipping out too. And that, affected his hamstring too.

A length ball, on off. Starc punches it to covers.

Length and outside off. Left alone.

Another swing and a miss! A full ball, outside off. Cummins looks for a big booming drive but fails to get any bat on it.

A length ball, outside off. Cummins works it to point.

On a length, on off, Cummins chops it to point. He wanted a single but was sent back.

Full ball, on off, pushed to covers.

BEATEN! A length ball, outside off. Pat Cummins drives it away from the body and misses it completely. Good bounce and carry. England will hope that the tail doesn't wag for a long time.

A length ball, outside off. Starc leaves it alone to the keeper.

Full ball, outside off. Starc drives it nicely but straight to covers.

DROPPED! James Anderson almost pulls off a blinder! Honestly, it is harsh to call that a drop but if there is someone who can take stingers in this team, it is Jimmy. He has taken plenty of these in the past and would have hoped that this one stuck too. Full, around middle, Pat Cummins backed away and swung hard. The ball went off the inner half of the bat slightly wide of mid on. Anderson there, dived full stretch to his right and almost pulled it off, but unfortunately for him, the ball did not stick. A single taken.

Around off, this is pushed to point.

A length ball, on middle. Blocked out.

FOUR! Straight down the ground! A full ball, on middle. Cummins punches it past the bowler and down the ground for a boundary.

Anderson continues to bowl straight and on the stumps. Cummins flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Length ball, on middle. Cummins defends it out.

Length and on middle. Starc clips it to square leg for a single.

A length ball, on off. Starc defends it back on the deck.

On a length, outside off. Cummins punches it through point for a single.

Anderson starts from around the wicket, full ball and on middle. Starc whips it to deep square leg for a single.

80 overs done. The second new ball is now available. Will Root take it straightaway? No reason why he shouldn't. AND ENGLAND TAKE THE SECOND NEW BALL. James Anderson is back on. 19-9-24-3 so far. Changed ends though. He has bowled mostly from the other end in this Test so far.

Shortish in length again, outside off. Mitchell Starc makes room and drops it towards cover.

Short of a length, down the leg this time. Mitchell Starc misses his flick and the ball goes through to the keeper.

Angling it onto the pads, a length delivery. Pat Cummins nudges it towards mid-wicket and scampers through to the other end. Australia now leads by 50 runs.

Back of a length, outside off. Pat Cummins dabs it to backward point.

Drops it short again, on the body. Mitchell Starc gets an inside edge onto the body. The ball rolls towards short fine leg. A single taken.

On a length, outside off. Mitchell Starc, on back foot, goes for the push but gets beaten as the ball zips past through the outside edge.

Short ball, over middle. Mitchell Starc doesn't get hold of his pull shot but manages to get a single towards square leg.

On a length again, on the pads this time. Pat Cummins flicks it away to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Nicely cut away! A length ball, outside off. Pat Cummins waits back, and chops it through covers. Two runs taken.

Good-length delivery, around middle and leg. Pat Cummins blocks it on the leg side.

Fuller in length, around middle. Pat Cummins pushes it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes delivers a short ball, on middle. Mitchell Starc waits back and pulls it away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Changes from both ends now. Ben Stokes is back into the attack. His figures (9-1-34-1)

Shortish delivery again, outside off. Mitchell Starc taps it to cover and scampers through to the other end.

Back of a length, outside off. Mitchell Starc hangs back and looks to chop this away, but fails to get any bat on it.

Short of a length, around off. Mitchell Starc jumps and defends this one.

Mark Wood goes 'round the wicket to the left-hander, serves a shortish delivery, around middle. Mitchell Starc blocks it out solidly.

On a length, around off. Pat Cummins, on back foot, pushes it towards cover. A single taken.

Swing and a miss! Mark Wood serves a length ball, outside off. Pat Cummins swings his bat and gets beaten due to extra pace.

Good captaincy from Root. If there is anything tailenders care about, it is about their body. They do not want to get hit by opposition fast bowlers. Hence, they play away from the body and the stumps and usually get defeated by extra pace. Joe has sensed that and got back Mark Wood. 16-2-55-1 so far.

Tossing it up, around off. Mitchell Starc lunges and blocks it out.

Full and on middle. Pat Cummins whips it down to long on for a single.

Flatter and on off, pushed to covers.

FOUR! The skipper goes up and over! This was full and on off. Pat Cummins lifts it over mid off and wide of long on for a boundary.

Short ball, on the pads. Starc hangs on the back foot and tucks it to square leg for a single.

Tossed up, on off. Starc prods to defend.

Stokes nearly had two! A good length, outside off. Mitchell Starc strides forward and looks to drive this. But he is too early into his shot, and manages to get an outside edge towards gully. The ball flies and falls just short of Haseeb Hameed at gully.

Goes full on this occasion, around off. Mitchell Starc pushes it to mid on.

Back-of-a-length delivery, outside off. Mitchell Starc leaves it alone.

Mitchell Starc walks in at number 10, replacing Carey.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Forget Patrick, England have got Alex! It is Mr. 'Make-It-Happen', Ben Stokes. The last of the recognized batter departs. Australia just ahead by 34. Full, outside off, Carey, who is in one-day mode, reaches out to drive. But with an upright body and the knee of the back leg not quite getting down, the weight of the body could not quite get transferred onto the feet. By the time that could happen, the ball is already through and the outside edge is taken. Simple catch for Carey's counterpart.

Fuller in length, around middle. Pat Cummins looks to defend but gets an inside edge towards fine leg. A single taken.

Full, on the pads, Alex Carey leans and flicks it past mid-wicket, to his right. It is a long boundary and the batsmen have enough time to come back for the third. And they do. But should they have? Seems like Carey is trusting Cummins to hang on here. England will not mind Patrick on strike.

Change. Ben Stokes is back into the attack. His figures till now read (8-1-29-0).

Very full and on off. Carey reverse-sweeps it through point for a single.

A  loopy delivery, on off. Carey defends it out.

Slightly short and outside off. Cummins hits it to point for a single.

Around off, pushed to covers.

Beautifully bowled! Tosses it up, gives some flight to it and lands it on middle. Pat Cummins tries to defend but gets an outside edge past first slip for a couple of runs.

Full and slanting on the pads, flicked to square leg.

Length and on off. Carey defends with his bat and pad together.

Short in length, outside off. Left alone.

Touch fuller, angling around off. Carey puts his front foot out and punches it wide of mid off for a couple of runs.

On middle, on a length, tucked away to mid-wicket.

BEATEN! Lovely bowling from Ollie Robinson! On a length, outside off. Carey looks to push but the ball whizzes past the outside edge.

A length ball, on middle. Carey is squared up as he looks to defend. Gets an outside edge wide of the diving third slip fielder and towards third man. Two taken.

Tosses it up, full and on middle. Cummins leans and pushes it to mid-wicket.

The captain, Pat Cummins, comes out now, at number 9. Will Carey farm the strike?

OUT! Green has been adjudged LBW! But he has taken this upstairs. This looks dead close. Nothing on the Hot Spot. Time for RTS. Nothing. Ball away from the bat. Now then... now then.... big moment for Leach... UMPIRE'S CALL ON WICKETS! Australia hold on to a review but lose Green. Big, big wicket for Leach. He came in from around the wicket and slid this with the arm, around middle and leg. Green went back to flick but missed and was hit on the pads. The English camp immediately went up in appeal and umpire Paul Reiffel, after thinking for a while, raised his finger. Hawk Eye showed the ball to be sliding down the leg side, but on its way, just clipping the leg stump! Umpire's call stays to raise boos from the crowd. Australia 7 down. Just 22 ahead. Just the second wicket for Leach in the series. Might be the one which keeps the Ashes alive.

Flatter and on off. Green defends it off the front foot.

That was just away from kissing the edge! Quicker, flatter and around off. Green waits and looks to dab it away but misses.

Tossed up, on middle, Carey sweeps it to square leg for a single.

Short and on the pads. Carey flicks it with soft hands to leg slip who collects it on a bounce.

Jack Leach (12-0-35-0) will bowl from the other end.

Length and on middle, this is flicked to deep backward square leg for a single.

Tad fuller, on off, pushed through covers for a single.

A length ball, around off, this one nips back in. Green looks to defend but the ball goes through the gate and hits him high on the pads.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! A full ball, on middle. Green shows the full face of the bat and punches it straight down the ground for a boundary.

On a length, on off. Green hangs back and blocks it out.

Ollie Robinson starts the session with a short ball, on middle. Green ducks under it.

We are back for the final session. Alex Carey and Cameron Green will resume their innings. Ollie Robinson to initiate this session. Also, the second new ball will be due in 9 overs.

... DAY 2, FINAL SESSION ...

Right. 16 wickets in 5 sessions! Did not feel that was coming. England will aim to knock over the lower order of Australia quickly here, and keep the lead under 50. The hosts, on the other hand, might start playing their shots a little bit. That does involve a bit of risk, but if a couple of shots come off, the bowlers might lose their rhythm a bit. Also, Root will be looking at the scoreboard and might start spreading the field a little bit. Either ways, we are in for some thrilling action after the break. The resumption will be at 4 pm local (0500 GMT).

There is a lot in this pitch and the England seamers are continuously exploiting those stuff. Anderson has been phenomenal while Robinson, Wood and Stokes have been tirelessly working over. Australia have found runs hard to come by. One of the commentators on air remembered a Sheffield Shield century here by Nic Maddinson earlier, after which, the player said that it was a pitch where you never felt settled. Even a batter batting in the 70s and 80s was uncomfortable, as Harris found out. If that is the case, any lead above 50 would be valuable.

This is what happens when you hold onto your catches. England have been in good positions in both the previous Tests but have let things slip. However, this time, because of the conditions, they have managed to squeeze the pressure on Australia and the result is that, for the first time in 3 matches, we have not seen a centurion from Australia. Leave alone a centurion, where are the partnerships? After the quickfire opening stand of 57, we have had just one 50-run stand, between Head and Harris and that was the time when England were letting the game drift.

Right. What an enthralling session. 69/2 in 29 overs. The Test is alive. The Ashes are alive! Really good game of cricket from both sides. England started the session listlessly but then bounced back. However, with the pressure mounting, the Aussies have shown a little bit of urgency in the last 30 minutes or so.

Two taken! This was full and outside off. Carey sweeps it well and towards fine leg and scampers across for a couple of runs. Carey puts in a dive as the fielder has a shy at the keeper's end. That will also be Tea on Day 2.

Carey reverse-sweeps this full ball through point and collects a couple of runs.

Flatter and on off. Carey nudges it to mid-wicket.

Around off, pushed to covers.

Tosses it up, on middle. Alex Carey now attempts the reverse-sweep and hits it well but Mark Wood puts in a dive at point and stops it.

Full and way outside off. Carey tries to drag it from outside off as he looks to sweep but misses.

Jack Leach (11-0-31-0) is back into the attack.

On length, outside off. Cameron Green drives it towards cover.

Back of a length, outside off. Cameron Green jumps and taps it towards point.

Change of length this time, goes full, outside off. Cameron Green leans forward and blocks it out.

Another bouncer, around middle. Cameron Green ducks under it.

Short again, on middle. Carey tucks it towards fine leg. A single taken.

A short ball, on the body. Alex Carey takes his eyes off this pacey delivery and gets hit on the bicep.

Puling his length back, darting it on the pads. Alex Carey pushes it towards fine leg. A single taken.

Very full, on middle. Alex Carey taps it to mid-wicket.

On a length, on the pads. Alex Carey tucks it away towards fine leg for two runs.

Tad shorter, darting it on the pads. Alex Carey misses his flick as the ball nips back in a tad.

A full-length delivery, on the pads. Alex Carey flicks it towards mid-wicket.

On a length, wide of off. Alex Carey leaves it alone.

FOUR! Welcome boundary for Australia! A length ball, on the pads, Green tickles it fine to the fine leg fence.

Short in length, on off. Green blocks it out.

Short of a length, on off. Green looks to defend but it goes off the slice to point, well short of the fielder.

A full ball now, on off. Green pushes it to mid on.

On a length, on off. Defended out.

Short in length,on off. Carey taps it to point and takes a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the keeper's end but misses.

Back of a length, outside off. Green taps it to covers.

A length ball, on off. Green defends it out. Oh wait. Stokes has overstepped that. It has been called a NO BALL by the third umpire.

Shorter one this time. Cameron Green ducks under it and lets that go through.

Shaping back in a tad bit. A length ball, on the pads. Cameron Green looks to block this but misses and the ball hit him on the pads and rolls towards point.

Tad fuller, on middle. Green lunges and defends it out.

On a length, outside off. Cameron Green blocks it solidly.

AUSTRALIA ARE EVENTUALLY INTO THE LEAD. Did not feel that we will use that word eventually, when they were 76/1. And Ben Stokes is frustrated and furious with his luck. He charges in and goes full around off and generates an outside edge straightaway, as Green looks to defend. But it dies down on its way towards gully and manages to get past the diving fielder at third slip. Haseeb Hameed chases it down from gully and the batsmen return for the second. Stokes is fired up here.

Ben Stokes has the ball now. His figures till now read (6-1-23-0)

Good-length, outside off. Alex Carey defends it out. A maiden for James Anderson.

Change of angle this time. James Anderson goes over the wicket, serves a length ball, on leg. Alex Carey blocks it on the leg side.

Tad fuller, outside off. Alex Carey leans and pushes it towards mid on.

Good-length, around the off pole. Carey taps it to point.

Anderson pulls his length back here, on leg. Alex Carey, on his toes, defends it out.

Fuller in length, outside off. Alex Carey strides forward and blocks it towards cover.

Length and angling on the pads. Green flicks it in front of square leg for a brace.

Length ball, way outside off. Left alone.

On middle. Green looks to block it on the leg side but gets a soft leading edge back on the deck.

Pacy stuff from Wood! Hurls a short ball now, on middle. Green sits under it.

Short in length, outside off. Green blocks it off the back foot.

Mark Wood showing his skills here! A length ball, on middle, it lands and shoots off the deck. Green looks to defend but gets hit on the gloves. The ball lobs and drops well in front of the man at point.

On a length and on middle. Carey gets on his toes and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Short in length, around off, Green pushes it through covers for a single.

On middle. Green pushes it back to Anderson who gets low to grab it.

Length again, on off. Green with solid defense. England have been rock solid with their bowling. Not many freebies given and look so sharp here.

Length and on off. Blocked out.

On middle, on a length, Green pushes it back to Anderson who shows his foot skills to collect it.

Good leave! Carey covers his off stump and lets this length ball through to the keeper.

On a length, on off. Carey defends it towards point now.

Short of a length, on middle. Carey keeps it out.

On middle, on a length, tucked away to square leg for a single.

BEATEN! Wood generating some extra pace here. This was on a length and way outside off. Green has a poke at it away from the body and he misses it completely.

Short in length, around the 4th stump channel. Green blocks it towards cover.

Mark Wood (12-2-46-1) is back into the attack.

Wicket-maiden over! Excellent stuff from James Anderson. Touch fuller, on off, pushed to mid off.

Steep bounce from Anderson, around off. Carey gets hit on the gloves as he looks to defend it.

Anderson continues to bowl in the outside off channel. Carey lets it through to the keeper.

Length again, outside off. Carey leaves it alone.

On a length, coming back in with the angle, outside off. Carey shoulders arms to it.

Alex Carey walks in now, at number 8, replacing Marcus Harris.

OUT! Edged and taken and the master strikes! This is precisely what England needed. Get the set batsman out. On a fuller length, around off, Harris has been leaving those all morning off Robinson but Jimmy is a different cup of tea. Marcus thinks he has to play at it and even then, he does so pretty late. But the ball straightens just that tad and takes the outside edge. Straight into the hands of the skipper, Joe Root, at first slip. The long vigil of Harris comes to an end. One of the rare occasions of a genuinely good ball getting a batsman out. Normally, it is a build-up which leads to a false stroke. Nothing false from Harris on that occasion. Australia 6 down, still trail by 5. For the first time in this series, England are in a great position in this series. Can they keep Australia to under 220?

Flatter and around off. Green stays solid in his defense, this time on the back foot.

Short again, on middle. Defended out.

Now goes back and punches it to point. This was short and on off.

A loopy ball, on off. Blocked out.

Three taken! Pitches it up, outside off. Harris leans and drives it through point. Mark Wood gives a chase and cuts it off.

Tossed up, full and outside off. Harris prods and blocks it out.

Tad shorter, outside off. Cameron Green, on back foot, looks to defend but gets an inside edge on to the thigh pads.

Full in length, around off. Cameron Green strides forward and pushes it towards cover.

Very full, on the pads. Green looks to flicks this, but gets an outside edge to the man at point.

Full length, on middle. Cameron Green defends that one.

Swinging it away this time, fuller, around middle. Cameron Green pushes it back to the bowler. Still no signs of any offensive shot. Green getting used to the pitch before unleashing.

James Anderson serves a full-length delivery, around off. Marcus Harris taps it towards mid on for a quick single.

Joe Root calls his best bowler now as James Anderson is back into the attack.  15-7-22-2 so far. His previous spell, which we witnessed this morning, was his longest and the best so far, in this series. 6-5-1-1 it read.

Shorter this time, outside off. Cameron Green hangs back and chops it to the man at point.

Flighting it up again, on middle. Cameron Green lunges and blocks it watchfully.

Tossing it up again, around off. Cameron Green drives it towards cover.

Loopy delivery, goes fuller this time. Marcus Harris leans and pushes it towards long on for a single.

Slower this time, darting it on the pads. Marcus Harris, on back foot, tucks it towards fine leg for a brace.

Quicker through the air, down the leg. Marcus Harris lets that go, Jos Buttler fails to collect that.

DRINKS BREAK. Something to feel better about for England while having that hourly sip. It just seemed to be going flat post Lunch but Robinson has managed to get a wicket at the right time (not that there is ever a wrong time). But cannot understand the tactics from Root. He continues to persist with Leach, who, in turn, continues to persist with that negative line around leg stump. Clearly, his hammering at the 'Gabba is still lurking on his mind and confidence seems to be lacking. On the other side, shouldn't Root just bring on his best bowlers and wrap this innings up? From Australia's point of view, can they bat through this session? Try and get somewhere close to 250 and take that lead as close to 100 as possible. With so much grass on this deck, you don't want to be chasing too many in the fourth innings.

Short of a length, on the pads. Cameron Green tucks it to short fine leg.

Fuller again, outside off. Cameron Green leans and pushes it to extra cover.

Fuller this time, angling it in, around middle. Cameron Green looks to work it away but gets an inside edge towards short mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery, around middle. Cameron Green blocks it on the leg side.

Tad shorter again, around middle and leg. Cameron Green defends this one solidly.

Back of a length, around middle. Green taps it towards mid on.

Tad shorter this time, quicker through the air. Harris blocks this one.

A loopy ball, around middle and off. Cameron Green pushes it towards long off for a single.

Loopy delivery again, on middle. Cameron Green blocks it watchfully.

Tossing it up again, around off. Cameron Green pushes it towards the man at extra cover.

Tad fuller, on middle. Cameron Green pushes it on the right of the bowler. Jack Leach dives that side and stops the ball. Couldn't get hold of that though.

Tosses it up, on middle. Cameron Green lunges and defends it out.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Cameron Green taps it to covers and scampers through to the other end. He gets off the mark with that single.

Fuller this time, on off. Cameron Green blocks it watchfully.

The under-pressure Cameron Green comes in at number 7, replacing Head. Australia are in a bit of a better position than what they were at Lunch, but England still in it.

OUT! Edged and taken! Well, the unlucky Robinson gets a reward at last. He has been either going past edges or generating ones which are not going to humans. On a good length, around middle and leg, Travis Head is pretty unsure where his off stump is and has a needless poke at it. He has both feet in the air while playing that and it is well away from his body. All it results in is an outside edge. The ball goes straight to Joe Root at first slip who makes no mistake. Zak Crawley from second slip threatens to go for the catch to his right but does not pursue his attempt. Root though, has his focus on the ball and takes it comfortably. A nervous Robinson though, quickly looks back at the umpire to check whether that was a no ball. Remember, he had overstepped a while earlier? But the umpire gives him his nod that the ball is legal and relief is spread across the seamer's face. The 61-run stand has been broken at last and Australia are still in the arrears. 14 at the moment.

Swing and a miss! England trying to find the edge! Outside off, on a length. Travis Head hangs back, looks to chop that, but gets beaten altogether.

NO BALL! Ollie Robinson serves a length ball again, on middle. Travis Head pushes it towards mid on. Ollie Robinson has overstepped here, and a no ball is called.

Good-length, outside off. Travis Head blocks it out.

On a length, just around off. Travis Head covers his stumps and blocks it towards cover.

Short ball, on middle. Harris keeps it out. There is spin on offer for Leach but the lines and lengths are not threatening for the batters. Needs to be more accurate.

Fuller ball, on off. Harris looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Darted on the pads, this is flicked to the on side.

On middle, it lands and spins down the leg side. Left alone.

Short but on the pads, this is flicked to square leg for a single. The fielder there fumbles with his throw.

Short, spinning in on middle. Head pushes it on the leg side.

Left alone! On a length, slanting outside off. Harris shoulders arms to it.

Outside off again, Harris leaves it alone to the keeper.

Short and outside off. Left alone.

FOUR! Good shot! This was on a length and outside off. Marcus Harris tries to play it with an angled bat but it goes more off the splice and towards the third man fence. It was hit with soft hands.

Short of a length, on off. Harris gets on top and defends it on the deck.

Length ball, slanting around the 4th stump channel, Harris covers his stump and shoulders arms.

Short and way outside off. Harris taps it to backward point for one more run.

Flatter and on off, eased down to long on for a single.

This time Head stays back to this delivery. It was way down the leg side. Head misses his pull and the keeper collects it.

Now Leach goes fuller and on middle. Head leans and pushes it to mid on.

On middle. Head flicks it again but finds square leg.

Sharp spin! This one lands on middle and turns down the leg side. Head tucks it to square leg.

Short of a length, on off. Harris lets it through to the keeper.

Now a short ball, on middle. Harris offers no shot to it.

EDGED! A length ball, on off. Harris prods to defend but gets a leading edge to third slip where Jonny Bairstow gets low and catches it on a bounce.

A length ball, outside off. Harris shoulders arms to it.

Short in length, around off. Harris stays back and defends it towards cover.

Back of a length, on off. Harris blocks it out solidly.

Darted on the pads. Head turns it to deep square leg for a brace.

Full and on middle. Harris works it to mid-wicket for a single.

CHANCE! Leach sees Harris coming down the wicket and serves a quicker delivery down the leg side. Harris misses his whip. Jos Buttler fumbles to catch it and the batters take a couple of byes as it rolls to fine leg. That also brings 50-partnership between these two.

On middle. Harris defends it.

Short and on middle. Marcus Harris rocks back and blocks it out.

In the air but safe! A full ball, angling on middle. Travis Head looks to sweep but gets a leading edge and just over the short fine leg fielder. One.

Outside off again, on a length. Marcus Harris shoulders arms.

Length, around the fourth stump line. Marcus Harris leaves it alone.

Good length, outside off. Marcus Harris lets that through to the keeper.

On a length, slightly wide of off. Marcus Harris leaves that alone.

Beaten! Tad fuller this time, wide of off. Marcus Harris goes for the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball has whizzed past the outside edge so many times but the England bowlers' are not getting the required result.

A good-length delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris defends it out solidly.

Ollie Robinson (11-1-46-1) is back on.

Loopy delivery, outside off. Travis Head lunges and blocks it out.

Quicket this time, on the pads. Travis Head flicks to square leg.

Tossing it up, on middle. Marcus Harris drives it towards long on for a single.

Loopy delivery, on the pads. Marcus Harris clips it to mid-wicket once again.

Tosses it up this time, on middle, Marcus Harris pushes it to the man at short mid-wicket.

Shorter, flatter, on the pads. Travis Head tucks it away towards mid-wicket for a single.

Tad shorter, outside off. Marcus Harris looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge. Mark Wood continues to bowl in probing lines.

Short this time, outside off. Marcus Harris ducks under it.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris, hangs back and steers it past point for a brace.

Full and on middle. Marcus Harris blocks it out watchfully.

Swing and a miss! Mark Wood serves this outside off, on a length, at 145.5 clicks. Marcus Harris swings hard at it but fails to get any bat on it.

On a length, darting it on the pads, at 143.3 clicks. Travis Head tucks it to short fine leg for a single.

A full ball, on off, pushed to mid off for a single to end the over.

Short and on middle. Harris wrists it away to mid-wicket and takes a single.

Full ball, on off. Harris defends it off the front foot.

Flatter and on off. Blocked out.

This was short and way down the leg side. Harris looks to flick it away but misses.

Quick single! On middle. Head turns it to mid-wicket and takes off for a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. The replay shows the batter was outside of his crease. A direct hit was needed there.

Back of a length, around off. Marcus Harris blocks it out solidly.

Tad fuller, outside off. Marcus Harris blocks it out to the cover region.

Pacey delivery, around middle and leg. Marcus Harris taps it to mid-wicket.

Now a short ball from Wood, on middle. Harris sits under it.

A length delivery, on the pads. Marcus Harris manages to get a slight leading edge towards mid off.

Short in length, outside off. Harris blocks it off the back foot.

Short again, on middle. Head wrists it to square leg.

Slightly short, on middle. Harris rocks back and tucks it away to mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter and on middle. Harris gets inside the line and defends it out.

On middle, Blocked out.

On the pads, this is flicked to fine leg for a single.

A full ball, down the leg side. Head leans and looks to flick but misses. The keeper collects and clips the bails off in flash. Head was in his crease though.

Back of a length, outside off. Marcus Harris pushes it past point for a brace.

Pacey delivery, shortish around off. Marcus Harris blocks it towards point.

FOUR! Nicely played! Mark Wood serves a short ball this time, outside off. Marcus Harris, on back foot, stands tall, opens the face of the bat and slashes it past gully for a boundary.

Tad fuller, on the pads. Travis Head flicks it towards fine leg. A single taken.

Length, around off. Travis Head pushes it towards covers.

FIFTY for Marcus Harris! The local boy has risen when his team needed the most! An overpitched delivery, on middle. Marcus Harris drills it down the ground, Mark Wood puts a dive to his left but to no avail. The fielder gives a chase and saves a single. Three runs taken.

Who will bowl from the other end? It is Mark Wood.

Shortish delivery, around middle. Marcus Harris flicks it to mid-wicket for a run.

Loopy delivery, around middle and leg. Travis Head drives it to long on for a single.

Tosses it up, around middle. Travis Head pushes it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! And Australia are underway after Lunch! Jack Leach drops it short, on the pads. Travis Head, on back foot, pulls it towards square leg for a boundary.

Loopy delivery this time, around middle. Travis Head leans and blocks it.

Jack Leach comes around the wicket, serves a flatter delivery, on the pads. Travis Head tucks it to square leg.

We are back for the post-lunch session. Marcus Harris and Travis Head will resume their innings. Jack Leach to initiate this session.

... SECOND SESSION ...

Talking about Covid, even the Ashes have not been spared. There are fresh murmurs of this series being in serious jeopardy with England's support staff and a few family members testing positive, but Cricket Australia have asserted that the series is on, with all the England players cleared. We do not want a repeat of what happened during England's tour to South Africa last year, do we? Well, time does fly. It has been almost close to two years now in this Covid era and we all are still awaiting the old normal, rather than the new normal. Time has flown quickly here too and the Lunch break is about to get over! Boy, in all our discussion, we bet that you surely did not realize that the second session is about to get underway! 64 overs left in the day. Can England bowl Australia out in this session and start batting by the third? The answer will be known shortly.

In other news, the USA-Ireland ODI series is all set to go ahead after the first match got cancelled due to lack of match officials. The tour started with players testing positive for Covid from both camps and by the time the ODIs arrived, even the umpires were not spared. One official tested positive ahead of the first match and since the other three were in close contact with him, all four got ruled out, which meant that there was no official available for the said game. However, there has been a replenishment and we have got replacement officials. So the second and third ODIs should go ahead as planned. USA were excellent in the T20Is but the ODIs might well be a different say altogether and one might expect the Irish to breeze through.

BIG BASH UPDATES - Now, time for the local updates. Guess Mitchell Marsh summed it up pretty nicely on Sunday night, when answering the questions on being awarded the Man Of The Match. He cheekily asked, 'What time is it?' And then smiled when he was told that it was beyond bed time. Yes, a double header it was on Boxing Day in the BBL. First, it was the Sydney Derby, where, a Dan Christian special helped the 6ers win while later, another disciplined show by the Scorchers saw them win their 6th match on the trot this season. These two teams - Scorchers and Sixers - are creating a gap between themselves and the rest and another win each would more or less seal the top two spots. Tonight, we have another double header, with Hobart Hurricanes hosting Adelaide Strikers at the Blundstone Arena while Brisbane Heat take on Melbourne Stars at the 'Gabba later. This will be the last game for Andre Russell with the Stars this season, as he heads back home to the Caribbean for international duties, with England set to arrive after the Ashes. He will aim to go well in his final outing while the Stars would want to send him off with a win.

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET UPDATES - For those who could not quite keep a track of cricketing events around the world on Boxing Day, here's a small update. India began their highly anticipated tour of South Africa on a strong note, bravely choosing to bat first under overcast skies in Centurion. A watchful opening hour saw them reap dividends, with their score reading 272/3 at the end of the opening day. KL Rahul has batted the whole day and is going strong on 122 while barring Cheteshwar Pujara, who got a first-baller, everyone has contributed in some way or the other.

So Australia trail by 54 with not much of batting left, to be honest. Yes, there are names but those are either inconsistent or inexperienced and on this deck, you need batters of high quality to survive. The hosts would have been hoping to score around 80 runs in this session and not lose more than two wickets but that wicket of Smith has really dented them. 350 looks out of the window and even getting to 200 might be a big task. In plain words - this seems like a one-inning shootout. The second session starts at 1.40 pm local (0240 GMT).

This is why seniors should be around in the team. England's inexperience came to the fore at the 'Gabba, with neither Anderson nor Broad playing. But here, it took Jimmy the master probably not more than 10 minutes to size up the lengths to be bowled on this deck. And immediately he transferred that information to the rest. And once England managed to do that, their extra pace in Wood started to pose doubts in the batsmen's minds.

Enter Precocious. Steven Peter Devereux Smith. The senior player stepped up to the occasion and quickly fathomed that defending is not the way out on this pitch. He started to play his strokes and got the scoreboard moving but a smart piece of captaincy got him sent back quickly too. At the other end, local boy Marcus Harris has looked assured, playing on 48 but he is running out of partners. Australia have got an itchy Travis Head at 6, an out-of form Cameron Green at 7 and a fairly new Alex Carey at 8. One can sense that England would be eyeing fresh prey after their Lunch break.

If there was any important hour left in this series, it was this morning's. At 61/1, Australia threatened to take the game and series away from England, trailing by JUST 124. And when night watchman Nathan Lyon pulled Ollie Robinson to the mid-wicket fence pretty early, the signs were looking ominous. But, like a good bowling attack, the England seamers found their lengths quickly and started to trouble the Aussie batters. 76/1 suddenly became 84/3, with the newly crowned numero uno batsman in Tests, Marnus Labuschagne, being dismissed for 1.

Welcome aboard, England. This is probably the artillery of firepower that the world seeks you to display. What a session. 26 overs, 70 runs and three wickets - two of those being of the master and the disciple. Australia have their middle order exposed and on a pitch still doing things, 185 looks a bit far.

BEATEN! A length ball, outside off. Harris is once again beaten as he looks to defend. That will be Lunch on Day 2.

On middle, on a length, flicked to square leg for a couple of runs.

Smart from Head. Just one minute left on the clock for the Lunch break and he wanders down the pitch, to just have a word with Harris and calls him though. They do not speak much, just pat the deck and then go back to their positions. Precious 30 seconds saved. This will now definitely be the last over before Lunch.

On a length, slanting on middle, extra pace there as well. Marcus Harris is beaten as he looks to defend and gets hit high on the pads.

A full ball, on middle. Harris punches it past mid on and takes a couple.

Brilliant delivery! A length ball, just around off. Marcus Harris looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

A length ball, angling on middle. Harris looks to defend but gets an outside edge to gully, all along the ground.

Darted on the pads. Harris nudges it to square leg for a single.

On middle, Harris tucks it to square leg.

Slightly short, outside off. Harris shuffles and blocks it out.

Slower one now, flatter and on middle. Harris defends it to mid-wicket.

Full ball now, on the pads. Head leans and flicks it to deep square leg for one.

Leach starts with a short ball, on the pads. Head tickles it past short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Jack Leach comes to roll his arm over now.

Direct hit and it would have been curtains for Marcus Harris! Length and on off. Harris dabs it to backward point. He wanted a quick single but Head was not interested. Haseeb Hameed has a shy at the keeper's end but misses.

Full ball, angling around off. Defended out.

A length ball, on off. Head punches it off the back foot and through covers for three runs. Good shot and pierces the gap as well.

On a length, on off. Blocked out.

FOUR! Welcome boundary! Width on offer, on a length, outside off. Head cuts it hard and through point for a boundary. Releases some pressure now.

A full ball, outside off, there is a bit of shape. Head offers no shot.

Ollie Robinson is brought back into the attack.

Slight hesitation in the middle but no harm done. On middle. Harris clips it to mid-wicket and looks for a quick single. Head is not interested and denies the single.

A length ball, on middle. Harris with yet another solid block.

A pacy short ball, on middle. Harris sits under it.

Back of a length, on middle. Harris hops and defends it back on the surface. Marcus Harris looks so composed while wickets are tumbling at the other end.

Short of a length, way down the leg side. Left alone.

Around off, on a length. Blocked out.

Anderson drags his length back this time and Head wrists it to mid-wicket.

Fuller ball and on off, pushed back to the bowler.

James Anderson continues to bowl in probing lines. A length ball, on middle. Head gets an outside edge towards point as he tries to defend.

A length ball, on middle. Head works it to point.

Another solid block from Travis Head as he blocks it back on the deck.

On a length, outside off. Head blocks it towards cover.

FOUR! EDGED AWAY! A length ball, outside off. Harris stands tall and looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge through the slip cordon and towards the third man fence.

Travis Head is off the mark, On a length, on off. Head hops and turns it to square leg for a single.

A length ball, on off. Harris defends it through point and takes a single.

Wood angles it on a length, on middle, tucked to square leg.

Length and on off. Harris blocks it solidly.

Short of a length, on middle. Harris hops and defends it.

This is on a length and outside off. Head leaves it alone. Excellent over from James Anderson.

Anderson with aggressive bowling! A length ball, outside off. Head is not fully committed as he looks to defend.

A length ball, on middle. Head clips it to mid-wicket.

On middle, tucked away to mid-wicket.

Beauty from Anderson. Serves it from around the wicket and angles it on a length, just around off. Head looks to defend without any foot movement and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Travis Head walks out to the middle now.

OUT! TIMBER! Huge wicket for England and there is pin-drop silence here at the MCG. England bossing this session. That is the third wicket in under 20 overs this morning. But credit has to go to the field placement. Knowing Smith's tendency to walk across the stumps, Root and Anderson had placed a leg slip. And that immediately paid dividends. This was a full ball outside off and normally, Smith would walk across and nudge it to the on side. But that leg slip planted a seed of doubt in his mind. He played rather loosely, well away from his body and the result was a yawning gap between bat and pad. The ball went through that gap, took the inside edge and hit the stumps. Anderson is over the moon. Australia in a huge spot of bother now, with their middle order exposed. They still trail by 75 and this Test is quickly heading into a one-inning shootout.

Stokes slants a full ball, on the pads. Harris flicks it to square leg and collects a brace.

Comes around the wicket and serves a length ball, on off. Marcus Harris is solid in his defense.

Shorter this time, outside off. Marcus Harris lets that go through.

On a length, angling it onto the pads. Marcus Harris looks to defends, but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Fuller in length this time, outside off. Steven Smith leans and drives it towards mid-on.

Tad shorter, outside off. Steven Smith stands tall and punches it off the back foot through covers. Two runs taken.

Too full, on off. Marcus Harris punches it straight back to the bowler. The ball deflects off James Anderson's boots. No run there.

Tad shorter, outside off. Marcus Harris tucks it to mid-wicket.

Another beauty by James Anderson! A length delivery, around middle and off. Marcus Harris leans to defend but gets beaten again as the ball drifts away a tad bit. Superb stuff from Anderson.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves it alone.

A peach of a delivery! James Anderson serves a shorter one this time, just outside off. Marcus Harris looks to defend that but the ball zips through the outside edge of the bat.

Fuller length, around off. Marcus Harris pushes it back to the bowler.

A length delivery, outside off. Steven Smith will watch it sail through to the keeper.

Another shorter one. Steven Smith ducks under this one and lets it go.

Touch fuller, just outside off. Steven Smith pushes it to mid on.

On a length, angling it in this time. Steven Smith lets that go.

WIDE! Too short on this occasion, down the leg. Steven Smith ducks under that. A wide called as the ball sails way over Smith's head.

Touch fuller, on off. Steven Smith blocks this one out.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Steven Smith looks to defend that but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Short of a length, on off. Defended out.

Shorter this time, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves that alone.

On a length, outside off. Marcus Harris blocks it out watchfully.

A length ball, outside off. Marcus Harris with yet another leave.

A length ball, outside off. Harris leaves it alone to the keeper.

Leg bye! A full ball, swinging in on middle and leg. Steven Smith misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls to square leg and a leg bye is taken.

Around middle and off, nudged to the leg side. Promising over from Stokes. He is giving it his all.

Fuller, around off, Harris comes forward and pushes it towards mid off.

Gone, LBW! Oh wait. Harris has taken the review. It seemed instantaneous, so must have been an inside edge. But... Hot Spot shows nothing! This looks dead, if no inside edge. Time for Snicko. And... there is a spike. Just when the ball passes the bat. Decision reversed then.

NOT OUT! No wonder Harris went for the review straightaway. It was a length ball, outside off, angling into the pads. Marcus Harris looked to defend that but missed and got hit on the pads. England went up in an appeal and umpire Paul Reiffel raised his finger straightaway. But almost instantaneously, Harris too, raised the 'T-sign', indicating that he wanted to review. Hot Spot was checked first and strangely, there was nothing on it. But then, when Snicko was checked, there was a spike as the ball went past the bat. Thank heavens that multiple technologies are being used. Umpire Reiffel reverses his decision and we all wonder - why didn't Hot Spot pick that? Because even Stokes seemed to pick that inside edge. He did not go up immediately. He appealed after the slip cordon went up.

Tad shorter this time, outside off. Marcus Harris stands tall and punches it to the fielder at point.

Good-length delivery, outside the off pole. Harris shoulders arms.

A length ball, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves that alone.

DRINKS! A good passage of play for England. They took the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne and since then have been disciplined with the lines and lengths. Wood and Anderson are bowling with some intent and will look for wickets at regular intervals.

A length ball, outside off. Smith lets it through to the keeper.

Sharp swing from James Anderson! This one lands on middle and swings way away down the leg side. Smith shuffles across and watches it through as it goes to the keeper. Jos Buttler has to put a dive to stop that.

A length ball, outside off. Smith drives it off the inner half of the blade to mid-wicket.

Again on a length, outside off. Smith leaves it alone to the keeper.

A length ball, outside off. Left alone.

Very full ball, outside off. Smith looks to push but does so more off the inner half and straight down the ground and Anderson half-stops it.

On a length, on off. Harris stays back and punches it through backward point for a couple of runs.

A short ball now from Stokes. Steven Smith pulls it to the vacant square leg region and collects three runs. 100 up for Australia as well.

A length ball, on off. Smith steps across and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Fuller ball, on off. Smith blocks it out.

On a length, on middle. Smith shuffles and nudges it on the leg side.

FOUR! EDGY RUNS! A length ball, outside off. Smith tries to block it but gets a thick outside edge and the ball rolls away wide of second slip for a boundary. Well, looking at that in the replays, it does seem like Smith played it pretty well in the end. He played it with soft hands and rode the bounce nicely. Even if there had been a third slip, it would not have carried.

Ben Stokes comes into the attack. False start. Stokes comes in to deliver but then loses his run up midway. So he pulls out.

On a length, on off. Marcus Harris blocks it out.

Brilliant bowling! On a length, outside off. Harris looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On a length, outside off. Harris leaves it alone to the keeper.

Length ball, outside off. Marcus Harris looks to defend this, but gets beaten on the outside edge once again.

JAFFA! This is good from Anderson! A length ball, outside off. Marcus Harris is squared up as he looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

EDGED! It went through the diving Jos Buttler. A length ball, outside off. Steven Smith shuffles and looks to defend but gets an inside edge. The ball ricochets and hits the thigh pads and goes to the left of the keeper. Jos Buttler puts a full stretch dive but he palms it away to fine leg. One.

James Anderson is brought back into the attack.

Wood steams in and hurls a short ball, on middle. Marcus Harris rocks back and sits under it.

On a length, outside off. Harris lunges and inside-edges it to mid-wicket.

On a length, outside off. Steven Smith steps across taps it in front of covers and takes a quick single. Good running.

This one slants way down the leg side. Steven Smith lets it through to the keeper.

Short of a length, on the hips. Harris tickles it to short fine leg for a single.

A length ball, angling on middle. Steven Smith nudges it nicely through mid-wicket. The fielder at short mid-wicket gives a chase and cuts it off. Three runs.

Robinson comes around the wicket and serves a full ball, on middle. Harris looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Now targets the stumps. Steven Smith shuffles across and tucks it to square leg. One.

This was on a length and outside off. Steven Smith covers his stumps and lets it go to the keeper.

On a length, on off. Steven Smith defends it out solidly.

On the pads. Harris flicks it through square leg for three runs.

A full ball, on middle. Harris blocks it back on the deck.

The camera just pans on Ben Stokes who is looking at his right index finger. Before the start of play this morning, Stokes was with the physio, just checking his finger out. After that, he popped in a few tablets as well. To be honest, the big Ben has not been himself right from the start of this series. He is certainly carrying some kind of niggle which is affecting both, his batting and bowling. Having said that, the effort he has been putting is tremendous.

Another solid block from Steven Smith.

A length ball, angling on middle. Steven Smith blocks it out.

A full ball, on middle. Steven Smith defends it solidly.

Steven Smith is the new man in.

OUT! Edged and taken! Boy o boy, look at England go! Forget what they did with the bat yesterday. Forget that they are 0-2 down in the series. They have got the world number 1 ranked batsman in Tests out for a single run! This is what extra pace can do, something which England sorely missed in Adelaide. This pitch has certainly quickened up. Wood lands it on back of a length, outside off and gets it to come in with the angle. Marnus Labuschagne does the best he possibly could and tries to get behind the line. He looks to fend it but along with the angle, comes the extra bounce. There is a slight deviation off the deck too. The combination of bounce and deviation does him in. He fends at it and all he manages is a thick outside edge, which goes straight to Joe Root at first slip. The English skipper is besides himself with glee and is running around in celebration, with the team desperate to join him. The Ashes are still alive, folks. Australia still 101 behind.

Three taken! A full ball, on middle. Harris pushes it gently to wide of mid on and takes three runs before the fielder cuts it off.

On a length, on off. Harris taps it to covers.

Mark Wood is into the attack. His figures till now read (4-0-15-0).

Yorker this time, on off. Marnus Labuschagne blocks it out.

Good-length, angling it into the right-hander. Marnus Labuschagne misses his glance and gets hit on the stomach region.

Outside off, full in length. Marnus Labuschagne blocks it out off the front foot.

NO BALL! Full in length again, around middle and leg. Marnus Labuschagne flicks it to the fielder at mid-wicket. Ollie Robinson has overstepped here and a no ball is called.

Fuller, on middle. Marnus Labuschagne taps it towards mid on. No run there.

Full in length this time, outside off. Marnus Labuschagne lunges and pushes it back to the bowler.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Marnus Labuschagne leaves that alone.

Length, on middle. Marcus Harris defends that one.

Tad fuller, outside off. Marcus Harris leans and defends it on the off side.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris defends it solidly.

James Anderson pulling his length back on this occasion, outside off. Marcus Harris blocks that one.

Anderson maintains the same length, full and outside off. Marcus Harris blocks it off the front foot.

Full-length delivery, outside off. Harris defends it out watchfully.

Fuller in length, on the pads. Marcus Harris flicks it square on the leg side for a single.

On a length, on off. Marcus Harris blocks it solidly.

Full in length, on middle. Marnus Labuschagne looks to defend but gets an inside edge towards deep square leg. And with that single, Labuschagne is off the mark.

Length, outside off. Marnus Labuschagne defends it out.

Fullish delivery again, outside the off pole. Marnus Labuschagne lets that go.

Full-length, outside off. Marnus Labuschagne blocks it out.

UPDATE - Due to the delay in start of play this morning, every session has been pushed back by 30 minutes.

Full and outside off. Marcus Harris pushes it to mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery, outside off, at 136 clicks. Marcus Harris shoulders arms.

On a length, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves it alone.

Back of a length, around middle and leg. Harris pushes it towards deep square leg for a brace.

Shortish length, around middle. Marcus Harris tucks it to square leg.

Tad fuller, on the pads. Marcus Harris taps it to mid-wicket.

A length ball, outside off. Marnus Labuschagne with another leave.

A length ball, this one comes with the angle. Marnus Labuschagne watchfully leaves it.

Marnus Labuschagne comes to the crease now.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! England have got their early wicket and not much celebration there from the visitors! A length ball, outside off. Lyon looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge to the keeper, Jos Buttler who takes it.

Steep bounce there. On a length, on middle. Lyon looks to flick but hits the slice of the blade and the ball rolls towards cover.

A length ball, on off. Lyon hits it back to the bowler.

A length ball, outside off. Lyon defends it solidly.

On a length, on off. Blocked out.

FOUR! Early boundaries for the Aussie! A length ball, on off. Harris defends it with soft hands and gets an outside edge through the slip cordon for a boundary.

Leg Bye! On a length, on the pads. Lyon turns it to square leg with soft hands off the pads and a single is taken. No movement seen early on.

Length and on off, pushed to covers where the fielder dives to his left and stops it.

Another delivery around off. Lyon defends it on the up towards point.

A length ball, on off. Lyon works it to point.

A length ball, on middle, tucked away to square leg for a single. Good start for Australia.

Short of a length, angling on middle. Lyon looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the body.

Better from Ollie Robinson! A length ball, outside off. Lyon looks to push but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On a length, on middle, pushed to mid on.

FOUR! Two in a row! A length ball, outside off. Lyon tries to defend but gets a thick outside edge through the slip cordon for another boundary. Lyon looks more than a tail-ender right now.

FOUR! Pulled away! A short ball, on middle. Lyon pulls it to mid-wicket for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson will bowl from the other end.

A length ball, on off. Harris takes a step forward and nudges it to mid-wicket.

On middle, on a length. Harris defends it on the front foot.

Length ball, outside off. Harris leaves it alone.

A length ball, outside off, Lyon pushes it uppishly and to the left of mid off. A single.

Short in length, outside off. Lyon drags it to short mid-wicket.

Anderson starts with a length ball, on the pads. Lyon tucks it to mid-wicket.

Now Australia have responded to England's Covid scenario - 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 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.

We are ready to play! Marcus Harris and Nathan Lyon will resume batting for Australia. James Anderson will begin the proceedings with the ball. Here we go..

UPDATE 10.10 am Local Time (11.10 pm GMT, previous day) - We have an official update! Play will start at 11.00 am local time (12.00 am GMT). This means a 30-minute delay.

UPDATE 09.58 am Local Time (10.58 pm GMT, previous day) - The tweet from England's official handle says, The England team have been given the all clear to travel to the MCG and we are about to set off from the team hotel. After one of the family-group members tested positive for Covid. We wait for official word whether there will be any delay in the start or not. Stay tuned for further updates.

Australia were in the driving seat from the beginning. They were exceptional with the ball. Cummins and Lyon grabbed three wickets each, while Starc grabbed the important wickets of Root and Bairstow. Not to forget, Scott Boland celebrated his maiden Test wicket. Australia had an aggressive start with the bat, Warner kept scoring at a quick rate and kept the scoreboard ticking, before falling to Anderson. Australia have plenty of batting to come and will be hoping to score big. Stay tuned with us.

England's batting woes continue. They have failed yet again to put up a healthy total on the board. Joe Root was the only batsman who looked under control. Stokes and Bairstow did show some resilience in the middle but failed to make it big. After being dismissed for 185, the bowlers did miss their line and length in the beginning but came back stronger as veteran, James Anderson picked up the prized scalp of David Warner. Mark Wood did look good in the middle and he will be hoping to grab some wickets early in the day. The bowlers have an uphill task from here on.

Hello and a very warm welcome to Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and England. Australia have yet again started the Test on a positive note and are already in a commanding position. England were asked to bat first and were not up to the mark as they were bundled out for 185 runs. Australia started off well with the bat, however, they lost Warner towards the end of the day. But, Marcus Harris managed to survive at the end of Day 1. Australia will be looking to bat all day long. While the visitors will be hoping for some quick wickets.

... Day 2, Session 1 ...

With Lyon surviving the late deliveries and Harris hanging in there. Australia will be relaxed a bit. Join us for Day 2 on Monday, 27th December at 10.30 am Local (11.30 pm GMT, previous day). If you still miss Test cricket, South Africa and India are playing at SuperSport Park, Centurion. So you can switch the tabs and enjoy the action. Until then, Adios!

Earlier, the bowling attack of Australia combined to show yet another dominant display. Fair to say, the Host had the edge over the visitors in all the sessions. Cummins started the proceedings while Starc, Boland and Green controlled the middle phase and then Lyon cleared the tailenders as England bundled out at 185. Root scored another half-century but other than that, we saw another dreadful batting display from England.

So, England have managed to take the wicket of Warner late in the day and they will have something to take away at the end of Day 1. Before that, Harris was taking his own time to settle in the middle while Warner was making sure the scoreboard kept moving. He was looking so good in the middle but fell to Anderson's delivery. The rain delay at the beginning of the day has cost us 6 overs but the Boxing Day Test has started with the Host on top.

FOUR! Edgy boundary! Ben Stokes serves a back-of-a-length delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris waits back and manages to get a thick outside edge between the third slip fielder and gully. The ball races away towards the third man fence for a boundary. That will be STUMPS on Day 1.

Beaten! That was so close, Ben Stokes nearly had his man! Ben Stokes serves a back of a length delivery, outside the off pole. Marcus Harris comes forward to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Stokes maintains the same length, on the pads this time. Marcus Harris taps it towards square leg.

On a length again, outside off. Marcus Harris offers no shot to that.

On a good length, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves it alone.

Halt in play. Marcus Harris is feeling the pain now. The ball hits him hard on the left-hand gloves. Very smart by Marcus Harris. With 5 minutes left on the clock, he is just using up some time by calling up the physio. Ah well, smart games some batsmen can play. The Aussie dressing room will certainly not mind this pause in play. The umpires are seen hovering around the physio and Joe Root is certainly not happy with this pause.

Short of a length delivery, around off, angling it into the left-hander. Marcus Harris jumps and tries to block it but the ball hits him on the glove. The physio is out there to take a look at his finger.

Good-length, around off. Nathan Lyon pushes it towards mid on.

On a length, on the body. Nathan Lyon defends it out watchfully.

Full, on off. Nathan Lyon pushes it towards covers.

Good-length, on the pads. Nathan Lyon stands deep in his crease, and looks to block that but gets beaten and the ball hits him on the back pad. Half an appeal by England but the umpire is not interested though.

Good-length delivery, outside off. Nathan Lyon looks to defend this but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Nathan Lyon walks out to the middle.

OUT! TAKEN! Anderson comes into the attack and gets the breakthrough. The veteran does it again for his team. A length ball, outside off. David Warner gets on his toes as he looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge to Zak Crawley at gully who dives low and takes a sharp catch. David Warner was looking so good out in the middle but perishes.

James Anderson is back into the attack.

Outside off, on a full length. Marcus Harris leans forward and blocks it out.

On a length, on the pads. Marcus Harris taps it towards square leg.

Full again, outside off. Marcus Harris drives it to mid off. No run there.

Beaten! Gets beaten this time! Angling it in, full in length, outside off. Marcus Harris swings and misses. The ball zips past through the outside edge.

FOUR! Nicely done! Ben Stokes serves a shorter one this time, outside off. Marcus Harris hangs back and chops that over point for a boundary.

Ben Stokes begins with a full delivery, on the pads. Marcus Harris pushes it to mid-wicket.

Ben Stokes is into the attack now.

On a length, outside off. David Warner leaves it alone.

We can see Marnus Labuschagne ready to come out but Nathan Lyon is also padded up if in case Australia need a night watchman.

On a length, onto the pads. David Warner blocks it towards square leg.

Fuller, outside off. David Warner leaves it alone.

No ball! A length ball, outside off. David Warner will watch sail through the keeper. A no ball called as Ollie Robinson has overstepped.

Fuller, on the stumps. David Warner defends it out.

On a length, around off. Marcus Harris leans and nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Runs are flowing for Warner! An overpitched delivery, onto the pads. David Warner flicks it past mid-wicket. Three runs taken.

Good-length, outside off. Left alone.

Wood maintains the same length, around off. Marcus Harris gets a thick outside edge towards point.

On a length, outside off. Marcus Harris defends that one.

Back of a length, offers some width here. David Warner opens the face of his bat and guides it past the man at gully for three runs.

Tad shorter, on off. David Warner, on his toes, blocks it out.

Ouch! A pacy delivery, short of length, on middle. David Warner jumps and decides to block that but misses and gets hit on the chest.

Good-length delivery, on the pads. Warner gets an inside edge towards fine leg for a single.

Shout for LBW but not given! A length delivery, angling it into the pads. Warner looks to defend that but gets a slight inside edge on the pads. An appeal for LBW and umpire says no. Root, Leach and all gather around and have a chat but opt not to take the review.

Full, on off. David Warner blocks it out.

FOUR! Top-shot by Warner. Ollie Robinson drops a short ball, around middle and leg. David Warner hangs back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Good-length ball, outside off. David Warner leaves that alone.

A length ball, angling on middle. David Warner looks to defend but misses and gets hit on the pads. A muted appeal follows for LBW but the ball was slanting down.

Now a short ball, on middle. Harris ducks under it.

Short of a length, outside off. Harris stands tall and taps it to backward point.

Brilliant bowling! Wood serves a full ball from around the wicket, outside off. Harris lunges and looks to drive but connects thin air around.

A length ball, on off. Harris works it to point.

On a length, on middle. David Warner hops and turns it to square leg. Another quick single taken.

A length ball, outside off. Warner has a poke at it but misses.

Length ball, angling into the pads. David Warner gets an inside-edge onto his pads. No run there.

On a length, on off. Defended out.

A length ball, on off. Kept out.

Through the gap! A length ball, outside off. David Warner cuts it through point and takes three runs. Good running.

Length and on middle, tucked away to fine leg for one.

Good start by Ollie Robinson! A length ball, on middle, this one shapes back in. Marcus Harris leaves the gate open and the ball travels over the stumps and to the keeper.

Ollie Robinson is brought back into the attack.

FOUR! Two in a row! A length ball, on middle, extra bounce this time. Warner looks to defend but it takes the outside edge over the slip cordon and towards the third man fence.

FOUR! Positivity intent by Warner! A length ball, outside off. David Warner chops it through the gully region and bags a boundary.

A length ball, on middle. David Warner tries to pull but mistimes it and the ball drops back on the deck.

Angles a length ball, on middle. Warner hits it to covers.

A length ball, on off. Blocked out.

Wood starts around the wicket but was way outside off. Warner with an easy leave.

Just short! A length ball, on middle. Marcus Harris miscues his pull towards mid-wicket who catches it on a bounce.

A length ball, outside off. Left alone.

Length ball, on off. Harris blocks it towards cover.

Quick run! On a length, on off. Warner punches off the back foot to covers for a single.

This one nips back in but it is on the pads. David Warner keeps his bat away as he gets rapped on the pads.

A length ball, on middle. Warner taps it back on the deck.

A length ball, on off. Marcus Harris is solid in his defense.

A length ball, on the pads. Marcus Harris looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the thigh pad. The ball lobs and drops in front of square leg.

Warner takes him on now! A length ball, on middle. Warner pulls it through mid-wicket for three runs. Australia starting on a positive note here.

JAFFA! Mark Wood will play a key role on the deck that gives extra pace and bounce. A length ball, just around off. Warner looks to play inside the line of the ball but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On middle, on a length. Defended out by David Warner.

On a length, on off. Warner gets on his toes to block this to covers.

Length and outside off. Harris leaves it alone.

Short in length again, on middle. Harris turns it to mid-wicket.

Short of a length, on the hip, Warner tucks it to square leg for one.

On a length, on off. Defended out.

FOUR! The sound it made off the blade! A length ball, outside off. Warner slaps it through covers. The fielder gives a chase but to no avail.

A length ball, outside off. Warner leaves it alone.

Length delivery, on the pads. Marcus Harris looks to flick but gets a thick inside edge, the ball flies and lands in the vacant short leg region.

Beaten! Pulling his length back, outside off. Marcus Harris looks to defend this but gets beaten as the ball nips away a tad bit.

LEG BYE! And again! Good-length on the pads, Warner misses his flick and the ball hits the pads and rolls towards square leg for a leg bye.

Short of a length again, down leg this time. David Warner looks to flick but misses.

FOUR! Ollie Robinson delivers a back-of-a-length delivery, outside of off. David Warner hangs back and looks to cut this on the off side but gets a thick top-edge over second slip for a boundary.

Touch fuller, around off. David Warner pushes it towards mid off.

A length ball, outside off, this one nips slightly in. Left alone.

A length ball, on middle. Blocked out.

On a length, on the pads. Warner hops and hits it to quick single.

On a length, on off. Marcus Harris taps it in front of cover and takes a quick single. We can clearly see the difference between both the teams as Australia are ready to take risks between the wickets. Another difference is also the pace between the two bowlers. Australia had multiple bowlers bowling in excess of 140 kph while England only have Wood.

Length outside off. Marcus Harris leaves it alone.

Short of a length, outside off. Warner knocks it to covers and takes a quick single. It might have been tight as Harris had to make his ground.

On a length, around off. Marcus Harris pushes it back to the bowler.

Tad fuller, around middle. Marcus Harris pushes it towards square leg.

Touch fuller, outside off. Marcus Harris blocks it out solidly.

NO BALL! Another shortish delivery, outside off. Marcus Harris lets that go. Australia get a run extra as Ollie Robinson has overstepped.

Back of a length again, outside off. Marcus Harris shoulders arms.

Tad shorter, outside off. Marcus Harris leaves that alone.

Overpitching it again, on the pads. Marcus Harris pushes it towards deep square leg for a brace.

Who will bowl from the other end? It is Ollie Robinson.