Australia vs England, Dec 26 Full score card

FOUR LEG BYES! And that's it. A long time coming for England as they register their first Test win Down Under after January 2011. Aimed at the pads, on a fractionally fuller length. Harry Brook tries to whip that away through the square leg region, but misses. The ball deflects off the pads and races behind to the deep fine leg fence. ENGLAND BEAT AUSTRALIA IN THE BOXING DAY TEST BY 4 WICKETS!

A full toss, slower one on middle, Brook flicks it to mid-wicket.

Starc bangs in a short one, angling on the leg stump. Jamie Smith ducks underneath it.

SCORES ARE LEVEL! A full toss around off, Brook smashes it to Green at cover-point. A slight fumble there allows them to pinch in a single. Oh, Starc has overstepped. No Ball called.

Adventurous! Back of a length, in and around the middle stump line, Harry Brook shuffles a long way across the line and tries to pull it over short fine leg, but misses to get his bat on the ball.

FOUR! England are just one hit away from a win. Pitched full and on the leg stump, shaping in a touch. Harry Brook flicks it a bit uppishly but between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary. The Barmy Army is up and about as their side needs 3 more.

Nicely timed! On middle and leg, on a good length. Jamie Smith prods forward and flicks this through the mid-wicket and square leg gap and they rush back for the third by the time it is hunted in the outfield. England need 7 now.

Jamie Smith walks out to bat with England needing 10 more runs to win.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Would you believe it? A nothing shot from the English skipper, really. Lands it around off, on a fullish length, and then gets it to nip away late. Ben Stokes is nowhere near the pitch of the ball, but swings away from his body, only to get an outside edge behind. The ball flies over the keeper, where Alex Carey leaps and takes a fine catch over his left shoulder. Ben Stokes perishes on 2 (9) and England are 165/6.

Fuller ball, on leg, Ben Stokes tries to flick it off the pads, but gets a thick leading edge on the bounce back to Starc.

Short and going down leg, Brook tries the hook shot, but does not connect.

Winds it up! He is seemingly not nudging ten singles to get it done. Brook shimmies down the track to smash the full ball downtown, but misses. The ball passes very close to the outside edge before carrying back to Alex Carey. Oh, hang on! Steve Smith has reviewed this for caught behind. Snicko shows a flat line. The on-field decision stays.

FOUR! Into the gap! Richardson digs one short and on the bodyline. Harry Brook gets into a really nice position on the back foot and pulls it away to deep backward square leg for a boundary. England need 10 runs to win now.

Another full ball, slower one at 109.4 kph, outside off, Brook drags it across but mistimes it along the ground to mid on.

Brook advances on this full delivery, and heaves it off the inner half of the bat, but Scott Boland slides to his left and cuts it off from mid on.

Tails in on middle and leg, on a fractionally fuller length. Harry Brook solidly blocks it right under the bat.

Pitched fuller and around off, Stokes smashes it down the ground, and beats Starc's attempt to stop on his follow-through, but cannot get past the mid off fielder.

The length is dragged back, on the pads, Ben Stokes steers it through square leg for a couple of quick runs.

Aims the stumps, with a little bit of reverse on a fuller length. Ben Stokes squeezes it out by jamming his bat down in time.

Pushed down leg, full in length. Stokes misses to flick. Carey does extremely well behind the stumps with a full-length dive to his right.

Over the stumps. A length ball, on off, Ben Stokes steps out of the crease and eases it back to the bowler.

Mitchell Starc is back on with one last effort. Bowls from a wider angle from around the wickets. Short and angling into the batter, Harry hangs back and tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

A pinpoint yorker, in front of the stumps, Ben Stokes jams his bat down in time and shovels it out to the bowler. A rhythmic over from Richardson.

Speared fuller, on the leg stump line, watchfully pushed away to mid on by Stokes.

The English skipper, Ben Stokes is in.

OUT! LBW! Richardson gets his second wicket off a peach of a delivery. Tails back into the batter, on a good length, Joe Root plays all over it to defend and wears it on the front pad. Jhye Richardson and the Aussies behind the batter confidently appeal for LBW, and the umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, instantly raises his finger. And almost immediately, Joe Root sends it for a review. No bat involved and the Ball Tracking comes up with the umpire's call as the ball clips the leg stump. Joe Root cannot get his side through as he departs on 15 (38). England are 158/5, requiring another 17 runs.

An attempted yorker, on middle and leg, Root clips it to short mid-wicket.

Serves it up, full and on middle, Joe Root gets on the front foot and cracks the straight drive with a stable head. The ball, however, slows in the outfield and mid on chases it down. Two taken.

A bit of reverse on this one from a length, curving into the pads, Joe Root tries to nudge it around the corner, but misses and wears high on the thigh pad. Oh dear! Another No Ball for overstepping. England need 19 more runs.

Lands it full and outside off, Joe Root leans on the front foot and drives it straight to extra cover.

At 130.1 kph, this is bashed on a length, outside off. Joe Root cuts it off the back foot to backward point. Richardson has overstepped and No Ball is signalled by the on-field umpire.

Angling on the leg stump, Harry flicks this full ball to mid on.

Length ball, outside off, slashed off the back foot to the right of backward point. Jake Weatherald dives to his right and makes a half stop, allowing the batters to rush for a single.

Back of a length, fairly outside off, skidding through. Joe lines up for a square cut, but gets rushed into the shot and misses. Quick glovework by Carey who is up to the wickets. He flashes off the bails but Root is glued in the crease.

Short of a length, outside off, Brook plays it late off the back foot and guides it with the pace to deep third for a single. England need 22 more.

FOUR! That's punished with authority! A friendly half volley from Neser, around off. Harry Brook accepts the invitation and smokes it over mid off for a cracking boundary. 150 UP FOR ENGLAND!

Just outside off, on a good length, Brook stands deep in the crease and guides it between gully and backward point for a couple of runs.

Length-delivery, on off, Joe Root lets the ball arrive and calmly taps it out to point.

Angles in and around off, on a fuller length. Root drives it straight, and Boland stops it with his left hand on the follow-through.

Just outside off, a fraction short, Joe Root waits back and steers it to the cover-point region.

On a good length, on middle and leg, Harry gets across and clips it off the inner half into the leg side for a quick single.

FOUR BYES! That will help England a lot. Straight down leg, on a length, kicking up a bit from the pitch. Harry Brook shuffles across and tries to lap it behind, but the ball beats his bat and with Carey standing up to the wickets, he has very little reaction time to pluck the ball to his left. It races behind to the deep fine leg fence.

JUST SHORT! Too full from Neser, around off, Brook smashes it flatly on the bounce to mid off where Inglis makes a diving stop to his right.

DRINKS BREAK. We are down to the final hour of play, and England are in touching distance of their first Test win in 14 years on Australian soil. Jacob Bethell played a fluent knock, but couldn't finish off for his side. The young lad will be pleased to have some runs behind his name, at least. It's now on England's two best batters to get the job done without any hiccups. As far as Australia are concerned, they will fight till the last drop of blood. A wicket or two here will again make things a bit interesting.

Over off, on a hard length, Joe rises with the bounce and dabs it to point.

Seaming back in, on a good length, on middle. Root is solid in defence.

Fuller and attacking the stumps, kept out with a straight bat by Joe.

FOUR BYES! Pushed down leg by Neser with the keeper up to the stumps. Root fails to lay any bat on the tickle. Alex Carey gets both gloves to his left to make the stop, but the ball clips him on the fingertips and goes behind into the fence.

Curving back in, on a good length, on off and middle. Root brings his bat out in front to defend.

On top of off, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.

Pitched up, outside off, Harry steps out of his crease and pushes out in front. Gets it off the outer half to cover.

On a good length, on off, Brook stays on the back foot this time to keep it out. The ball nips back and Harry wears it high on the back pad.

Goes past the bat! Full and in the channel, Brook walks down the track and across his stumps to cover the line. Gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball leaves him.

Out goes Bethell and in walks Harry Brook at number 6. He stepped out of the crease on his first ball in the first innings when England were 8/3. Let's see what he does this time around...

OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Bethell admonishes himself as he trudges off. On the fuller side, on middle. Bethell backs away to go hard through the off side. He slams it aerially and picks out Usman Khawaja at cover, who stays low and holds onto the catch around his right knee. A fine and fluent 40 (46) from Jacob Bethell. England are now 4 down, needing 38 more runs.

Straightening a bit after pitching, on a back of a length. Joe is squared up in defence and the ball goes off the outside edge down to deep third for a single.

A bit of extra bounce and nibbling away, on a short of a length. Root manages to fend it down.

Going away off the deck, on a back of a length. Jacob plays well inside the line and is beaten.

On off, on a good length, Root drops it in front of cover and scampers to the other end.

Nipping away just enough off the deck, on a back of a length. Root has a waft at it but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Seaming back in at the hips, Root is beaten by the movement and wears it on the thigh pad.

Around off, on a back of a length. Jacob stays on the back foot and guides it behind point for one more.

On the shorter side, on off, Root rides the bounce and punches it in front of cover for a single.

With 42 runs required, Michael Neser (5-0-43-0) is back on, replacing Mitchell Starc.

Angled in at the pads, on a short of a length. Root works it behind square on the leg side for one.

On a back of a length, on off, Root taps it with soft hands in front of backward point. Jake Weatherald charges in towards the ball and bends to pick it up, but ends up conceding the second run as the ball sneaks past his right hand.

A fine take by Alex Carey! Sprayed down leg by Boland, on a nagging length. Root misses out on the tickle. Carey moves to his left and gets his hands in the correct position to gather it. He is quick to whip the bails off but Joe had his back leg grounded inside the crease.

Fuller and outside off, Joe taps it to point off the front foot.

Hurls it on a short of a good length, outside off, Root gets on his toes and taps the ball on its head. Plays it away from the man at deep backward point to his right for a brace.

Boland bangs it in short from over the wicket, over middle and leg. Jacob Bethell charges down the track but then adjusts to the length by arching back. Glides it aerially towards deep third, where the ball gets to the fielder on the bounce. They cross.

Nails the yorker at the base of the off stump. Bethell gets his bat down and steers it with an open bat face to deep third for one.

Too straight, above the hips, Root swivels for the pull but gets it off the gloves. The ball rolls behind on the leg side for a run.

Fuller in length, at the sticks. Root is squared up as the ball leaves him off the deck, but he manages to keep it out.

Slams the deck hard, on off, Jacob arches back and runs it down to deep third for one more. England need 50 more.

Tap and run! On a good length, on off, Joe drops it in front of point with soft hands and calls Bethell through for a quick single.

Short and wide on off, Bethell cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Fuller in length, on off, Root presses on the front foot and caresses it through covers for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Drags the length back a touch, on top of off. Joe hangs on the back foot to defend.

Full and tailing back in, attacking the front pad. Root brings his bat out in front and plays it to mid on.

Brings the stumps in play, Root stays on the back foot and turns it to mid-wicket.

Serves it on a short of a good length, Joe rides the bounce and guides it to point.

At the hips, tucked away to deep fine leg for a single.

On a hard length, on off, Bethell gets on top of it and drops it with soft hands in front of gully for a quick single.

Fired down leg, very full, Bethell is beaten for pace in his attempt to glance it fine.

At the stumps, on the fuller side, Bethell tries to work it away with the angle but ends up closing the bat face early. Gets a leading edge that goes wide of point for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Just over! Fuller in length, on off, Bethell charges down the track and thumps it down the ground. Gets just enough elevation to clear the leaping Travis Head at mid off, who moved to his right and stuck out his right hand.

Just too good! Slanting in, on a good length, on off. Jacob Bethell pushes out in front of the body, but the ball leaves him off the deck.

Not that wide for the cut and not too short either. Jacob Bethell crouches and attempts the square cut, but ends up chopping it down on the strip before the ball rolls behind towards the keeper.

Full and straight, attacking the stumps, Root watchfully keeps it out.

Fuller in length, on off, Root presses on the front foot and pushes it to the left of the bowler.

Boland opens it up for Australia with a big breakthrough. And now, the man who has never tasted a victory on Aussie soil, Joe Root, walks to the crease at number 5. He is on a pair as Carey is standing up to the wickets.

OUT! LBW! This looks straight but Zak Crawley has taken the review. This looks like a review more in hope than anything else. On middle and leg, on a length, Crawley's head falls over to the off side slightly and is beaten on the flick on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad. No bat involved and the Ball Tracking comes up as three reds with the ball crashing into the top of the leg stump. Crawley would have wanted to finish the job, but his stay has been cut short. 37 (48) for him. Boland has now dismissed Crawley for the fourth time in Tests. England are 112/3, needing 63 more runs.

Slightly fuller, on middle. Jacob exposes all three stumps and swings at it. Gets a thickish outside edge down to deep third for a single.

This is on a short of a good length, on middle. Jacob backs away and steers it to gully.

Sharp and quick from Boland! Banged in short, over the left shoulder. Bethell premeditates as he charges down the track and then tries to duck, but ends up playing the hook. He fails to connect as the ball goes over the blade.

Well wide on off, on a back of a length. Zak Crawley throws his hands at it but misses.

On off, on a length, Jacob gets forward for the block but gets an outside edge that goes behind square on the off side for a run.

A ripper from Starc! Angling in and then straightening off the deck, on a good length. Jacob Bethell presents a straight bat to cover the line but is beaten on the outside edge, and the ball sails over the off pole.

Dug in short, pushed across, Zak stands tall and steers it behind point for one.

In the corridor, the length is pulled back. Bethell runs it down to deep third for a single.

Starts with a full ball, on off, Bethell presses on the front foot and taps it to mid off.

Mitchell Starc (5-0-28-1) replaces Michael Neser. One of the ground staff is out with a hammer-like thing and is flattening out the landing area for the left-armer. Set to continue.

Into the deck, on off, Bethell nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a run.

Slides onto the pads, on a length, helped down to deep fine leg for one.

Lands it full, on off, Crawley knocks it back to Boland.

On a good length, on off, Zak Crawley is solid in defence.

Leg bye! Jagging back in, on a nagging length. Bethell is taken aback by the sharp inward movement. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the thigh pad on the off side.

Full and attacking the stumps, whipped firmly by Zak. Mitchell Starc dives to his right at mid on and keeps the batters down to a single.

FOUR! Nicely controlled! Neser digs it in short, around the helmet of the batter. Jacob Bethell gets his hands high and swivels to control the pull. Plays it along the ground to the left of deep square leg for a boundary.

On a short of a length, on off, Crawley dabs it in the vacant point region for a single. 100 comes up for England. They need 75 more.

Full and outside off, Bethell extends his hands for the drive but gets an inside edge that rolls behind on the leg side for one.

It's 3.50 pm local time, and it is time for the hat tip. The MCG crowd sincerely joins in tipping off the hats. A wonderful tribute to the great Shane Warne. The ones to lead this time around are Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Stuart Broad of England.

Beaten! Full and around off from around the wicket, Jacob Bethell is drawn forward but the ball nips away to beat him on the defence on the outside edge.

Curving back into the pads, on a length, Zak Crawley squeezes out an inside edge that drops beside the strip on the leg side. The batters scamper across for a quick single.

Halt in play as Crawley is put off by a beach ball rolling on the sightscreen. The members of the ground staff get rid of that. Good to resume.

Full and on off, Crawley plays a punchy drive to cover.

A bit of nip back, on a good length, on middle. Jacob Bethell drops his bat down on the ball and ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Boland spots Bethell dancing down the track, and he bangs it in short at the bodyline. Jacob fails to duck out of the way in time and wears it around the left shoulder.

On the fuller side at the sticks, Jacob Bethell backs away to go go through the off side but ends up mishiting it to mid off.

Bashes the hard length and gets a bit of lift off the deck, on middle. Jacob Bethell manages to fend it down off the back foot.

Scott pushes the length up, around off, Bethell leans into the drive and knocks it between cover and mid off for a brace.

On top of off, on a hard length. Bethell hangs back and stabs it down.

18 runs off the first 2 overs after Tea for England. They need 80 more. If they don't lose quick wickets, guess this will get finished in the next 10 overs or so. Gotta feel for the English fans who are currently on the flight to Melbourne for day three.

On off, on a back of a length, punched to cover.

On a good length, on off, Zak taps it back to Boland.

Not in control but safe! On a length, on off, Crawley has a big swipe at it and the ball gets sliced over cover for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Off the edge! Fuller in length, on off and middle. Zak Crawley pushes out in front of his body, but the ball nibbles away to catch the outside edge. The ball goes down and through the gap between second slip and gully. Steve Smith at second slip dives to his right, but the ball is out of his reach.

Tailing back in at the off stump, on a good length. Jacob Bethell chops it wide of gully for a single.

This is on a back of a length, outside off. Zak waits on the back foot and glides it nicely with an open bat face to the left of deep backward point. Cameron Green goes after it from gully but cannot prevent the batters from taking the third run.

Guess what the talk was during the break in that English dressing room? Why don't you try a reverse scoop against Boland? Jokes apart. A really positive start for England as they managed to trim 8 runs off the target right away. Michael Neser (3-0-26-0) to operate from the other end.

Attacking the front pad, full in length, Zak Crawley clips it towards deep mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single.

Alex Carey is back up to the stumps. In the channel, on a length, left alone by Zak.

Leg bye! On a good length, on middle, angled in, with the keeper now back to his usual position, Jacob Bethell walks down the track and tries to clip it away. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads on the leg side.

Very full, on off, Bethell digs it out to cover. Zak sets off for the single and is almost halfway through before he is sent back.

FOUR! A shot of high class! A half-volley from Boland, on off, Bethell transfers his weight onto the front foot and creams the drive between cover and mid off for a boundary.

Whoa! Action straightaway! Full and on middle, Jacob Bethell brings out the reverse scoop on the very first ball. He wanted to go more over the slip cordon but ended up getting it over the head of the keeper up to the stumps. The ball plugs in the outfield and Bethell collects a couple of runs.

Welcome back for the evening session. The umpires and players walk out refreshed off a much-needed break. The Australian players scatter across and take their spots on the field. Zak Crawley and Jacob Bethell are all set to resume their batting for England. Scott Boland (1-0-5-0) will get us underway after the Tea break. Bethell to face with a couple of slips in position. 98 runs to win for the tourists, with 8 wickets in hand. Here we go...

... DAY 2, THIRD SESSION ...

For large parts of this Test, England have stayed ahead of Australia, driven mainly by their work with the ball. Yet, as this Ashes has shown, they have often let control slip from positions of dominance. This time, though, the opportunity is significant. Eight wickets in hand and the target down to double digits with all the time in the world gives England a clear chance to finally close one out. Australia cannot be counted out still, but they do need a miraculous bowling display from their pace quartet if they are to turn this around. Another gripping and possibly the final session of the match is coming up. Play resumes at 4.34 am GMT. Don't go anywhere.

In reply, England were set a target of 175, the highest total of the match across all innings. Crawley and Duckett looked to cash in early before the heavy roller’s effect faded. Duckett threw the entire shot book at the bowlers, orthodox and unconventional alike, and settled in nicely before Starc uprooted him with a searing yorker. He still played his part with a brisk 34 off 26. England then tried the Carse experiment at number three, likely aiming to shrink the target quickly, but it did not pay off. The slide followed swiftly, from 51 without loss to 65/2. Normalcy resumed with Bethell and Crawley seeing off the rest of the session safely.

Australia were already on the back foot at the start of the afternoon session, and it never really improved. Steve Smith batted proactively, shuffling and moving at the crease, but partners kept disappearing around him. Cameron Green offered brief resistance, yet just as the stand began to take shape, Ben Stokes struck, and the collapse followed swiftly. From there, Australia unraveled from 98 for 6 to 132 all out, with only Head, Smith, and Green reaching double figures as Stokes and Brydon Carse tore through the lower order. The course correction from England’s bowlers was impressive, especially with Gus Atkinson sidelined by a left hamstring issue, and Carse stepping up with a four-wicket haul.

Finally, from England's point of view, Bazball has made an appearance, albeit a dead cat bounce. This has been the kind of Test match that has raced through time, where the action moved so quickly that it feels like five days of cricket have been wrapped into two. Another action-packed session where 111 runs were scored in 21.3 overs, with 6 wickets falling. As things stand, England shouldn't find it difficult to hunt this down. But we have seen some really unexpected things happen in this sport, so let's just prevent ourselves from drawing out the conclusion and witness drama unfold.

Goes past the bat! Pitched up, around off, Zak goes for the drive without any foot movement. The ball cuts back in off the deck to go past the inside edge and it was not far away from crashing into the off pole. That will be TEA on Day 2!

A polite enquiry from the men behind the bat! Richardson goes wide on the crease and bangs it into the surface, sprays it down leg. Zak Crawley swivels for the pull but the ball sneaks under his bat. It is taken by Alex Carey diving to his left but no one is convinced enough to go for the review. The replays show that the ball actually clipped Zak's sweater on its way to the keeper.

Little bit short and wide, Zak tucks his bat inside the line as the ball nips away off the seam.

Leg bye! On a back of a length, on middle and leg. Bethell presses on the back foot and is late on the pull. The ball sneaks under the blade and catches him on the box. The ball drops at his feet and he is called through for a quick leg bye by Zak Crawley.

This goes away from the left-hander off a good length. Jacob Bethell has a slight poke at it and is beaten on the outside edge.

Jagging back in off a hard length, Jacob hangs back to fend it down but the ball goes past the bat to catch him on the thigh pad.

Righto, the final over before Tea coming up. Jhye Richardson (2-0-14-1) to bowl.

On off, on a good length, Bethell walks across and gets closer to the line of the ball. He drops it with soft hands in front of cover for a quick single. England need 99 more runs.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Fractionally fuller, on middle. Bethell skips down the track and presents the full face of the blade. Just checks his drive and beats mid off to his right for four.

On middle and leg, on a nagging length. Jacob is down the track and tries to fend it down but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the thigh pad.

Prodigious seam movement! On a back of a length from around the wicket, on off and middle. Jacob Bethell is half-forward for the block, but the ball jags back in sharply to go past the inside edge. Luckily for Bethell, the bounce takes the ball over the stumps.

Australia burn a review! Jagging back in, on a length, around off, Zak advances and is across the stumps. He drops his bat down on the ball, but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the back thigh. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes away on the off side. A massive shout for LBW but turned down. The impact looks outside off, but Australia opt for the review. As expected, the Ball Tracking shows that the impact is outside off.

Has Boland struck his first through LBW? A review taken by Australia to challenge the on-field decision. But the Ball Tracking shows the impact to be outside off. Kumar Dharmasena signalled leg bye even before the review was taken.

On a back of a length, on middle. Zak Crawley walks down the track and across the stumps. He tries to tickle it fine but misses. A good diving take by Alex Carey to his left.

FOUR! Not convincing, but that will do, says Jacob Bethell! Richardson bashes the hard length, on middle. Betthell stays back and has a jab at it as he tries to go through mid-wicket. Gets a thickish outside edge that flies over the slip cordon for a four.

Expecting a bit of normalcy to resume now with a few minutes left for the break.

No ball! Banged in short, over middle. Jacob Bethell sways away and drops his wrists to let the ball pass. Richardson has overstepped.

That was a reckless shot from Carse and that experiment didn't quite work well for the tourists. Jacob Bethell is in at number 4. Big opportunity for the young lad to bat till the end and get some runs behind his name.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Brydon Carse had the license to go after everything, but it did not quite come off. Jhye Richardson has his first Test wicket on return to the side after 4 years. At the stumps, on a good length. Carse exposes all three stumps and clears the front leg. He has a swipe across the line but a top edge is found. It goes down to deep third, where Cameron Green settles under it and does the rest. England are now 65/2, needing 110 more runs.

Keeps it full, on off. Brydon gets the front leg out of the way and heaves it away to the right of long on for a couple of runs.

Fuller and on off, eased away to deep point for one.

Angled in on middle, on a back of a length. Brydon stays back and dabs it through point for a single.

On a hard length, outside off, Carse has a big swing at it but is beaten for pace.

This is shaping up to be wrapped up even quicker than the Perth two-dayer. That first Test produced a result in 141.1 overs in two days, and already 118.4 overs have been bowled here, with England still needing 115 runs on the second day. Seems quite possible. But the traditionalists surely won't be liking the way things are panning out.

FOUR! Class written all over it! At 142 kph, full and angled across. Zak Crawley just presses on the front foot and extends his hands into the drive. He manages to beat the diving mid off fielder to his left for a four. England need 114 more runs.

Very full, outside off, Zak reaches out but ends up mishiting it to mid on.

Nearly chipped back! On a good length, on middle, Crawley sets up to work it away with a closed bat face but the ball holds in the surface. It pops up but well out of the reach of Starc to his right.

Full and wide on off, Zak leans on for the drive but miscues it off the inner half back to the bowler.

Full and pushed across the right-hander, Crawley looks to firm the drive down the ground but is beaten as the ball leaves him.

Probably Starc spotted Carse back away and hence, he followed him. Brydon manages to swipe it away to deep square leg for a single.

It has started to misbehave now. The final delivery from Richardson clearly showed the ball nipping around prodigiously.

Beaten! A sharp nip-backer, on a length, on off. Zak Crawley presses half-forward to defend but is cut in half as the ball beats him on the inside edge.

Nearly sneaked through! With an upright seam, on a good length, jagging back in. Brydon Carse stays back to a full ball and presents a straight bat out in front. Gets an inside edge onto the back pad and the ball dribbles in front of the slip cordon. That allows the batters to sneak in a quick single.

Banged in short, on middle. Crawley pulls it through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Fuller and on off, Carse waits on the back foot and guides it behind square on the off side for a single.

If it wasn't clear already, what is he sent for? It is clear now. On a nagging length, on middle. Brydon Carse shimmies down the track and swings for the hills, but fails to connect.

On a back of a length, on off, Zak taps it wide of point for a single.

In the channel, on a good length, Crawley has feel for it and is beaten on the outside edge. Jhye has overstepped. No Ball given.

We have seen everything in this Test. From Boland opening for Australia, to Brydon Carse walking in at number 3 for England now. He surely hasn't been sent up the order to block and defend. He will definitely go bang bang to strike off a few runs quickly off the target before the heavy roller effect fades away. Jhye Richardson is brought into the attack, replacing Michael Neser.

OUT! TIMBER! Ben Duckett fails to keep it out but he has given his side a good start in the chase. Starc gets it very full, on middle. Ben fails to get his bat down quickly and the ball sneaks under the blade before it brushes the back pad and crashes into the woodwork. Duckett falls for a brisk 34 (26). England are now 51/1, needing 124 more runs.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Not all that wide but fractionally short, Duckett stays on the back foot and slaps it to the right of deep point for a four. 50 UP FOR ENGLAND. They require 124 more.

3,000 Test runs for Ben Duckett! Fuller and swinging away, Duckett lets the ball come to him and eases the drive through covers for a couple of runs.

Onto the pads, on a good length, Ben sets up to turn it away on the leg side but gets a soft leading edge back to the bowler.

A big swing and a miss! Full and a late away shape, outside off. Duckett goes hard on the drive but is beaten on the outside edge.

At 143.3 kph, moving away off the deck, on off and middle, on a good length. Ben Duckett gets slightly squared up but manages to keep it out.

Will Boland get a nod now? Not yet. Starc (3-0-17-0) to continue.

Hurls it on a length, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley presses half-forward for the block and is beaten as the ball nips back to catch him on the back pad. Half a shout for LBW but that is comfortably going down leg.

Slides onto the pads, on a good length. Zak Crawley misses out on the tickle and wears it on the front pad.

Keeps it full and straight, on middle, Duckett works it in front of square on the leg side for a single. Duckett is on 2999 Test runs now in 42 Tests.

At the sticks, on a length, Duckett is solid in defence and that brings about a loud cheer from the Barmy Army. They are really loving this start from England.

SIX! Innovative and mighty effective! Neser lands it fuller, on off, Duckett walks across his stumps and gets low to get the elevation on the scoop. Gets the distance on it as the ball lands beyond the deep fine leg fence for a six. That was a bit Sam Konstas vs Jasprit Bumrah like. Truly audacious.

FOUR! Streaky but Ben Duckett won't mind it one bit! Full and on middle, Duckett advances down the track and swings at it. Gets a top edge that flies over the slip cordon and Jake Weatherald at deep backward point stands no chance of getting around and cutting it off.

Too full, too straight, on the pads, Ben brings his wrists into play and works it through mid-wicket. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence, but Duckett picks up three runs. It has been a mixed bag so far from Starc in terms of lines and lengths.

Short and wide on off, Rapped on the pads! Duckett reaches out and thumps it wth a horizontal bat to the left of deep point for two more runs.

Full and on leg, Ben's head falls over to the off side as he tries to clip it away and wears it on the front pad.

Full and on middle, Ben Duckett presents the full face of the bat and unleashes a drive back past Zak Crawley at the non-striker's end for a couple of runs.

Rapped on the pads! Mitchell Starc is pretty convinced and after a chat with the bowler, Steve Smith takes the review with a couple of seconds left on the timer. Shaping back in, on a length, on middle and leg. Crawley is beaten on the flick, and the ball goes through to hit him on the back pad. A leg bye is sneaked in as the ball rolls away on the leg side. Snicko confirms no bat, but where has this pitched? Ball Tracking comes up as umpire's call on pitching and the ball is clipping the leg stump.

Not far away from crashing into the stumps. Full and tailing back in, after landing just outside the off stump. Zak Crawley goes for the big booming drive and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball sneaks just past the off pole.

This has been a perfect start for England. They are going more than run-a-ball right now. Can't see this going into the third day, even if Australia strike with a few wickets before Tea.

Close! Neser goes wide on the crease and delivers it on a good length, at the stumps. Ben Duckett stays low to get behind it in defence, but the ball jags back in sharply with a bit of extra bounce. It catches the southpaw on the back thigh before going over the stumps.

Ambitious attempt! On a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett walks across his stumps and attempts the scoop but fails to connect.

Angled in at the pads, on a length, Zak turns it square on the leg side for a single.

On a back of a length, on off, Crawley taps it to cover.

FOUR! Absolutely hammered! Drags the length back, does Neser, on a good length. Zak gets the width to work with and he slaps it past cover for a four.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Pitched up by Neser with Alex Carey up to the stumps. Zak Crawley stays still in his crease and swings through the line. He pumps it back over the bowler's head for a six.

On a hard length, outside off, Ben reaches out and flays at it over point for a couple of runs.

Did that carry? Nearly a repeat of the first innings dismissal. Full and on leg, Duckett tries to turn it away on the leg side and closes the bat face. The ball moves away late to catch the leading edge and it pops back up towards the bowler. Starc sprints and dives on his follow-through but cannot quite get his hands under the ball and can only get fingertips to it.

Mitchell Starc can only chuckle! Very full, landing around middle and off, and then moving away. Premeditation from Duckett as he gives the bowler the charge and then, after seeing the length, he tries to dig it out but is beaten on the outside edge due to the late movement.

How about that for a comeback? At 146.3 kph, on a good length, going away off the deck. Ben Duckett has a feel for it but is beaten all ends up.

FOUR! Too straight and Ben Duckett neatly puts it away. In search of the outswinger, Starc slides onto the pads, Duckett clips it through backward square leg for a four.

Goes after it, does Duckett! Full and moving away from the left-hander. It keeps going away and Ben throws his hands at it, only to connect with thin air.

Slanting in, tucking the batter up for room, on a nagging length. Zak Crawley gets right behind it to defend.

Fractionally short, on middle. Zak stands tall and swings hard for the pull. Gets it more off the inner half of the blade to the left of deep fine leg for a brace.

A bit more effort on this ball, on a good length, in the corridor. Crawley makes a watchful leave.

Fuller and angled in at the sticks, Zak charges down the track and goes over mid on. He does not quite get hold of it and the ball plugs in the outfield. Crawley is off the mark with a couple of runs.

In and around the off pole, on a good length, Crawley plays it on the rise to cover.

Serves it on a good length, in the channel, a hint of away shape. Zak Crawley shoulders arms.

Boland from the other end? Nope. It's Michael Neser set to share the attack.

Fuller and wider on off at 143.7 kph, Ben Duckett backs away and a has a swipe at it but misses by a long way.

A lot better from Starc! Closer to the off stump, angled in and then going away. Duckett is tentative with his footwork and just hangs his bat out to cover the line, but is beaten past the outside edge.

A flash and a miss! Short and wide on off, moving away in the air. Ben Duckett looks to flat bat it down the ground rather than going square of the wicket. He reaches out but the ball sneaks under the blade.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Starc goes searching for the outswinger but slips it full, on the pads. Ben Duckett does not miss out as he flicks it behind square leg for a four.

Leg bye! This zips through, on a shortish length at the body. Zak is beaten for pace as he tries to fend it down. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind off the thigh pad on the leg side.

Bashes the hard length and gets the ball to shape back into the right-hander, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley gets his bat out in front to deal with it but the ball beats him on the inside edge and catches him on the thigh pad.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND GONE! It's all over for the hosts as Stokes wraps it up with a three-for. He bangs it in hard, halfway down the pitch and aimed at the top of off. Jhye Richardson shapes for the pull off the back foot. He gets cramped for room, ends up in an awkward position through the shot, and can only drag a thick top edge towards cover. Zak Crawley settles comfortably underneath it and completes a straightforward catch. Jhye Richardson departs on 7 (10). AUSTRALIA ARE BOWLED OUT ON 132! England need 175 runs to win.

The stumps are attacked, on a fuller length. Jhye Richardson gets on the toes and tucks it to the mid on fielder.

Slower ball at 112 kph, full and arounde off, Smith waits for it and works it through extra cover for a single.

Safely negotiated! Short of a good length, cutting back in and skidding through. Jhye Richardson hops off and blocks it down the pitch off the toe end.

FOUR! That's handsomely played by the Australian number 11! With a beautiful transfer of weight on the front foot, Jhye plays with a straight bat and a still head as he drives this half volley down the ground for a boundary. The lead for Australia is 173 as this partnership moves into the double figures. Probably the shot of the day.

Very full, on off, Smith shuffles in the crease and slices it to deep backward point for a single.

Play and a miss! Back of a length, on top of off, nipping in. Steve Smith backs away to slash it to point, but misses as the ball goes over his angled bat.

Nicely played as Richardson pulls this short ball into the deep mid-wicket region. It slows down in the outfield and is mopped up by the square leg fielder. Three runs taken.

Short in length, outside off. Smith stays leg side of the ball and steers it behind square on the off side for a single. Feeds the strike to Richardson again.

Richardson survives! A peach of a delivery from Stokes as he bashes the length hard, in and around off, Jhye Richardson is squared up on the defence and gets beaten past the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

On top of middle, on a hard length, at 137.9 kph. Jhye Richardson hangs back and punches it onto the pitch.

Back of a length, on middle, Jhye watchfully tucks it across to mid on.

WHISKER! In the channel, on a fuller length, curving away a fraction. Jhye Richardson is forced to play with the line but the ball flirts past his outside edge and flies back to the keeper.

Pitched short, outside off, Jhye offers no shot. On his follow-through, Stokes seemed to feel a bit of twinge in his hip.

Shortish delivery, around off, Smith backs away to create room and slaps it past covers for a single and exposes Richardson for the remaining five deliveries.

OUT! TAKEN AT FIRST SLIP! Number 4 for Brydon Carse. Landed on a fractionally fuller length, nibbling away from middle, Mitchell Starc plays from the crease and tries to nudge it across, but gets a healthy outside edge that flies straight towards Root at first slip. A regulation grab for him and Australia are in all sorts of trouble as they fall from 119/6 to 121/9 with the lead being 163 runs. Starc goes for a two-ball duck. Jhye Richardson is the last man in.

A tight call, similar to the one we saw yesterday on the ball Mitchell Starc was dismissed.

Pitched fuller on the leg stump, flicked a bit uppishly but on the bounce to mid-wicket. Hang on! It's a No Ball as Carse has overstepped.

Mitchell Starc is in next. He already has a couple of fifties to his name in this series, and Australia would dearly love another here.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! A screamer of a catch from Carse as he gets his third wicket. He bowls it on a fuller length, angling in on middle and leg. Michael Neser looks to flick it, but closes the bat face a bit too early. Gets a thick leading edge that goes flat, and to the left of the bowler. But Carse shows good awareness as he sticks out his left hand and plucks the ball cleanly. A five-ball duck for Michael Neser and Australia slip further down to 120/8, with the lead of 162 runs.

Attacks the stumps at 133.9 kph, does Brydon. On a length, on middle, cutting back in. Neser blocks it off the splice to the leg side.

Back of a length, on middle. Neser tucks it to mid-wicket with soft hands.

Short, but just doesn't rise as much as Neser expected it to. He ducks to leave and takes a blow around his left bicep.

Around off, on a length, Smith gets across and taps it between cover and point and hurries through for a single.

A loose ball after a wicket. This is short and going way down leg, on a shorter length. Ducked under by Neser.

Michael Neser walks out to the middle. He was the top scorer in the first innings for Australia with his 35. Can he lend the desired support to Steve Smith?

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Stokes with another breakthrough upon his return to the attack and puts an end to this 31-run partnership. He keeps the line of attack outside off, on a hard length. Cameron Green plays away from his body and fiddles at the delivery, trying to steer it behind square on the off side, but gets a healthy outside edge. It goes at a comfortable height towards second slip and is taken safely by Harry Brook. Another start for Cameron Green goes in vain as he trudges off for 19 (29). Australia are 119/7, leading by 161 runs.

A tempter, bowled from a wider angle, on a length, outside off, Green offers no shot.

Another one on a length, slightly outside off, Green opens the bat face and works it to point.

He walks out of the crease and steers this length ball to the cover-point region. Looks for a single, but the backward point fielder is quick to get to the ball and he is sent back by Smith.

A short ball, around off, at 132.1 kph. Green hangs back and dabs it near the strip on the off side.

Ben Stokes (5-0-22-1) brings himself back into the attack.

Cameron gets squared up on this length ball that moves away from the batter. The ball rolls into the off side, in front of square and they get a single.

Almost a yorker, on off, Green carves it out to cover.

Full, and on the off pole, Green forces the drive off the inner half to mid on.

Full and on off, defended to cover.

Short in length, outside off, Smith plays off the back foot and works it to the backward point region for a single.

On a fullish length, around off and middle, jagging back in. Green gets on the front foot and defends off the inner half to the mid-wicket region. They rush for a quick single.

Tails in a bit from off, on a fuller length. Cameron Green presses forward and drives it wide of mid off for a single. Australia lead by 158 runs.

Length ball, on the stumps, this is tucked into the mid-wicket region for a single.

That's a ripper! A spitting cobra on a short length, just outside off, Smith arches back and drops his wrists down to leave.

He pounces on the short ball and pulls it to the mid-wicket region.

Length ball, around off, blocked off the back foot.

EDGED, DOES NOT CARRY! Lands in and around off, and then straightens up from a length. Smith is neither on the front foot nor he commits on the back foot. Just hangs his bat loosely away from his body and gets a thick outside edge. But luckily for him, the ball half volleys Harry Brook at second slip.

Short of a good length, around off, at 134.5 kph. Green stands tall and punches it to cover-point. A MAIDEN from Josh.

Much fuller, on middle, Cameron Green responds with a watchful defence off the front foot.

Length ball, folding back in on middle. Green gets behind the line and blocks.

Fullish and on the leg stump, Green flicks it straight to mid-wicket.

Slants it way down leg, short in length. Green lets it pass.

Nips back in at 135.2 kph, on a good length, on middle. Cameron Green camps back to defend, but it takes the thigh pad.

Back of a length, on top of off, Steve Smith bunts it off the back foot.

Speared in and around the leg stump, on a fuller length. Steve Smith is rushed for the flick but plays all around it and wears it on the back pad. A big shout for LBW, but the umpire stands still. Ben Stokes is convinced and so is Carse as they go upstairs for a review. Snicko comes up and shows a flat line. Ball Tracking finds Smith safe as the ball is projected to miss the leg stump. The on-field decision is upheld and England lose a review.

Full and shaping in a bit. Smith hits off the inner half to mid on.

On a good length, on off, worked off the back foot to cover.

FOUR BYES! That's gone past everyone! Pitched full and cutting back in a long way from middle. Steve Smith gets across to flick it off the pads, but gets nutmegged as the ball goes between his legs, and before Jamie Smith could even react to gather the ball to his left, it breezes behind to the fence.

Slips in a thigh high full toss, Steve Smith is taken aback by it, but does well to play it on the bounce to mid on.

Brydon Carse will bowl from the other end. 3-0-10-2 in the spell before Lunch for Carse.

Aimed at the pads, nudged across to mid-wicket.

Around off, on a length, Green hangs back and dabs it to gully and rushes off for a single. Jacob Bethell gets to his left and scores a direct hit at the striker's end, but Smith is comfortably in by then. The ball deflects off the sticks and rolls through the square leg region for another run.

FOUR! Helped away! A bit too straight down leg, on a fuller length. Cameron Green uses the pace and tickles it towards deep fine leg for a boundary. The lead for Australia is 150 runs!

FOUR! Not convincing at all! Pitched up, fuller and around off, nipping away. Cameron Green pushes at the delivery on the front foot and gets a thick outside edge that races past the cordon for a boundary.

Cannons one in and around middle, on a good length. Green solidly blocks it off. Josh Tongue has overstepped and it is called a No Ball.

Played with much more comfort. Short of a length, outside off, Smith rides the bounce and punches it wide of point for a single.

Tongue is on the money! Immediately squares Smith up as the ball kicks off a good length, on off. Steve Smith steers it off the outer half of the bat to point.

Welcome back for the afternoon session. The two umpires and players have made their way out to the centre. Josh Tongue will kickstart proceedings with the ball for England. Steve Smith to face. Two slips and a leg slip in place. Here we go!

... DAY 2, SECOND SESSION ...

The surface has quickened up, and Stokes got a couple of balls to rear up at Labuschagne from the indentations. Steve Smith has looked busy since his arrival, choosing to score rather than merely survive, an approach that feels right on a surface where you are never really in as a batter. Cameron Green will need to play the supporting role if Australia are to push the lead beyond 200, which would allow them to breathe a little easier. As for England, they will be raring to go after the break, and it will be about letting the pitch do the talking and consistently putting the ball in the right areas. The second session will commence at 2.10 am GMT. See you then!

With wickets falling around him, Head took what was on offer without going searching for runs. With Stokes out of the attack for a rest and Atkinson off the field with a hamstring issue, the tourists needed Brydon Carse to step up, and he delivered in an ideal fashion. After being a touch too short in his opening burst, he corrected his lines and lengths to dent the hosts. Cameron Green and Steve Smith saw off a couple of overs to ensure there was no further damage. With 26 wickets falling in four sessions, this Test continues to move at a frenetic pace. At the start of the day, the big question was whether the conditions would ease, but judging by what we have seen in the first couple of hours, it is clear that batting has not got any easier.

SESSION SUMMARY - 24 overs, 94 runs and 6 wickets. A highly productive latter half of the session for England. With no Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse produced an inspired spell to fill that void. The English quicks were wayward early on and failed to make the best use of the new ball, with Travis Head quick to capitalise on anything loose. When Gus Atkinson did find his rhythm, he was rewarded with the wicket of Boland. As the effects of the heavy roller wore off, the ball began to do a lot more, and Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue asked all the right questions while operating in tandem.

FOUR! Off the edge, but Cameron survives! On an inviting line and length, as this is full and just outside off with a little bit of nibble away. Cameron Green is drawn forward and looks to drive it through the off side. He goes with hard hands and only manages a thick outside edge wide of gully for a boundary. And that will be LUNCH on Day 2, with Australia leading by 140 runs.

Jags back in from a length, on top of off, Green stays back and stabs it to the off side.

Nagging length, outside off, zipping off the surface. Green leaves it alone.

Good gas from Carse. Short and pitching outside off, angling back into Green’s body. He takes his eyes off it and drops his wrists, but cannot get out of the firing line, with the ball thudding into his left bicep.

Green is off the mark in a streaky fashion. Surely would have got flashes of his Adelaide dismissal. Fuller delivery, holding onto the surface. Green is a bit early on the flick shot, and hits it uppishly but through the vacant mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

A teaser on a fuller length, around off, Green feels for it but decides to leave.

Too straight down leg, on a length. Smith shuffles inside the line and lets Jamie gather behind the stumps to his left.

And Tongue replies instantly. Worthy battle this. Short of a length, nipping away a shy bit around off. Smith plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

FOUR! Good response from the Aussie skipper! Pitches a bit too fuller, does Tongue, in line of the stumps, Steve Smith cracks the straight drive and the ball races away to the ropes in a flash.

Struck on the pads, and that brings about an appeal from the Englishmen. The umpire shakes his head and Stokes is a bit too reluctant to challenge it for a review. Good-length delivery, jagging back in on middle. Smith is beaten on the inside edge as he looks to block and gets rapped on the thigh pad. The ball then rolls towards the square leg region. Smith is off to pinch in a leg bye, but Green sends him back in time.

Length ball, on middle, blocked off the inner half of the bat to the leg side.

Full and straight, on middle and leg, Smith drives it down to mid on with a straight bat.

Back of a length, angled back in down the leg side at 137.9 kph. Green stays inside the line and pulls his bat away at the last moment, choosing not to glance it fine, as Jamie Smith moves across to his left to gather.

Wow! It's all happening quickly. 3 wickets in 12 balls. The Barmy Army are up and about in the stands. A subdued Ashes so far for Cameron Green, and he walks in with Australia requiring him to step up.

OUT! OFF THE EDGE AND TAKEN! It's going all south for Australia now. This has been an inspirational second spell from Carse, which has got the Barmy Army going in the stands. Length ball, angled across the batter, nipping away with some bounce. Alex Carey strides across and pushes at the delivery tentatively, but gets a fat outside edge that shoots flat and low to the right of second slip. Brook is alert there and crouches low to gather it safely. 61/2 becomes 88/6 for Australia, with the lead being 130.

A bit fuller, on off, driven firmly towards mid off.

BEATEN! Much better from Carse in his second spell. Pitches in the line of the off stump and angles away a fraction, on a fuller length. Alex Carey is sucked into the front foot drive, plays inside the line and the ball zips past his outside edge.

Short of a good length, angled at the pads. Smith gets across and steers it through backward square leg for a single.

Seams away a touch from a good length. Smith gets behind the line and dabs it to the off side.

FOUR! Cracked down the ground! Josh overpitches slightly, full and around off. Alex Carey plays with a straight bat and drills it to the left of mid off for a boundary. Carey is off the mark.

Nips in on a length, in the channel. Carey tries to punch it on the up and gets an inside edge on his boot.

Short of a good length, on the stumps, tucked across into the leg side.

England have their tails up with about 15 minutes to go for the Lunch break. Alex Carey is in at number 7. He was caught at leg slip in the first innings, and Zak Crawley is waiting in that position again.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT! England roar back into the contest with two quick wickets. Tongue fires in a well-directed bumper, around the right shoulder, which takes Khawaja by surprise. He goes for a half-hearted pull shot, but fails to keep it down and it airs off the top edge. Sails straight down the throat of Ollie Pope, the substitute fielder, at deep fine leg. Usman Khawaja departs on a silver duck and from 61/2, Australia slip down to 83/5.

Feeds it fuller, on off, Usman taps it across to the leg side.

Aimed at the pads, on a length, Smith gets across and misses to flick. The ball rolls off the thigh pad in front of mid-wicket. They get a leg bye.

England needed Brydon Carse to get his radar right, and so he did. Usman Khawaja joins Steve Smith out in the middle.

OUT! RIGHT THROUGH HIS DEFENCE! Carse strikes and this is a huge wicket for England. This is pitched further up on the middle stump line. It lands and nips away a bit, squaring Head up on his back foot defence. He brings the bat at an angle to block, but the ball cuts across the outside edge to smash the top of off and middle. Corker of a delivery from Carse. Travis Head walks off with a wry smile. 46 off 67 for the Australian opener as the hosts are 82/4, leading by 124 runs.

Back of a length, on the leg stump line, at 135.1 kph. Head hops in the crease and looks to tuck it across, but inside edges onto the pads.

Very full, almost a yorker, on middle, Head flicks it to the left of mid on where it is cut off.

Straight and full, on off, Smith plays through the line and taps it between mid off and cover for a quick single.

On top of off, a length ball. Smith offers no shot and allows it to strike the thigh pad.

Lasered on the pads, whipped away to deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

Slammed hard onto the pitch, on middle, nibbles off the seam. Smith is squared up completely on his defence, and gets a thick outside edge. The ball rolls past gully and is hunted down in the deep third region by Harry Brook from the cordon. The batters cross for the third run.

Angled in and around middle, Smith drills this full ball to mid on.

Slants in at the pads, full in length, Smith eases it to mid on.

Full length, on off, Head waits for the ball to come, plays from the crease and slaps it between extra cover and point for three runs.

This one rises up from a length, on middle. Head rides the bounce and drops it down the surface with soft hands.

On a fuller length, just outside off, blocked from the crease by Head.

Onto the pads again, Head nudges this length ball towards long leg for a single. 12 runs from the last two overs. The lead for Australia is 115 runs.

Fuller ball, on off, shaping away, Head drives it with a straight bat to mid off.

Fired in on the pads, full in length. Travis brings the bat in front of the pads and blocks it solidly down the pitch.

Touch full, on the leg stump line, Head flicks off the pads to the right of the diving mid-wicket fielder as mid on gets across to cut it off.

Back of a length, around off, steered off the back foot to the off side.

FOUR! That has been PUNISHED! Stokes lands it full and wide outside off from around the wicket. Travis Head effortlessly lofts it over mid off and collects a boundary. He moves into his 40s now.

Good length, outside off, Smith gets a bit of an outside edge on the back foot. The ball shoots past gully for a couple of runs.

It's all happening! Length ball, nipping in a touch with some bounce. Steve Smith covers the line and offers no shot. Takes a blow on the back thigh. There's a slight appeal for LBW, but Smith cheekily gestures about the height.

A loosener down leg, Smith ignores it.

Sharp nip-backer on a length, on middle, Travis Head is tucked up for space as he looks to block, but the ball squirts off the inside edge and rolls past the right of the keeper for a single.

Good length, outside off, Head dabs it with soft hands to the off side, behind square.

And he is away! Full and outside off, Steve Smith crisply drives it through extra cover for three runs to get off the mark. Also, it is a No Ball called for overstepping.

Australia's skipper, Steve Smith makes his way out to the centre.

OUT! AND TAKEN! There's the edge, but Marnus is going nowhere. The on-field umpire has sent it upstairs for a review for a fair catch. Third umpire Ahsan Raza is satisfied that Root’s fingers are clearly underneath the ball and rules it clean. Coming to the delivery, Tongue bowls it on a good length, around off and gets it to straighten up a bit. Marnus Labuschagne has a poke at it with his body weight not properly transferring on the front foot. Only manages a thick outside edge as it flies towards Joe Root and dips on him at first slip. But Root dives low and scoops it inches before the grass. Another low score for Marnus Labuschagne as he departs for 8 off 18. England claw their way back into the contest with Australia 61/3.

Did that carry? England are celebrating. It has been referred upstairs. A couple of looks are enough for the third umpire to conclude that Joe Root has his fingers under the ball.

Angling at the pads, on a good length, Head steers it to deep backward square leg and hustles back for the second run. He moves to 37 off 53. Australia lead by 103.

Around off, on that in-between length, Head looks to punch on the up, but the ball nips in and drops down the pitch off the inner half.

Short of a good length, on off, Marnus Labuschagne gets a bit across on the back foot and nudges it through backward square leg for a single.

Full and on middle, driven off the front foot to mid off.

Hard length, on top of off, Marnus Labuschagne attempts for a forward defence, but gets a thick outside edge that rolls to gully.

On a back of a length, angling at the pads, Head hops on the toes and glances it to deep fine leg for a single. And with that, AUSTRALIA'S LEAD IS 100 RUNS!

Keeps it stump-to-stump, does Tongue. Marnus tries to clip that length ball towards the leg side, but inside edges onto the pads.

Fuller one, on a tight line on middle. Marnus Labuschagne gets on the front foot and forces the drive down to mid off.

Outside off, on a length, Marnus shoulders arms.

A yard behind fuller length, slanting into the batter, Marnus Labuschagne gets a bit squared up and fends it to the point region.

Overpitched delivery, angling in on middle and leg, Marnus flicks it to square leg.

Back of a length, outside off, left alone.

EDGED, FOUR! Right through the cordon. Third slip would have gobbled it had there been one. On a back of a length, outside off, nipping and bouncing away. Travis Head rides the bounce and tries to work it away, but gets an outside edge that flies between the gully and the second slip fielders for a boundary.

Shapes back onto the pads, full in length. Head tries to whip that across, but plays over it and wears on the front pad.

Wide on off, on a hard length, at 134.8 kph. Head stands tall, cuts it square, but finds the fielder at point.

More runs! Jags away from a good length, outside off, Travis Head flirts with it, opens the bat face at the point of contact and steers it to the left of the diving gully fielder for a couple of runs.

Rears up a bit, on a length, around off, Head gets on the toes and dabs it to backward point.

Nips down leg extravagantly on a length, Travis Head lets it pass. Good diving grab from Jamie behind the stumps to his right.

DRINKS BREAK. Getting Weatherald back in the hut might make the Englishmen feel a bit better, as they have picked up a couple of wickets in the first hour. The pitch hasn't improved drastically for batting, but certainly has quickened up. Travis Head has got a decent start and would want to convert it into a big score. Labuschagne, on the other hand, has taken a couple of blows on his right hand due to the variable bounce, but surely might have got the account of how the pitch is playing. It was a bit surprising to see Stokes and Tongue not operating right away in tandem, as both have pitched the ball in the right areas, with the skipper already getting a reward for it. A couple of more wickets before Lunch would uplift their spirits.

Leg bye! Too straight, on the pads, Head misses out on the flick and a leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind off the pads.

Full and on middle, clipped to mid-wicket by Travis.

Full and on leg, Head knocks it ot mid on, where Brydon Carse dives to his right to make the stop.

DROPPED! A tough chance but Will Jacks was late to react. Short and wide on off, Head slaps it aerially towards point, where Jacks sticks out his right hand over his right shoulder but only gets fingertips to it. The ball goes behind for a couple of runs.

Beaten! Full and on off, Head goes for the drive without any foot movement and is beaten on the outside edge as the ball nips away.

Whoa! On the pads, on a good length, Head looks to turn it away, but is squared up as the ball straightens and jumps on him. The ball catches the leading edge and drops beside the strip on the off side.

FOUR! Off the edge! More frustration for Stokes. On the fuller side, on off, Marnus looks to cover the initial line but gets an outside edge. He defended it with soft hands and hence, the ball went down and wide of the diving gully fielder to his left for a four.

Stokes strays on the pads, on a good length. Labuschagne is mindful of the leg slip in place and plays it away from him. Gets it between deep fine leg and leg slip. Ben Stokes is unhappy with Brydon Carse's effort in the deep, as he feels that it should have been kept down to just one.

That's a stinger on the same right hand for Marnus Labuschagne off a spitting cobra. He shakes off the pain and sends off the physio back as he gears up for the next delivery.

Rinse and repeat of the second ball of the over! Stokes gets the ball to kick up, on a back of a length. Marnus brings his bat out in front, but the ball jumps on him and cops a blow on the right hand again.

In the channel, on a length, Marnus shoulders arms.

Extra bounce! Bowled from a bit wide on the crease, on a nagging length, on off. Labuschagne looks to get behind it, but the ball straightens a bit and rears up on the batter. Marnus's fingers of the right hand get jammed against the bat handle.

Attacking the front pad from over the wicket, on a length. Labuschagne blocks it out with a straight bat.

Doing too much! Slanting into the pads, on a length. Head is beaten on the flick and gets rapped on the front pad. The angle seemed to be taking the ball down leg.

Too full, on leg, Head clips it to mid on.

At the sticks, full in length, Travis pushes it down the deck.

Nails the yorker at the base of the off stump, Head digs it out.

On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Labuschagne helps it down to deep fine leg for his first run.

Full and on the pads, Travis glances it down to deep fine leg and crosses over.

On a good length, on off, Marnus watchfully blocks it out.

Stokes is a genuine wicket-taker, not sure why he didn't begin the attack himself this morning. Makes an impact right away by bowling in the right areas consistently. In walks Marnus Labuschagne at number 4. Just 100 runs for him to show in his last four innings.

OUT! TIMBER! Ben Stokes strikes in his first over. Indecision has cost Weatherald his wicket. Full and angled in at the off stump from around the wicket. Jake walks across and presses forward. He is in the process of bringing his bat in line with the ball for the block before he changes his mind and withdraws his bat. He pays the price for it as the ball keeps coming in to crash into the off stump. Another low score for Weatherald. Australia are now 40/2, leading by 82 runs.

Rapped on the pads and there is interest from men behind the bat, but Ben Stokes signals an inside edge. Full and tailing back in, on off and middle. Jake pushes at it and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Ollie Pope is in as the substitute for Gus Atkinson, who has walked off the field. Not sure, but Atkinson might have injured himself a bit while bowling that last delivery on 8.6. He was seen holding his left hamstring. Not a good sign for England.

Too straight, at the hips, on a short of a length. Travis nurdles it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Into the deck, on middle. Head hops and pats it back on the deck.

On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Head wrists it to mid-wicket off the pads.

Double change. The skipper, Ben Stokes, brings himself into the attack now. He replaces Gus Atkinson.

Fuller, on off, Weatherald gets on the front foot to defend.

Keeps the stumps in play, on a length, Weatherald drops his bat down on the ball but is late in doing so and the ball jags back to catch the inside edge onto the pads.

Pitched up, outside off, Weatherald lets it pass.

Nearly dragged it on! On a good length, around the off stump. Travis waits on the back foot and hangs his bat out away from his body. The ball nips back a bit to catch the inside edge and it goes past the leg stump for a single.

Wayward from Tongue as this is well down leg, Head fails to make any connection.

Begins with a full ball, on middle and leg, Jake stays balanced and brings his wrists into play. Flicks it to the right of mid-wicket for three runs. A good delivery for a hat trick, but Weatherald, who has been out LBW three times this Ashes, does negotiate well this time around.

Change in bowling. Josh Tongue is into the attack, replacing Brydon Carse. He is on a hat trick. Picked up a 5-for in the first innings. The Barmy Army right behind him.

This was the slower ball, floated up at 98.1 kph, full and wide on off. Head went after it, but was slightly early into the shot. He lofts it over mid off and collects a couple of runs.

On the off pole, on a good length, Travis taps it back on the deck.

Full at 133.8 kph, on off, Travis is solid in defence.

Into the surface, outside off, Weatherald hops and swivels to pull it behind square for a single.

Josh Tongue is loosening up. Might get an over from the other end as Carse has looked all but in rhythm.

Fuller, around the sixth stump, left alone by Jake.

Angled in at the hips, on a back of a length, Weatherald shapes up to work it behind with the angle but the ball goes off the thigh pad to backward square leg.

Sprays it down leg, on the fuller side, Travis misses out on the tickle.

FOUR! Put away! Fractionally short and wide on, enough for Head to cash in. He presses back and cuts it behind point for a boundary.

On a back of a length, angling across, Weatherald punches it wide of cover for a single.

In complete control this time! A half-volley, on off, Travis gets his hands through and drives it between cover and mid off. Ben Stokes goes after it and just about stops the ball from trickling into the boundary cushions. Saves a run for his side.

Well wide on off, on a good length. Head throws the kitchen sink at it and the bottom hand comes off the handle. Gets an inside that bounces behind the stumps and beats the dive of the keeper to his right. Two runs taken.

Full and swinging down leg, Head tries to help it away but fails to lay any bat on it. A good diving grab by Jamie Smith to his right.

A good finish! Fuller in length, around the off stump. Jake hangs his bat out in a bid to cover the line but is beaten on the outside edge.

Switches to around the wicket, on a back of a length, on middle and leg. Jake walks across for the flick but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it high on the front pad.

Slightly too short and outside off, an easy leave for Weatherald.

Going away again, on a good length, Weatherald lets it be.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a length, left alone by Jake.

The crowd loves the local boy as they are on their feet to receive Boland. The Victorian will feel that he has done his job, as he has made that ball a little bit older. Out walks Jake Weatherald at number 3. Will aim to get some runs under his belt after a quiet couple of innings.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Gus Atkinson gets his radar right and strikes. Scott Boland's vigil at the top of the order is over. A scrambled seam delivery, angled in on the off stump, on a good length. Boland waits on the back foot, and the angle forces him to play. The ball moves away enough off the deck to graze the outside edge and the keeper, Jamie Smith, dives to his right to take the catch. Boland falls for 6 (17). Australia are 22/1, leading by 64 runs.

Angling away, not far away from the off stump but Head trusts the bounce of the surface and leaves it on a length.

An optimistic shout for LBW! That looked high. Jagging back into the left-hander, on a good length. Head hops to deal with it but the ball nips back to catch an inside edge, which deflects onto the flap of the front pad.

On off, on a back of a length, Head gets on top of it and taps it beside the strip down on the leg side.

A flash and a miss! Closer to the off stump, fuller as well, Travis crouches and flays at it but the ball is not that wide and he is beaten.

Beaten! Running across the left-hander, on a good length. Travis pokes at it but is lucky to get it away as the ball goes past the outside edge.

Full and around off, Head knocks it back to the bowler.

A bit of a mixed bag start from England. The pitch looks like it has quickened up a touch already and batting has looked far easier than the first day.

Lands it on a good length, on off and middle. Boland covers the line and defends.

Full and on off, Boland leans on and caresses it to the right of mid off. Just a couple of runs but a shot any top order batter would be proud of.

Dug in short, outside off, Travis presses on the back foot and unleashes the pull over mid-wicket. The ball plugs in the outfield and Head collects three runs before it is mopped up.

On a back of a length, outside off, Travis plays it with an angled bat to cover.

Pitches it up, around off, Head pushes it down the ground with a straight bat to the left of mid off. Ben Stokes gives it a chase and hauls it in. Two runs taken. Travis Head completes 400 runs in this Ashes series. The lead is now 59.

FOUR! A poor delivery and it gets the treatment. Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Head stays on the back foot, reaches out and flays it over point for a boundary.

Nipping away off the deck, not close enough to make the batter have a feel for it. Scott lets it pass by tucking his bat inside the line.

More like it by Carse! On the fuller side, angling in and then going away off the deck. Boland is drawn forward before being beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller and on off, eased away to point by Scott.

On a back of a length, on middle, Boland presses back and tries to work it away on the leg side. The ball stands on him and a leading edge is found which drops beside the strip on the leg side.

A bit fuller, moving away off the deck, in the corridor, Scott does not follow the ball and keeps the bat inside the line.

Angling in and then straightening, on a shortish length, Boland hangs on the back foot and plays inside the line to be beaten.

On a short of a good length, outside off, Head has a swipe at it after the ball goes past him.

At 134.4 kph, on a good length, in and around the off stump. A bit of away nibble squares Head up in defence and the outside edge goes down towards gully.

Fuller in length, at the sticks, Head presents the full face of the blade and just checks his drive. Plays it to the right of mid on for a couple of runs.

Drags the length back slightly, in the channel, Travis gets on the back foot and taps it to cover.

Goes wide on the crease and slants in a full ball, on the off stump, Head covers the line and keeps it out.

From around the wicket, honing in at the stumps, on a length. Head gets right behind it and blocks it off.

Gus Atkinson (1-0-4-0) to bowl from the other end.

Shaping away but a bit too wide, on the fuller side, an easy leave for Boland.

FOUR LEG BYES! Too straight from Carse, on a good length, Scott Boland misses out on the tickle. The ball clips the thigh pad and goes down to deep fine leg. The fielder in the deep sprints and dives to his right but in vain.

Goes short again, on middle, Head hops, lifts the front leg and tugs it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Travis nudges it to mid-wicket.

Carse bangs it in short again, on middle. Head gets into a bit of a tangle and does not quite pick it as the call comes to him around the chest. He manages to get his hands high and fend it down.

Into the surface, on middle and leg, a bit of nip back into the left-hander. Travis Head hops and drops it down on the deck.

Let's get going, folks. It's sunny in Melbourne as the umpires and players stroll out to the middle. It's a loud crowd at the MCG, with the Barmy Army in full force. The English players spread to their respective fielding positions. Travis Head and the nightwatchman Scott Boland walk to the crease as Australia's overnight batters. A bit surprising to see Tongue, who is on a hat trick, not being asked to bowl straightaway. It's Brydon Carse who will get us underway on Day 2 from the Shane Warne Stand End. Head to face with a couple of slips in place, along with a gully. Let's go...

The weather in Melbourne was a bit overcast for around one and a half session along with sweaters on, but the sunny forecast for the rest of the match suggest that the slow surface might quicken up. There is still plenty of life in this pitch, the weather is getting warmer, which will have an impact on top of the rollers. So, it could get to the stage where batting in the third and fourth innings might be the best batting conditions of the match. What would be a good score for Australia to bowl England out, or how low can England drag the hosts on this surface? Those are the questions shaping this contest now. There's still considerable seam movement and the quicks are firmly in the game, runs feel hard earned and wickets never far away. Don’t go anywhere as the first ball of the second day is on the other side.

The opening day was firmly owned by the bowlers. Josh Tongue tore through Australia with a five-wicket haul, only for Michael Neser to strike back with four of his own with the Victorian, Scott Boland, bagging three. On a surface offering constant assistance, it was the quicks who set the agenda. While the pitch has been labelled bowler friendly and has drawn criticism from former players and experts for doing too much for the first day surface, the batters cannot fully hide behind that narrative. Technique on both sides came under the scanner, and there is a strong school of thought that this was no minefield, just a wicket that demanded discipline and sound fundamentals.

Australia sit 46 runs ahead, at least according to the scorecard, which points to a slender advantage. But that margin flatters the batters more than it reflects reality. Australia were skittled for 152, exposed by persistent seam movement, with Michael Neser the lone figure to show any resistance by pushing past the 30 run mark. England’s reply was even more fragile. Harry Brook stood apart, the only one from England to cut through the fog and prevent the humiliation of a two digit total, as partnerships were scarce and fleeting.

So who is ahead? Probably the wrong question right now. The better one is who dominated. The answer is simple. The pacers. On a green surface that was expected to last five days, much like the previous Boxing Day Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the game has already sprinted ahead. Australia were wrapped up inside two sessions, only for England’s ten wickets to tumble in less than one. What was billed as a slow burn has turned into a full blown fast forward. England would take some inspiration from their bowling efforts despite missing their premier pacer. They looked determined and hunted as a pack.

Ten millimetres of grass left on the pitch. Over 94,000 fans packed the stadium, the largest crowd ever to watch a game of cricket at the MCG. Twenty wickets fell, one every 22.9 balls. Nine dismissals came from edges, eleven batters failed to reach double figures, and all of it played out inside just 76.1 overs, without a single over of spin bowled. The last time 20 or more wickets fell in a single day in Melbourne was about 124 years back, in the Ashes of 1901/02. That is the story in numbers from Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the mighty MCG. On that note, hello and a very warm welcome to Day 2 of this fourth Ashes Test.

... DAY 2, FIRST SESSION ...

Phew. 19 wickets fell on day one in Perth, and we've had 20 here at the MCG. Another two-day finish could be on the cards unless Australia bat big in their second dig. The real question now is whether this pitch settles down or keeps offering assistance to the seamers. Australia will begin Day 2 with a lead of 46 runs and will aim to extend it by batting for the whole day. Is that possible on this pitch? All will be answered tomorrow as the second day begins on Saturday, 27th December, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 11.30 pm GMT (Previous Day). Until then, you can follow all the live action from the Big Bash League double-header. The new season of the SA20 begins today, and so does the Bangladesh Premier League. So a lot of franchise cricketing action is coming your way. Take care, stay safe. We will be back for Day 2. Cheers!

But Harry Brook? He couldn't care less about the carnage unfolding around him. While wickets tumbled at the other end, he decided to take the game to Australia, stepping out and cracking boundaries to disrupt the bowlers' rhythm and force them off their disciplined lines. He was playing on the edge with every shot. That's the thing about aggressive batting, that it cuts both ways. Brook eventually got undone by a vicious nip-backer from Boland, before the Victorian and Neser tore apart the English lower order, reducing them to nine wickets down under three digits. Gus Atkinson showed some brief resistance with a handy 28-run contribution before Australia finally fished out the final wicket. Boland came in as the nightwatchman and suvived the final over of the day to conclude a dramatic first day of this penultimate Test.

If the first two sessions belonged to England, the final one turned into a spicy, edge-of-the-seat affair. Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser ripped through the top order with some absolute jaffas, leaving England shell-shocked at 8/3 as Duckett, Crawley, and Bethell departed in quick succession. The pitch had plenty to offer, seaming and nipping around viciously. England desperately needed Joe Root's composure, but he fell cheaply in an eerily similar fashion to his Adelaide dismissal. At 16/4, the visitors were staring down the barrel and desperately needed someone to step up and steady the ship.

The second session brought a familiar question. Could England maintain their stranglehold after the break, or would they slip into their usual post-lunch lull? Any doubts were quickly extinguished as Gus Atkinson and Co. tore through the middle order, reducing Australia to 91/6. Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey departed in quick succession, leaving Cameron Green with a rescue mission he simply couldn't pull off. Michael Neser looked scratchy early against Stokes but decided attack was the best form of defense, combining with his partner for a spirited 52-run stand that briefly threatened to shift momentum. That flicker of hope was snuffed by a piece of magic from Brydon Carse to run out Green, and the tail collapsed swiftly from there. Josh Tongue capped off a superb display with a memorable five-wicket haul, as Australia were bowled out on 152 in around two sessions, while once being 143/6.

A lot has happened on this opening day. So let's rewind a bit. England’s decision to bowl first under overcast skies and on a green top paid off instantly. Gus Atkinson struck early with the new ball, forcing Travis Head to chop on for 12. With Carse off rhythm, Josh Tongue was thrown the ball and made an impact straightaway. He pitched it up, found movement, and ripped through the order. Labuschagne followed, before Tongue landed the big blow by breaching Steve Smith’s defences. Australia tumbled from 27 without loss to 51 for 4 as England’s quicks hit their lengths hard and asked relentless questions.

Quite a remarkable day of cricket. Boxing Day Test, a record sell-out crowd marked its presence. 94,000 plus people at the 'G', the highest turnout for any game at this venue, only to see 20 wickets tumble through the day. Batting-wise, 266 runs were scored in 76.1 overs. You know that feeling when you miss the live action and catch up later, only to realise you did not miss much at all. This was that kind of first day. It flew by like a highlight reel, with something or the other happening almost every few minutes.

FOUR! Streaky, but the members of the Scott Boland fan club are absolutely loving it. Nice and full, at the stumps, Boland pushes at it and gets an outside edge that races all along the ground behind point. Two men give chase, but the ball wins the race. After a golden duck in the first innings, Boland is off the mark. That will be STUMPS on Day 1 with Australia holding a lead of 46 runs!

Did that carry? The reaction from those in the slip cordon suggests so. On a good length, on off and middle. Boland looks to cover the line but the ball nips away a bit to catch the outside edge. The ball goes low to fifth slip, where Jacob Bethell dives low to his left and sticks out his left hand but fails to cling on.

This is on a length, in and around the off stump, Boland defends it watchfully right under his eyes. Chants of 'Scotty, Scotty' go up in the crowd.

Fuller and outside off, Scott Boland offers no shot.

Rapped on the pads! Full and tailing back into the pads, Boland is beaten on the flick and wears it on the front pad. It appeared to be going down leg.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! A well-directed short ball, under the left armpit. Scott Boland goes deep in the crease and brings his bat high to fend it down. The ball gets big on him and it pops up off the blade. It lands safely in the vacant short square leg region, which brings about a huge cheer from the crowd.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! The change in length does the trick for Cameron Green. After four short balls in a row, Green pushes the ball up on the fuller side, on middle. Gus Atkinson backs away, expecting it to be a short ball. Ends up giving himself too much room and cannot make any connection. He is beaten on the outside edge and the ball crashes into the stumps. 28 (35) for Gus. England have been bowled out for 110 as Australia secure a 42-run lead.

Atkinson backs away and Green follows him with a short ball. Gus manages to glide it to deep backward point.

Green goes into the surface, on middle. Gus walks inside the line and hooks it down to deep fine leg.

Ouch! Green bangs it into the deck, over off and middle. Not as short as Gus Atkinson initially thought and he felt the ball would sail over his head. As a result, he did not duck and just stood out there. Ended up copping a blow on the left bicep.

Green starts with a short ball, over middle. Gus Atkinson ducks under it.

Double change in bowling. Cameron Green is introduced into the attack now. Adam Gilchrist mentions on air that if England gets bowled out in the next four minutes or so, Australia will have to come out and bat for the final five minutes.

Angled in at the pads, Josh taps this full ball to mid on but they do not run.

Pushes the length up, around off, Gus backs away before drilling it to the left of long off for a single.

At 140.8 kph, on a back of a length, on middle. Atkinson fends it down.

At the stumps, on the fuller side, Gus Atkinson skips down the track and whips it to the left of long on for a couple of runs. The deficit is now 43 runs.

Full and around the off stump, Gus pushes at it but gets it off the outer half through point.

Steams in from around the wicket, full and on off, Atkinson eases it to long off off the front foot. No single taken.

Australia will be keeping an eye on the clock as well. They won’t be rushing. Instead, they’ll take their time with just above 15 minutes left in the day's play. Gus Atkinson has resisted extremely well, but can he resist against Mitchell Starc, who returns for a fresh spell? Let's see.

In and around the off stump, on a short of a length. Tongue looks to cover the line but gets it off the outer half to point.

Full and wide on off, Gus Atkinson reaches out and slams it to the left of long off for a single.

Slightly fuller, on off, Gus pushes it wide of cover but does not take the single.

On off and middle, on a good length, Gus Atkinson gets right behind it in defence.

At the hips, Atkinson waits back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

On a hard length, outside off, Gus presses back to punch it away but is beaten for pace.

In a rare bit of good news for England, they have at least avoided registering their lowest Test total in Australia (104 runs, in 1963 at the SCG), since the Second World War.

Keeps it full, on off, Tongue covers the line and solidly defends.

A sharp chance goes down! Full and on off, Tongue pushes out in front of his body and plays an uppish drive back towards the bowler. Scott Boland sticks out his left hand low on his follow-through but cannot cling on. The ball clips his fingertips and rolls behind to mid off.

Drags the length back and this is in the channel. Josh Tongue has a feel for it before withdrawing his bat but it is too late by then. Luckily for him, he does not nick it behind.

Pitched up at the sticks, Josh pushes it to mid on.

Slightly fuller, on off and middle. Tongue hangs his bat out a bit away from his body and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

On top of off, Tongue drops it with soft hands in front of point.

FOUR! Mid off came up and Gus Atkinson took his chance! Neser slams the deck hard, over off, Atkinson backs away and clears the front leg. Gets right on top of it and smacks it with a horizontal bat between extra cover and mid off for four more.

FOUR! Hammered! Short and wide on off, Gus Atkinson hops and reaches out. Slaps it with a flat bat to the right of long off for a boundary. That gets the Barmy Army going. 100 comes up for England. The deficit is now 50.

On a length, on middle and leg, Gus turns it wide of mid-wicket but refuses the single again.

Ambitious attempt! On off and middle, on a good length, Atkinson walks across and attempts the scoop over the keeper. Gets a top edge that goes down to deep third but he opts not to run.

On a back of a length, on middle. Gus Atkinson hangs back to defend.

Pitched up, on off, Tongue knocks it to the left of mid off and sets off for a single. Travis Head picks the ball up and has a shy at the bowling end but misses. It wouldn't have mattered much as Josh was in.

Fractionally short, angled in, on off and middle. Gus Atkinson swivels and swings hard for the pull, but the ball sneaks under the blade and the bounce takes it over the stumps.

Down leg again, fuller in length, Atkinson misses out again in helping it away.

Fuller in length, down leg, Atkinson has a swing at it but misses.

Into the surface, over middle, Gus Atkinson flashes hard at it but fails to connect.

SIX! Not in control but Gus Atkinson will take it! Boland bangs it in short, outside off, Gus swivels for the pull but the ball catches the top edge and goes down to deep fine leg but well wide of Scott Boland to his right.

On a hard length, on off, Gus Atkinson hops back to keep it out.

And another one bites the dust. Tried to be a bit adventurous, did Carse, but massively failed. Josh Tongue is the last batter in for England. It's just a case of how much England adds before being bundled up.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Brydon Carse cannot resist himself and holes out. Neser bends his back and digs it in short, over off. Carse tries to take it on but the shot gets skied towards deep fine leg. Scott Boland seems to have lost the ball in the sun initially and it were the men behind the bat who screamed at him to get in off the ropes. Boland steadied himself and had the option of taking a step or two more to make the catch easier for himself but he hung back and got low in front to take the catch. England are now 9 down for 91 with a deficit of 67 runs.

Neser goes wide on the crease, and this is angled in, on off and middle, on a good length. Brydon Carse looks to cover the line and plays it with soft hands. The outside edge is found, but it goes down and rolls to gully.

At 129.1 kph, on off and middle, on a good length, Brydon presses forward for the block.

Keeps the stumps in play, on a length, Brydon lunges and defends it out with a straight bat.

At the sticks, on a length, Gus wrists it through mid-wicket and crosses over.

Bangs it into the deck, over middle. Gus Atkinson hangs back and defends it solidly.

Starc was seen loosening up. Might be called into the attack sooner. But for now, Neser to continue. 7-1-34-3 are his bowling figures.

A touch straight, at the hips, Atkinson gets on his toes and nudges it behind square for a single.

On top of off, Carse is slightly squared up in defence but manages to tap it wide of point for a single.

Dug in short, around the right shoulder. Brydon Carse tucks his bat inside the line and lets the ball pass.

At the stumps, on a length, Brydon Carse gets right behind it in defence.

In case you missed it, MCG pitch curator Matt Page had spoken about repeating the dose after the 2024 BGT classic that stretched into the fifth day. Can't see this one going that far, honestly.

Into the surface, over middle. Carse drops it beside the strip on the leg side. Scott Boland gets across and cuts off the single.

A big swing and a miss! On a good length, on middle and leg, Brydon Carse stays leg side and charges down the track. He swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

On a shortish length, over off, Atkinson stands tall to turn it away but gets a soft leading edge on the off side.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Angled in and then nipping away, on a length, on middle. Gus Atkinson looks to clip it away and closes the bat face. The ball pops up off a leading edge but goes well behind point for a couple of runs.

Bashes the deck hard, over middle. Carse gets his hands high to fend it down but the ball kicks up on him to jam the fingers on the bat handle. It rolls square on the leg side for a single.

Pitched up, on off, Carse pushes it down the ground with a straight bat back past the bowler for a couple of runs.

On a length, on off, Brydon blocks it off on the off side.

With still about 50 minutes left in the day's play, Brydon Carse walks out to bat now. Carey is standing up to the wickets. Carse is deep in the crease.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! An inspired bowling change from Steve Smith. Michael Neser strikes on his return to the attack. Pretty loose from Ben Stokes and he pays the ultimate price. On a length, going across the left-hander, Stokes crouches slightly and has a poke at it well away from his body. Gets an outside edge that travels quickly to second slip, Steve Smith, who is in really tight with the keeper up to the stumps. Smith holds onto a sharp grab over his left shoulder. 16 (38) for the English skipper. England are now 83/8, trailing by 69 runs.

In the channel, on a hard length, Gus stays back and glides it with an open bat face to the left of deep backward point for a brace.

FOUR! On middle and leg, on a good length, Atkinson plays the pick-up shot off the pads over square leg for a boundary.

Fuller in length, around off, Atkinson blocks it out.

Honing in at the stumps, on a good length, Gus looks to cover the line but ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and it drops beside the strip on the leg side.

DRINKS BREAK. It's all falling apart for England. Feels like an age when Travis Head got out, really. Such has been the pace of the game on the opening day of this Boxing Day Test. But honestly, this is a shocker for a Day 1 pitch. With Will Jacks dismissed, the English tail has been exposed from one end. Stokes is stranded at the other end and has watched batters come and go. Australia are in a dominant position right now, and would look to bundle England before the close of play today. And here's Marnus Labuschagne for a quick chat with the broadcasters during the hydration break. Marnus says that the boys have put the ball in beautiful areas and done a great job so far. Tells that there is a fair bit of grass on the surface, and the ball has been sitting in the wicket, which has made scoring straight down the ground tough. Adds that in the second innings, they will look to create more scoring opportunities and target areas square of the wicket. Now then, Gus Atkinson walks into the furnace to face the music.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Make that three wickets in as many overs for Scott Boland. He is on a roll here. One that nips back into the right-hander, on a good length, on off and middle. Jacks hangs back to deal with it, but the ball cuts back in sharply with a bit of lift off the deck. Will gets cut in half as the ball grazes the inside edge before going behind towards Alex Carey, who makes no mistake. England are 77/7 with still a deficit of 75 runs.

Full and outside off, Jacks looks to present a straight bat to defend but ends up playing across. The ball dribbles off the outer half to point.

Full and outside off, Stokes extends his hands and firms the drive to cover, where Usman Khawaja flings himself to his right to cut it off.

On middle and leg, on a good length, Will turns it wide of mid-wicket for one.

Two leg byes! Sliding onto the pads, on a good length, Jacks fails to lay any bat on the tickle. The ball dribbles off the pads around the short fine leg region and Jacks comes charging back for the second run.

On a length, on middle and leg, Will's head falls over to the off side and he is beaten on the flick. Gets rapped high on the front pad but it was going down leg. It doesn't matter anyway, as Jhye has overstepped and it is a No Ball.

Fuller and outside off, Ben presses forward and taps it to deep point for a single.

Landing on the seam and then moving away off the deck, on a back of a length. Stokes makes a late decision and he just wafts at it well away from his body. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Sprayed down leg, on a length, Will glances it off the pads to the left of deep fine leg. Scott Boland sprints to his left in the deep but cannot prevent the batters from taking the third run.

Not in control but Will Jacks gets away with it! Into the surface, over middle, Will charges down the track and has a swing at it. The ball gets big on him, and he ends up slicing it off the upper half. He somehow manages to evade the cover fielder as the ball goes well wide of him to his left. Jacks is off the mark with a single.

On a nagging length, on off and middle. Jacks tucks it off the front foot to mid-wicket.

Attacking the front pad, slightly fuller, Will clips it to mid-wicket.

Whoa, what was that? Ben Stokes doesn't appear best pleased. Jagging back in again, on a good length, on middle. Jacks gives the bowler the charge and goes for the lofted drive with a straight bat. He is beaten on the inside edge, and luckily for him, the bounce takes the ball over the stumps.

Kerry O'Keefe on air chirps that there is an atomic clock, which is the most accurate timekeeping device, and then there is Scott Boland's accuracy. Witty O'Keefe, as always. Here's Will Jacks in at number 8 with England in all sorts of trouble.

OUT! CASTLED! Wickets off successive overs for Scott Boland. England fall further off the edge. The nip-backer does the trick once again for Boland. On a length, angled in, on off and middle. Smith just hangs his bat out in front with no real conviction and leaves a gap between the bat and the pad. The ball jags back in to go past the inside edge and it brushes the back pad before clattering into the furniture. England are now 68/6, trailing by 84 runs.

In and around the off stump, Smith covers the line and keeps it out on the off side.

Going away off the deck, on a good length, Stokes shoulders arms.

Keeps it full and at the sticks, knocked to mid on.

Pushes the length up, on off, Stokes drives it without much timing to mid off.

At the stumps, on a length, Ben is solid in defence.

Fuller in length, going away from the batter. Stokes leaves his bat hanging as he looks to make the leave. The ball catches the toe-end of the blade and rolls behind to the slip cordon.

On off and middle, on a good length, Stokes hangs back to deal with it and ends up defending outside the line. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Attacking the front pad, on a length, Smith brings his bat out in front and works it to the right of mid on for a couple of runs.

It was entertaining from Brook for as long as it lasted. Aggression can cut both ways, and Brook was certainly living on an edge, even though he produced some excellent strokes along the way. Jamie Smith is the next batter in for England. They do have Jacks in the waiting after that, with the tail to follow. So this partnership becomes very crucial for England to shrink down the deficit.

OUT! LBW! The local hero breaks through for Australia! This is on a good length, landing around the off stump before nipping back in. Brook is caught in his crease in his defence and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball raps him on the front pad and it is an easy decision for the umpire. Harry does not even look at his skipper and departs without reviewing for an entertaining 41 (34). England are now 66/5, trailing by 86 runs.

Fuller in length, on off and middle. Harry plays it back to Boland.

On off and middle, on a length, Brook looks to bring the bat out in front and defend but the ball seams back to catch the inside edge onto the pads.

Full and outside off, Stokes gives the bowler the charge and drills it through covers. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and plugs in the outfield. Michael Neser tidies up. With these three runs, the 50-run stand comes up!

Serves it on a length, outside off, Brook steers it to deep point for a single.

On the fuller side, on off, Stokes works it to mid on.

Leaving the left-hander, on a good length, Stokes presses back and guides it to gully.

Lands it on a back of a length, on middle. Stokes hops and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Angled into the pads, on a length, Harry wrists it to deep square leg and turns the strike over.

Dug in short, over the right shoulder. Brook drops his wrists and sways away.

Angles it in, on a length, Brook plays off the back foot and tucks it to the leg side with soft hands.

Full and at the sticks, Ben defends with the bat close to the front pad.

A bit too full and wide on off, Brook walks across and cracks the drive between cover and mid off. Travis Head gives it a long chase and flicks the ball in play before tumbling over the ropes. He saves a run for his side.

This is on a short of a length, on off, Stokes drops it with soft hands beside thse strip on the off side for a quick single.

Beaten! Boland brings the line closer to the off stump and gets the ball to nip away off the deck. Stokes takes a couple of steps down the track and tries to block it out, but the ball zips past the outside edge.

On a good length, outside off, left alone by Stokes.

Boland bowls it on the shorter side, outside off, Harry goes deep in the crease and runs it down to deep third for a single.

On off and middle, on a length, Stokes blocks it out by getting forward.

Fuller in length, outside off, a stylish drive from Stokes but he picks out mid off.

Loose from Stokes but he gets away with it! Going across the left-hander, on a short of a length. Stokes makes a late decision to dab it down, and he is well beaten.

Into the surface, running across the batter. Ben rocks back and pushes it back to the bowler.

On top of off, Stokes defends it right under his eyes.

Sliding onto the pads, on a length, Brook turns it through square leg for a single.

Here comes the Western Australian, Jhye Richardson, into the attack. He replaces Michael Neser. He is back in the whites for Australia after four long years. He picked up a 5-fer in his last Test match at Adelaide, in the 2021 Ashes.

Moving back into the left-hander, on a good length, on off and middle. Stokes hangs his bat out a bit tentatively and the ball cuts back off the deck to catch the inside edge. It deflects onto the pads.

Hurls it on a length, outside off, Stokes gets his hands through the ball quickly and hammers it wide of cover for a couple of runs.

A bit of away movement off the deck, full and around off. Ben is drawn forward and the ball catches the outer half before rolling to gully.

Slightly fuller, on middle. Stokes is solid in defence.

Jagging back in, on a back of a length, on off. Stokes taps it back on the deck.

In the channel on off, on a length, Brook knows that the field is spread due to the way he has batted so far. He just taps it with soft hands in the vacant point region for a single. Smart cricket.

Drags the length back, on off, Ben hangs back and stabs it down on the off side.

FOUR! 50 up for England! On off, Stokes takes a couple of steps down the track and converts it into a full toss. He just times the drive to the left of mid off for a four.

From around the wicket for the left-hander, fuller in length, outside off, Stokes shuffles across and eases the drive wide of cover for a couple of runs.

At the hips, on a back of a length, helped down to deep fine leg for a single.

SIX! All the way! Fractionally short, on off, Brook stands tall and pulls it off the front foot over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Pitches it up, on off, Brook attempts a lofted drive but miscues it off the inner half of the blade to mid-wicket.

DRINKS BREAK! Phew, we all need a drink, don’t we? It’s been an eventful first 11 overs of England’s reply, none more so than Harry Brook’s arrival at the crease. He has thrown caution to the wind and lived on the edge, an approach Australia won’t mind at all, knowing it may only take one mishit. The ball has darted around off the seam, and it has been a thorough interrogation from the Aussie quicks, who will look to keep the intensity up after the break. With Brook at the crease, every ball feels like an event, and another intriguing phase awaits.

Cuts back into the batter, full in length, Stokes crisply drives it straight down the ground, but Boland sticks out his left leg on the follow-through and stops it.

WHISKER! Boland fires in on a fuller length, around off, straightening up just enough to beat the defence of Stokes.

Nagging length, outside off, no shot offered by the English captain.

From around the stumps, this is pitched fuller, on off, seaming away a mile after landing. Stokes covers the stumps to block, but withdraws his bat inside the line to leave.

On a short of a length, on the stumps, Harry Brook swivels on the toes and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Short of a length outside off. Brook steps down the track, rides the bounce well, and drops it awkwardly into the leg side as Boland runs across to field that on his follow-through.

Scott Boland gets a loud reception as he comes into the attack. He replaces Mitchell Starc.

Full and tailing back in at the front pad, Brook clips it to the left of deep fine leg. Mitchell Starc gets around and bends to pick the ball up but lets it through, allowing the third run to be taken.

On a length, outside off, Brook rides the bounce and dabs it to the off side.

NOT OUT! It nips away slightly with a bit of extra bounce. Brook plays from the crease, trying to wait on it and steer it towards point, but he is beaten on the outside edge. Carey gathers cleanly behind the stumps and whips the bails off with his left glove, appealing loudly for a stumping. Chris Gaffaney refers it upstairs. This looks tight. The third umpire requests the zoomer on that side-on angle and confirms that Brook's back leg was on the ground when the stumps were broken by Carey. Not Out loads on the giant screen.

Stumping check! Alex Carey does not look overly interested, while Steve Smith at first slip thinks it is close. Well, the replays show that Harry Brook did lift his back leg, but it was grounded before Carey whipped the bails off. NOT OUT!

Good-length delivery, on the stumps, clipped toward mid-wicket.

Outside off, on a fullish length, nibbling away. With Carey standing up to the wickets, Brook plays from the crease and opens the bat's face at the last second, and gets it past the diving gully fielder for a couple of runs.

On a tad fuller length, on the stumps, Ben Stokes pushes it gently through the cover and point gap and they hustle back for the third run before it is mopped up in the outfield.

FOUR! Harry on the counterattack. Very outrageous shot. Short of a good length, on the middle and leg stump line. Harry Brook gets inside the line and pulls it over short fine leg for a boundary. Brook is into his 20s now.

Speared onto the pads, full in length, Stokes misses to flick, and the ball rolls towards backward square leg. They get a leg bye.

BEATEN! Nips away from middle, on a good length. Ben Stokes is squared up on his defence and the ball flirts past his outside edge.

Good-length delivery, on middle and leg, Harry gets on the back foot and pulls it between mid on and mid-wicket for three runs.

Stump-to-stump, on a hard length, nudged across to mid-wicket.

SIX! Bravery from Brook! Fractionally fuller, outside off, Harry Brook dances down the track and smashes it up and over wide long off for a cracking six. That has pinged right off the middle of the blade.

Ben Stokes makes his way out to the centre.

OUT! NICKED BEHIND AND TAKEN! Wicket number two for Neser and that's a huge one in the form of Joe Root. Neser bashes the hard length, around off with a wobbly seam position. Joe Root pokes at it and the thin outside edge dips in front of the wicketkeeper, where Carey dives forward and scoops it before the grass. But hang on! Kumar Dharmasena walks to the leg umpire and the decision is sent upstairs for a review. The replay shows a clear deflection off the outside edge and the ball has carried all the way through into Carey's gloves as well. Second duck in the series for Joe Root as he goes without troubling the scorers in 15 balls. England are reduced to 16/4, trailing by 136 runs.

Did that carry? Australia think so, but Joe Root has been asked to wait. The third umpire is called into action. One replay is enough for the third umpire to give his verdict. The ball has carried behind to Alex Carey. OUT flashes on the big screen.

On a wider line, on a good length, left alone by Root. He is yet to get off the mark.

Top seed from Neser! Shapes in and then nips away sharply from off, on a good length. Joe Root plays the initial line to defend, but the ball breezes past the outside edge on its way to the keeper.

Root advances now, and Neser hurls a length ball, wide outside off. Joe makes the leave.

Outside off, on a good length, Brook weighs back and steers it to deep backward point for a single.

A surprise bumper from Neser, angling down leg, Harry Brook is rushed into the pull shot, but he aborts just in the nick of time.

Short of a good length, outside off, Root is forced to play with the angle. Tries the square cut to the off side, but cannot get it past Cameron Green's huge wingspan at gully. Stopped one-handed with his right hand. Good commitment.

The clock has just ticked over to 3.50 pm in Melbourne, and every day during this Test at this time, Shane Warne’s legacy will be honoured with a nod to his Australian Test cap number, 350. Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting are present on the sidelines today, alongside the children of the late Australian legend, to doff their hats in tribute.

In-between length, on top of middle. Root presses back and blocks it down the pitch.

Pushed wide outside off, on a fuller length, Root is stubborn to leave.

Much fuller, angling outside off, Joe strides forward and leaves watchfully. Might get one or two to slide back in now.

Nagging length, wide on off, Root does not chase for that.

Around off, a length ball, this is steered off the front foot to widish point for a single.

Nip-backer on a length, on middle. Root covers the line and blocks it across to mid on.

Full and straight, on off, Root leans on and defends it to mid off.

PEACH! The one that angles in and then seams away from off, on a hard length. Joe Root is tempted, goes to block on the back foot, plays away from his body and gets beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

A half-hearted appeal for LBW, but that's sliding down leg. On a fuller length, tailing in a long way onto the pads, Harry Brook is beaten on the flick shot and the ball deflects off his pads towards the left of the keeper. They get a leg bye.

LEADING EDGE, FOUR! Brook is living dangerously at the crease. Fuller delivery from Neser, on middle and off, nibbling away. Harry Brook walks forward and tries to flick that off the pads, but closes the bat face early and a leading edge is found. It goes wide of the gully fielder though and races to the fence behind.

Hard length, outside off, no shot offered by Brook.

A tempter from Starc, angling across the batter on a hard length. Joe Root ignores it.

Again, Brook advances a couple of steps ahead, and seeing that Starc pushes it wide outside off on a fuller length. Brook adjusts and jams the bat down. The ball squirts through backward point for a single. Brook is off the mark.

Back of a length, hammered the middle stump, Harry Brook gets on top of it and bunts it down.

Oh, hello? Brook steps down the track to smash this length ball through the off side, but Starc generates that extra zip and bounce around off, which beats Harry's angled bat. Very audacious from Brook first up.

The master is joined by his apprentice. Here's Harry Brook.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Starc's magic continues and this is fast bowling at its very best from the Aussies. Mitchell Starc spears one on a fuller length, keeping it around the off pole. Zak Crawley prods forward and pushes at it with hard hands, only to nick that behind off the outside edge. The ball flies flatly towards the second slip, where Steve Smith takes a fine grab to his right. Just 5 (14) for Crawley and the English top order is blown away with just 8 on the board.

Short of a good length, outside off, punched off the back foot to cover.

Angles down leg, on a fullish length. Root gets inside the line to glance it away, but misses.

JAFFA! Nips away late from a good length, in the channel of off, Joe Root is beaten all ends up as he looks to defend. The noise is deafening at the MCG.

Root pulls out quite late, and that brings about boos from the Aussie fans.

Joe Root comes in with England in early trouble.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Michael Neser gets his first wicket off a pearler. This seams into the batter and then straightens up off the pitch. Jacob Bethell gets stuck in the crease and tries to push it straight, but plays inside the line. He gets a thin outside edge that clips the back pad before going behind to Alex Carey. A huge appeal from Neser and the men behind the stumps but Kumar Dharmasena takes his own sweet time before raising his finger. Jacob Bethell walks towards Crawley to have a chat, but walks away without challenging the on-field decision. Snicko later shows a clear spike when the ball is next to the bat. A short stay for Jacob Bethell as he goes for 1 (5). England are 8/2, trailing by 144 runs.

Back of a length in the channel, Bethell defends off the back foot in the leg side.

Massive appeal for LBW, but not given. Height or sliding down leg, maybe? Jags back in from middle, on a fullish bit of a length, Jacob Bethell plays all over it and wears it on the front pad. Smith gestures height from behind the stumps and Australia do not go upstairs. And the Ball Tracking later on shows that it indeed would have missed the leg stump.

Far outside off, flirting with the tramline on a length, Jacob does not poke at it.

Good length outside off, left alone.

Wide outside off, fuller in length. Zak offers no shot.

Tails in on a fullish length, on middle, Jacob Bethell takes a good stride forward and tucks it across to the mid-wicket region to get off the mark with a single. The Barmy Army is right behind the 22-year-old.

Jacob Bethell walks out to bat in his first Ashes outing in front of a record crowd. The young left-hander is yet to register a first-class hundred, but England have backed him on potential rather than proven performance.

OUT! LEADING EDGE AND GONE! Wicket number 23 for Starc in this Ashes. Angles in on middle, on a good length. Ben Duckett closes his bat's face a bit too early to flick it away and his head falls over as well. Gets a healthy leading edge which balloons towards the mid on region and it is taken safely by Michael Neser. Simplest of catches in the field. Another failure for Ben Duckett as he goes for 2 (5). England are 7/1, trailing by 145 runs.

Fuller and wide outside off, Zak Crawley plays an aggressive front foot drive through the cover region. But the ball slows down in the outfield and it is mopped up by the mid off fielder before the ropes. Three taken.

Hard length, in and around off, left alone by Zak.

Angling in on middle and leg, Duckett nudges this length ball to mid-wicket.

Nips in from off, on a good length. Ben Duckett is cramped up for space, tries to block, but wears it high on the thigh pad.

Full and outside off, Ben Duckett strides across and drives it through extra cover for a couple of runs.

Touch full, on off, Zak works it off the outer half into the backward point region for a single.

Good length on off, blocked to mid off.

BEATEN! A windy-whoosh from Zak as this one seams away from a good length, outside off. Gets beaten on the outside edge as his feet go nowhere.

Michael Neser will operate from the other end. Neser has featured in three Tests for Australia, all of which have been pink-ball games. This is his first red-ball Test. The attendance for today stands at 93,442, the highest ever recorded for a cricket match at the MCG, surpassing the 2015 World Cup final.

A huge appeal from Starc, maybe for the catch. But not given and Starc gets no support from behind the stumps. An attempted yorker on off, Ben Duckett brings the bat down in time to dig it out. The third umpire is called into action and the replay shows that the ball bumped on its way to the gully fielder, Cameron Green.

England and Crawley are off the mark! Goes full this time, around off, Zak Crawley presses forward and taps it between cover and point for a quick single.

Short again, on top of off, Crawley hangs his bat high to leave. Carey gathers it at chest height behind the stumps.

Back of a length, at 142.6 kph, on the leg stump line. Zak Crawley plays off the back foot and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

BEATEN! Absolute peach! Nips across the batter on a shortish length, on top of off. Zak Crawley is squared up completely, looks to block, but the ball zips past the outside edge. Beaten by a whisker.

Starc is on the money! Hammers in a short delivery, around the off pole. It keeps climbing and Zak shoulders arms.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! It's all over for Australia. A golden duck for Boland. Josh Tongue is ecstatic as he finishes off with an outstanding 5-for, that too, on Boxing Day, in front of more than 93,000 people present at the MCG. He will remember this for his lifetime. Good length ball, outside off, Boland is forced to play at it with the line. He pushes forward and tries to work it to the off side, but gets a thick edge that flies behind to Brook at second slip. It is taken cleanly. Tongue will be on a hat trick in the second innings. Also, these are the best bowling figures of his young Test career. And from 143/6, AUSTRALIA ARE BOWLED OUT ON 152!

The local hero, Scott Boland is the last man in.

OUT! BOWLED! A ripper from Josh Tongue as he gets his 4-for. Pitches it around off, and gets it to nip back in sharply off the seam. Michael Neser tries to drive that to the off side, but he is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and that creates a big gap between the bat and the pad. Enough for the ball to sneak through the gates and make an absolute mess of the stumps behind. Almost a replica of a delivery on which Smith got dismissed earlier in this innings. A handy little 35 (49) from Neser as he trudges back into the dressing room. Australia are drowning now with 9 down on 152.

On a good length, on middle, tucked into the mid-wicket region.

With 22 minutes to go for the Tea break, Jhye Richardson comes out to bat.

OUT! HIGH IN THE AIR AND GONE! Outstanding catch from Stokes. But hang on! Has Carse overstepped? Nope. He hasn't. Just had some part of his boot inside the line at the point of first impact. But it still looks a bit tight on the side-on replay. However, the third umpire has deemed it a fair delivery. Good variation from Carse as this is full, just outside off. Starc lofts it over mid off, but gets no timing on it. Airs it off the toe end, and Ben Stokes runs behind over his left shoulder and slides to take a fantastic catch. Mitchell Starc departs on 1 (6). Australia are further dented as they are 152/8.

Sharp short ball, on off, Starc gets on the toes and eases it in the off side.

Around off, on a fuller length, Starc clears the front leg and mistimes it on the bounce to mid on.

Angling outside off, on a good length. Starc arches back and leaves.

Big swing and a miss! Carse angles it across the batter, on a good length. Mitchell Starc barely moves his feet and has a wild swing at it to go over the infield, only to get beaten on the outside edge.

Athletic fielding display from Bethell once again. Very full, outside off, Neser carves it to the right of point, but Bethell dives in that direction and makes a fine interception.

Short of a good length, outside off. Michael Neser hops in the crease and square cuts it to pierce the point gap, but Jacob Bethell is alert there with a diving stop to his left.

At 132.1 kph, outside off, on a length, Neser does not poke at it.

Down leg, short, Neser gets inside the line to leave.

Length ball, fairly outside off, and it is left alone by Neser.

Very full, on the stumps, flicked into the mid-wicket region for a single.

Shortish delivery, outside off, Neser pulls out from the shot, but he is a bit late to do so.

FOUR! In control! Length-delivery, outside off, Neser gets on the back foot and cuts it uppishly over backward point to find the fence. 150 UP FOR AUSTRALIA!

FOUR BYES! That's jagged massively into the batter. On a length, cutting back in a long way over middle. Michael Neser tries to drive off the front foot, but he is cut in half, getting beaten comprehensively on the inside edge. The ball passes above the middle pole. Jamie Smith dives to his left, gets his left glove on it, but parries it behind to the ropes.

Nips in on a length, on off. Michael Neser leans back and tries to drive it square on the off side, but the ball jumps off and beats the edge.

Around off, short, dropped into the off side off the back foot.

Mitchell Starc walks out to a rousing reception.

OUT! CAMERON GREEN IS RUN OUT! Carse with a moment of brilliance to end this blossoming partnership. He bashes the length hard, keeping the line of attack outside off. Cameron Green rides the bounce and taps it to the off side, near the strip and there is a bit of yes and no between the batters, but eventually, they rush to the opposite ends for a single. But Green is a bit slow to get off the blocks, and Carse runs like a panther towards the ball and gets rid of the ball as he scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. Green runs away from the stumps rather than running in a straight line, resulting in him covering more distance. He puts in a desperate dive, but he is out by a fair bit. Cameron Green walks off after making 17 (34) and Australia are 143/7.

FOUR LEG BYES! This is a bit too straight, onto the pads, full in length. Michael Neser misses to flick it away, and the ball deflects off the pads and races behind to the deep fine leg fence. The 50-run partnership comes up between Green and Neser off 64 balls.

Good comeback from Josh! Short ball, on top of off, Neser leaves it by swaying away from the line of the ball.

FOUR! A hat trick of boundaries for Michael Neser! Another one pitched outside off, on a fullish length. Michael Neser gets on the front foot, head on top of the ball, and drives it towards the deep backward point fence for four more.

FOUR! In complete command this time! Wide outside off, on a good length. Michael Neser presses forward and smashes it through extra cover for a cracking boundary. Neser moves to 27.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Fraction fuller, outside off, Michael Neser flashes hard at it, gets it off a bit of the outer half of the bat, but through the point and gully gap for a boundary.

Edged, and does not carry! Tongue returns into the attack and lands it full, around off, nibbling away. Neser does not get to the pitch of the ball and has a waft at it, only managing a thick outside edge which goes on the bounce to the first slip fielder.

Straighter and fuller, outside off, well left by Green.

Very full, tailing into the batter, on middle and leg. Neser flicks it between mid on and mid-wicket for a single.

Short delivery, on off. Green rises with the bounce and gets an inside edge as the ball rolls into the square leg pocket for a single.

Neser steers this full ball into the backward point region for another single.

Outside off on a good length. Michael Neser waits for the ball to arrive and cuts it behind square through the vacant backward point region. Jacob Bethell from gully chases it down in the outfield. Two taken.

Good length, on middle, nudged behind square on the leg side for a single. The partnership is worth 31 runs between Green and Neser.

Lasers one into the batter, on the leg stump line. Neser stays in the crease and tucks this length ball towards short mid-wicket.

Outside off, on a length. Green gets on the front foot and steers it to the point region for a quick single.

Fuller ball, around off, Green walks into the shot and works it to short cover.

Short and on top of off. Green gets on his toes and drops it down the pitch with soft hands.

Overpitched delivery, angling in on middle, Green forces the drive towards mid off.

Spears in on a length, around off, nipping in a fraction. Cameron Green presses forward to defend, but inside edges onto the pads.

Nagging length, around middle and off, Michael Neser defends off the back foot.

Short ball, on top of the leg stump. Neser sits underneath it.

Past the edge! Bowls from a wider angle, does Carse. This is on a fractionally fuller length, angling in and then seaming away from the pitch. Michael Neser is beaten on the outside edge as he looks to block from the crease.

Hard length at 136.1 kph, on off, Michael Neser gets on the back foot and blocks it down the strip.

Back of a length, around off, tapped off the back foot to the off side.

Short ball, outside off, Neser leans back to leave.

DRINKS BREAK. England did manage to get rid of Alex Carey, who was settling nicely in rhythm, to reduce Australia down to 91/6. And this was the first time in the 21st century that Australia lost six wickets inside 100 runs in Test cricket at home against England. However, Australia have scored 21 runs in the last three overs through a few quick boundaries. Both Green and Neser have formed a nice little partnership. The former is in search of runs while the latter survived a close call when the ball dropped short of the keeper after nicking one behind. With this being the last recognised batting pair for the Aussies, the visitors would like to break this partnership and have an opening from one end.

Stokes slams the deck hard, over off. Michael Neser hops to deal with it but the ball gets big on him. Neser is rapped on the glove and the ball gets dropped in front of point. Green calls him through for a quick single.

FOUR! Neser flashes and flashes hard! Stokes goes wide on the crease and hurls it fuller, outside off. Michael Neser presses forward and goes hard on the drive. The outside edge flies well over the leaping gully fielder for a boundary.

An effort ball from Stokes, into the deck, on off. Michael Neser gets on top of it to keep it out.

Back to bowling it on a good length, in and around the off stump. Neser dabs it down on the off side.

FOUR! Gets it away! Low full toss, outside off, Neser opens the bat face and slices it away through the vacant backward point region for a boundary.

On top of off, on a good length, the ball jags back a bit and Neser drops it beside the strip on the leg side.