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by Timothy Abraham & Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. Australia 518-7 at stumps - lead by 134 runs

    Beau Webster picks up a couple of runs off the final ball of the day from Will Jacks.

    Steve Smith walks off unbeaten with 129 runs to his name. Beau Webster is 42 not out.

    It's been a loooooooong day in the dirt for England.

  2. Aus 516-7

    Will Jacks with what looks like it will be the final over of the day, but no real hint of a threat.

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    Very easy to be defeatist here but we can draw this and rescue a 3-1 score line which we all would have taken on Christmas Day surely?

    Barnaby K, London

  4. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    The pitch for this SCG Test has been fairly easy to bat on. The current Test has a PitchViz rating of 5.6 on par with the overall average rating of the last 20 SCG Tests.

    The PitchViz rating for last SCG Test (v India in 2025) was 8.0 - the highest rated of the last 20 SCG Tests and the third-toughest pitch to bat on in Australia in the ball-tracking era (since 2006).

  5. Aus 514-7

    Agree entirely, Richard.

    England have been not just worn down by Australia here. They have been ground into the dust at the SCG.

    Somehow they have to lift themselves up to come back tomorrow. Australia lead by 130 runs.

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    All this talk of “pressure” and “aggression” from the England team is totally null and void when you just make dumb batting mistakes. THIS is pressure. Batting long, batting big and grinding the opposition into the shadows of the setting SCG sun. Aussie crowd is battering us. RIP Bazball.

    Richard at the SCG

  7. Aus 511-7

    Will Jacks is pulled behind square by Steve Smith, who looks as fresh as a daisy here. Seven runs off Jacks' seventh over.

    The Barmy Army still singing as the shadows lengthen at the SCG.

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    Hard to believe these bowlers are Test quality, more pies than a bakery!

    James B, Worcester

    Batting practice for Australia here at the SCG. We, England, look tired and defeated. I can't see any energy or purpose.

    Dr Mick at the SCG

  9. Aus 504-7

    Beau Webster helps Australia pass the 500 mark by thumping Josh Tongue for four off the back foot then picking up a single with a controlled pull.

    Steve Smith uses his reach to stroke another four off Tongue through the covers. Batting looks a breeze for the Aussie captain here.

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    Re Andy in Sydney (@6:38) - With respect that is completely wrong. Are you saying neither Zak Crawley nor Ben Duckett gets in over Jake Weatherald? Ben Stokes is clearly in over Cameron Green, probably on bowling alone. Harry Brook in over Usman Khawaja. Maybe Josh Tongue as a third seamer.

    TJ at the SCG

  11. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    All of the bowlers look stiff and tired. They are lacking the zip and nip of an early bowler - I know the feeling.

  12. Aus 493-7

    Will Jacks spins one on to the pad of Beau Webster and appeals but it's turned down.

    "Keep going Jacksy" chirps Ben Stokes.

  13. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Steve Smith of AustraliaGetty Images

    When Joe Root and Steve Smith get in, they make the bowlers pay. That is something that Harry Brook does not have.

    It was inevitable that Smith would score a century today - that should hurt Brook watching.

  14. Aus 492-7

    Josh Tongue into the attack and Steve Smith thrashes the first ball of this spell through point for four. Later in the over, there's a mooted appeal after Smith is struck on the pad with one which is angling down leg.

    Smith has moved on to 124 runs now.

  15. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England's bowlers will be physically and mentally fatigued. You can only imagine how the seamers are feeling - their feet must be burning.

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    I think we need some honesty here. Who out of the current England team would get into this Australian line up? Root and maybe Stokes and Brook if there were injuries! The rest wouldn’t qualify for running the drinks as they would drop them!

    Andy in Sydney (originally from Leicester)

    England have been too short and too wide the whole series. That’s been the difference between the sides.

    Taimoor, Cardiff

  17. Aus 486-7

    Will Jacks, cropped hair and stubble, is thrown the ball. He's been sporadically used today, so far.

    Steve Smith and Beau Webster rotate the strike with ease against the part-time offie. Five singles milked off the over.

    Australia's lead ticks over into three figures.

  18. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Steve Smith cannot be signalling wide to the umpire. Ben Stokes doesn't seem to have the energy to say anything.

  19. Aus 481-7

    Matthew Potts follows up those boundaries with a wide prompted, perhaps, by Steve Smith holding his arms out.

    Potts is 0-141 from 25 overs.

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    Ben Stokes of EnglandGetty Images

    Alex Hartley saying she has a bad feeling about the third innings (I agree) and she's not sure why... I think it might be due to the evidence of how we have batted this series.

    James in Thailand