Fifth Test, day three, Sydney
Hosts in total control on 518-7 at close, leading by 134
Smith - dropped by Crawley on 12 - reaches 37th Test century and remains unbeaten on 129
Head brings up third century of series - Jacks drops dolly with him on 121 - before opener falls lbw to Bethell for 163
Australia hold unassailable 3-1 series lead
Watch highlights on iPlayer from 17:00 GMT
Play on day four will begin at 23:00 GMT (10:00 local time Wednesday)
Matthew Potts goes short to Beau Webster but the giant Aussie picks up the length, gets over the top of the ball, and hammers it square for four.
Later in the over, Smith rolls his wrists with a hook shot that brings him four in the same area.
"Catch it!" bellows Jacob Bethell after he tosses one up outside the off stump which Beau Webster slashes at. However, the ball pops up down at the vacant third region off the edge of Webster bat and there's not a fielder nearby. Webster and Steve Smith run three.
A true tennis forehand smash from Steve Smith as he idiosyncratically reacts to a Matthew Potts short ball. Two singles off the over.
Australia keen to inflict death by a thousand cuts on a tired-looking England.
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Matthew Potts has been such a disappointment, but not like he had a better replacement. We need to keep the lead below 100 and bat THE WHOLE of tomorrow!
Max in Birmingham
England needed to score min 450 to be competitive. Now they’ll concede a big deficit to likely lose the match .
Simon, Nottingham
England just don’t have the skill sets needed to be truly elite. The likes of Steve Smith love this. Would be shocked (and disappointed) if Australia’s lead was sub 150. Let’s go Australia!
Richard in Cardiff
Jacob Bethell lands three on the spot then one that bounces and turns that slightly surprises Steve Smith. Australia content to milk singles, though.
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
England are desperate to finish this off quickly but that might prove tricky with Beau Webster out there with Steve Smith.
England flagging after a long day in the dirt. Australia with their foot on the throat.
We've been here before, haven't we?
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator
From an England point of view, the concern is a strong lower order for Australia.
This is going be a lead of 180 odd.
The wicketless Matthew Potts is summoned by Ben Stokes.
Steve Smith top edges Potts' first ball of the spell and it flies in the air towards deep third, but Zak Crawley cannot quite make up the ground quickly enough to turn it into a catching chance.
Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
This hour could be dangerous. There are tiring bowlers and fielders in the heat.
Steve Smith is so hungry for runs. This is the appetite you want Harry Brook to gain.
Image source, Getty ImagesJacob Bethell, bleached-blond hair dangling down over the back of his collar, gold chain, and dinner plate sunglasses, looks like he would be right at home in somewhere like Miami or Rio.
He rattles through another over of left-arm spin. A single apiece for Beau Webster and Steve Smith.
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15 overs of part-time spin bowled so far, probably shows Shoaib Bashir was worth a game here. Otherwise why is he here?
Sam in Loughborough
I've just woken up and I see who's bowling. I thought Will Jacks was supposed to be the spinner specialist.
Ripley, Gloucester
Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
Brydon Carse just keeps going. It's as if you wind him up and he goes.
Steve Smith has a big swing and miss at Brydon Carse - a momentary lapse - before decisively driving him through the covers for four.
Carse has been a real workhorse for England today. He has figures of 3-108 from 23 overs.
Srinivas Vijaykumar
CricViz analyst
Since the start of June 2022, in the Bazball era, England have on average have bowled 83 overs per innings - the most of the nine teams to have played 15+ matches in the timeline.
Average overs bowled per innings since the start of June 2022
In terms of potency of the bowling attack, England in the same timeline have a strike rate of 53.7. Only Bangladesh (53.8) & Sri Lanka (55.4) fare worse compared to England.
Steve Smith kissed the Australia badge on his helmet before a waggle of the bat to salute the crowd for his century. He was quite stone-faced, though - he knows the job is not quite done yet.
Joining us for the final hour on day three? Here's what you've missed.
Australia, who were 166-2 overnight, are still batting - they are 450-7 and lead by 66 runs.
Their innings was spear-headed by Travis Head, who made 163 (166) at the top of the order - his third century of the series. However, he should have been dismissed on 121, with Will Jacks guilty of a horror drop on the boundary.
England also burned their two remaining reviews in the morning session as they desperately tried to shift nightwatchman Michael Neser (24 off 90).
Head was eventually trapped lbw by Jacob Bethell - one of three wickets to fall during the afternoon session as Australia advanced from 281-3 at lunch to 377-6 at tea.
Usman Khawaja was out lbw to Brydon Carse for 17 (49) in what could be his final Test innings while Josh Tongue had Alex Carey caught at leg slip by Bethell.
Although the wicket of Cameron Green has just fallen to leave Australia seven down, Steve Smith is going strong on 101 and has just reached his century off 166 balls.
Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesSteve Smith is like a gladiator as he takes his applause. What a great feeling that must be on his home ground.
Steve Smith was dogged and determined from ball one at the SCG.
With dirty on his shirt, he chiselled out another Ashes hundred.
Smith brings it up with three off Jacob Bethell - a delicate lap round the corner behind square.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crawley,leg before wicket, bowled Neser Crawley, leg before wicket, bowled Neser | 16 | 29 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 55.17 |
Duckett,caught Carey, bowled Starc Duckett, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 27 | 24 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 112.50 |
Bethell,caught Carey, bowled Boland Bethell, caught Carey, bowled Boland | 10 | 23 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 43.48 |
Root,caught and bowled Neser Root, caught and bowled Neser | 160 | 242 | 144 | 15 | 0 | 398 | 66.12 |
Brook,caught Smith, bowled Boland Brook, caught Smith, bowled Boland | 84 | 97 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 164 | 86.60 |
Stokes,caught Carey, bowled Starc Stokes, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0.00 |
Smith,caught Boland, bowled Labuschagne Smith, caught Boland, bowled Labuschagne | 46 | 76 | 55 | 6 | 1 | 104 | 60.53 |
Jacks,caught Green, bowled Neser Jacks, caught Green, bowled Neser | 27 | 62 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 76 | 43.55 |
Carse,caught Carey, bowled Green Carse, caught Carey, bowled Green | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16.67 |
Potts,not out Potts, not out | 1 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6.25 |
Tongue,bowled Neser Tongue, bowled Neser | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
Extras, no balls 3, wides 2, byes 1, leg byes 6, total 12 Extras, no balls 3, wides 2, byes 1, leg byes 6, total 12 | |||||||
Total,384 all out 97.3 overs Total,384 all out 97.3 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starc | 23.0 | 2 | 93 | 2 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4.04 |
Neser | 18.3 | 2 | 60 | 4 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3.24 |
Boland | 26.0 | 2 | 85 | 2 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3.26 |
Green | 18.0 | 0 | 85 | 1 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4.72 |
Webster | 5.0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.00 |
Head | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5.00 |
Labuschagne | 3.0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.66 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
35 for 1 (6.5 overs) | Duckett |
51 for 2 (11.4 overs) | Crawley |
57 for 3 (12.6 overs) | Bethell |
226 for 4 (47.4 overs) | Brook |
229 for 5 (50.5 overs) | Stokes |
323 for 6 (74.4 overs) | Smith |
375 for 7 (91.6 overs) | Jacks |
382 for 8 (94.1 overs) | Carse |
384 for 9 (97.1 overs) | Root |
384 for 10 (97.3 overs) | Tongue |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head,leg before wicket, bowled Bethell Head, leg before wicket, bowled Bethell | 163 | 166 | 91 | 24 | 1 | 324 | 98.19 |
Weatherald,leg before wicket, bowled Stokes Weatherald, leg before wicket, bowled Stokes | 21 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 58.33 |
Labuschagne,caught Bethell, bowled Stokes Labuschagne, caught Bethell, bowled Stokes | 48 | 68 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 91 | 70.59 |
Neser,caught Smith, bowled Carse Neser, caught Smith, bowled Carse | 24 | 90 | 79 | 4 | 0 | 115 | 26.67 |
Smith,caught Smith, bowled Tongue Smith, caught Smith, bowled Tongue | 138 | 220 | 143 | 16 | 1 | 332 | 62.73 |
Khawaja,leg before wicket, bowled Carse Khawaja, leg before wicket, bowled Carse | 17 | 49 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 34.69 |
Carey,caught Bethell, bowled Tongue Carey, caught Bethell, bowled Tongue | 16 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 123.08 |
Green,caught Duckett, bowled Carse Green, caught Duckett, bowled Carse | 37 | 64 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 84 | 57.81 |
Webster,not out Webster, not out | 71 | 87 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 123 | 81.61 |
Starc,bowled Tongue Starc, bowled Tongue | 5 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 35.71 |
Boland,caught Brook, bowled Jacks Boland, caught Brook, bowled Jacks | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00 |
Extras, no balls 5, wides 4, byes 4, leg byes 14, total 27 Extras, no balls 5, wides 4, byes 4, leg byes 14, total 27 | |||||||
Total,567 all out 133.5 overs Total,567 all out 133.5 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carse | 27.0 | 2 | 130 | 3 | 107 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 4.81 |
Potts | 25.0 | 1 | 141 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 5.64 |
Tongue | 30.0 | 0 | 97 | 3 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3.23 |
Stokes | 27.4 | 6 | 95 | 2 | 122 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3.43 |
Jacks | 8.5 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.84 |
Bethell | 15.2 | 1 | 52 | 1 | 61 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3.39 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
57 for 1 (12.2 overs) | Weatherald |
162 for 2 (30.6 overs) | Labuschagne |
234 for 3 (54.4 overs) | Neser |
288 for 4 (67.1 overs) | Head |
339 for 5 (83.4 overs) | Khawaja |
366 for 6 (88.1 overs) | Carey |
437 for 7 (106.3 overs) | Green |
544 for 8 (128.5 overs) | Smith |
564 for 9 (132.6 overs) | Starc |
567 for 10 (133.5 overs) | Boland |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crawley,leg before wicket, bowled Starc Crawley, leg before wicket, bowled Starc | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 50.00 |
Duckett,bowled Neser Duckett, bowled Neser | 42 | 55 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 96 | 76.36 |
Bethell,caught Carey, bowled Starc Bethell, caught Carey, bowled Starc | 154 | 265 | 170 | 15 | 0 | 384 | 58.11 |
Root,leg before wicket, bowled Boland Root, leg before wicket, bowled Boland | 6 | 37 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 16.22 |
Brook,leg before wicket, bowled Webster Brook, leg before wicket, bowled Webster | 42 | 48 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 89 | 87.50 |
Jacks,caught Green, bowled Webster Jacks, caught Green, bowled Webster | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
Smith,run out Weatherald Smith, run out Weatherald | 26 | 41 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 63.41 |
Stokes,caught Smith, bowled Webster Stokes, caught Smith, bowled Webster | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20.00 |
Carse,caught Smith, bowled Boland Carse, caught Smith, bowled Boland | 16 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 80.00 |
Potts,not out Potts, not out | 18 | 43 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 80 | 41.86 |
Tongue,caught Labuschagne, bowled Starc Tongue, caught Labuschagne, bowled Starc | 6 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 42.86 |
Extras, no balls 2, wides 3, byes 9, leg byes 11, penalties 5, total 30 Extras, no balls 2, wides 3, byes 9, leg byes 11, penalties 5, total 30 | |||||||
Total,342 all out 88.2 overs Total,342 all out 88.2 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starc | 18.2 | 2 | 72 | 3 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3.92 |
Boland | 25.0 | 6 | 46 | 2 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1.84 |
Neser | 16.0 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3.43 |
Green | 6.0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6.66 |
Webster | 16.0 | 1 | 64 | 3 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4.00 |
Head | 4.0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6.25 |
Labuschagne | 3.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
4 for 1 (0.5 overs) | Crawley |
85 for 2 (19.1 overs) | Duckett |
117 for 3 (31.6 overs) | Root |
219 for 4 (51.1 overs) | Brook |
219 for 5 (51.3 overs) | Jacks |
264 for 6 (64.1 overs) | Smith |
267 for 7 (65.2 overs) | Stokes |
297 for 8 (70.3 overs) | Carse |
328 for 9 (84.2 overs) | Bethell |
342 for 10 (88.2 overs) | Tongue |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head,caught Carse, bowled Tongue Head, caught Carse, bowled Tongue | 29 | 35 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 82.86 |
Weatherald,caught Potts, bowled Tongue Weatherald, caught Potts, bowled Tongue | 34 | 40 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 71 | 85.00 |
Labuschagne,run out Potts Labuschagne, run out Potts | 37 | 40 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 92.50 |
Smith,bowled Jacks Smith, bowled Jacks | 12 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 100.00 |
Khawaja,bowled Tongue Khawaja, bowled Tongue | 6 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 85.71 |
Carey,not out Carey, not out | 16 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 59.26 |
Green,not out Green, not out | 22 | 27 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 81.48 |
Extras, no balls 0, wides 1, byes 3, leg byes 1, total 5 Extras, no balls 0, wides 1, byes 3, leg byes 1, total 5 | |||||||
Total,161 for 5 31.2 overs Total,161 for 5 31.2 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carse | 8.0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 6.37 |
Tongue | 11.0 | 0 | 42 | 3 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3.81 |
Bethell | 3.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5.33 |
Jacks | 6.2 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6.63 |
Root | 3.0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
62 for 1 (10.3 overs) | Head |
71 for 2 (14.4 overs) | Weatherald |
92 for 3 (17.5 overs) | Smith |
119 for 4 (22.1 overs) | Khawaja |
121 for 5 (23.1 overs) | Labuschagne |