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Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Elizabeth Botcherby

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

    Steve Smith of AustraliaGetty Images

    Steve Smith is not very happy about that. A terrific bouncer from Josh Tongue.

  2. Aus 383-6

    Josh Tongue is bowling short stuff.

    The batters exchange singles before Steve Smith ends up on his backside after dodging out of the way of a bouncer that nipped back into him. He smiles as he mimes what happened with his hand.

    Smith ducks and sways out of the way of the next two deliveries.

  3. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It feels with this England side that anything that comes from outside the bubble, they tend to not want to do [it].

    It has been said that Ben Stokes should take the new ball and it is yet to happen.

  4. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Graph showing where Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been caught out this seriesCricViz

    Three of Alex Carey's six dismissals to pace in this Ashes series have been caught at leg slip/short fine leg. Prior to this series, he's never been dismissed caught in that position across his Test career.

  5. Aus 381-6

    Cameron Green guides the final ball of the over between slip and gully for the first runs of the session. Four.

  6. Aus 377-6

    Ben Stokes is opening the bowling after tea.

    Cameron Green drives along the ground to the fielder at cover.

  7. The players are heading back out to the middle.

    Australia are 377-6 in reply to England's 384. They trail by seven runs.

    Steve Smith is unbeaten on 65 (115) and Cameron Green has 8 (13).

    A pivotal session coming up.

  8. WinViz has Australia on top...

    WinViz gives Australia 47% chance of victory, the draw 32% and England 21%CricViz

  9. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Congratulations to “Guy at the SCG" (@4:00) who after toiling away all day (messaging the “get involved” every 10 mins) has finally made it onto the feed. Hopefully the England bowlers are soon similarly rewarded with wickets…

    Guy's friend, also at the SCG

  10. But stand-in skipper Steve Smith is still going strong on 65 (115).

    And whether he or Cameron Green is the next wicket to fall, Australia still have plenty of batting to come.

    Beau Webster has scored four Test fifties and averages 37 in first-class cricket, and Mitchell Starc has two half-centuries to his name in this series.

  11. There was a first Ashes wicket for Jacob Bethell, removing Travis Head for 163.

    Usman Khawaja, on his final Test appearance, was trapped lbw for 17 by Brydon Carse.

    And Alex Carey fell to Josh Tongue shortly before the interval.

  12. Anyway... cricket.

    That was a better session for England, wasn't it?

    From 281-3 at lunch, Australia are 377-6 at tea and still trail by seven runs.

  13. Thanks Tim - I said you'd have some wickets up your sleeve and you've delivered!

    I forgot to pack my slice of Christmas cake today, so my snack game has been underwhelming.

  14. Timothy Abraham
    BBC Sport

    Time for me to head off an devour some more cut-price limoncello panettone.

    Rest assured Elizabeth Botcherby is standing by to talk you through the tea interval and into the evening session at the SCG.

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

    Cameron Green will have known it was important for him to stick around until tea. It puts Australia into an even stronger position.

  16. Australia 377-6 at tea

    Three singles off Josh Tongue's over shortly before tea.

    England scrapped in that session but Australia are very much in control of things.

  17. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    England for once in a series can you PLEASE clean the tail up quickly.

    Jacob, Presteigne

  18. Aus 374-6

    Cameron Green plants his front foot before unfurling a classical cover drive against Matthew Potts to pick up his first boundary.

    Durham seamer Potts now has figures of 0-124 off 22 overs.

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

    Alex Carey picked out the fielder for the third time this series. He cannot stop flicking the ball to leg slip.

    He will be annoyed because he has hit some lovely deliveries.

  20. Aus 368-6

    A healthy helping of optimism, Guy.

    Here's the pragmatism.

    Australia trail England by 16 runs now. Steve Smith is still there. They also bat deep.