Summary

  • Fourth Test, day two, Melbourne

  • England chase down 175 to beat Australia by four wickets inside two days

  • Tourists skittle hosts for 132 - Carse 4-34, Stokes 3-24

  • Crawley & Duckett make fine start to chase, Bethell hits 40 and Brook & Smith finish the job

  • Hosts have unassailable 3-1 series lead

  • Fifth and final Test in Sydney starts on 4 January (23:30 GMT 3 January)

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Live Reporting

by Sam Drury, Mike Peter & George Booth

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    If England bowl Australia out here for 130-150 and can get the afternoon in to bat, then this is the scenario in which Bazball is suited to.

    Josh, Merseyside

  2. Thanks Sam.

    We've got an absolutely crucial hour coming up.

    Bowl out Australia for not much more and England are looking at a chaseable target.

    If the home side's lead gets above 200 then they become favourites, taking into account the nature of this pitch and the tourists' batting frailties.

  3. Sam Drury
    BBC Sport cricket writer

    The suggestion that England were still in this Test was met by a barrage of thumbs down at the end of day one.

    Well, at lunch on day two they have given themselves every chance.

    It won't be easy chasing on this pitch but certainly all is not lost yet.

    To see which way this crazy match goes in the afternoon session, it is over to Mike Peter.

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

    A brilliant half an hour from England just before lunch. They're in a much more positive position. It has been a funny old Test match.

  5. Lunch - Aus 98-6

    Lead by 140

    England bowler Josh Tongue (R) is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Australia's Usman KhawajaGetty Images

    Cameron Green edges the last ball of the session... but wide of the cordon and away for four.

    What a morning it has been, though, with England taking six wickets to keep themselves right in this match.

    Two wickets apiece for Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue with one each for Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, although the latter has had to leave the field with a hamstring injury.

    This one is in the balance and I'm not sure we're going to get to day three...

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    When England do come out to chase, they must go all guns blazing. It's the only way you have a chance on this wicket.

    James, Surrey

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

    Australia have five minutes until lunch to not lose another wicket.

    England will be searching for the fourth wicket in half an hour.

  8. Aus 92-6

    Lead by 134

    Crunched down the ground by Steve Smith. That's some shot on this pitch.

    Brilliant response from Josh Tongue, though, as he beats the right-hander with one that lifts and nips away from back of a length.

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    England fans cheer on their team on the second dayGetty Images

    Absolute carnage at the MCG, as the wickets continue to tumble on day two.

    Adam

    Never mind tomorrow. This will be over by tea.

    Thomas, Bristol

    This is great bowling from England, however, it means we have to watch them bat soon.

    Noah, London

  10. Aus 88-6

    Lead by 130

    England are up now and even as the last ball of the over slides down leg, the bounce takes it close to new batter Cameron Green's gloves.

    Huge few minutes before lunch. Get Steve Smith and the tourists will really believe.

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

    Well, this game is on an absolute knife edge. Just when you think England threw it away yesterday, Australia are struggling again today.

    England are a bowler down today, but they keep finding something.

    A really poor shot from Alex Carey.

  12. wicket

    WICKET

    Carey c Brook b Carse 4 (Aus 88-6)

    Brydon Carse has another!

    The in-form Alex Carey, beaten by a beauty earlier in the over, pushes at another and gets a thick outside edge.

    It goes quickly but Harry Brook shows very safe hands at second slip.

    What a few overs these have been for England!

  13. How stat?!

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Josh Tongue provides a completely different dimension in terms of his angle of attack.

    To right-handers, 82% of his deliveries come from wide of the crease over the wicket; the closest on that front in this English attack is Ben Stokes, who bowls 42% of his deliveries to right-hand batters wide of the crease, the rest all operate fairly close to the stumps.

    Contrastingly, to left-handers, Tongue bowls almost 90% of his deliveries round the wicket and from closer to the stumps, whereas the other English seamers tend to operate from a slightly wider angle.

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    Ollie Pope of England (L) celebrates with his teammates after catching out Usman KhawajaGetty Images

    This game is changing every minute.

    Claire, MCG

  15. Aus 87-5

    Lead by 129

    Alex Carey cracks the last ball of the over down the ground for four. Lovely shot.

    It's another wicket-taking over for Josh Tongue, though. He's been excellent again and has kept England right in with a chance in Melbourne.

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

    Usman Khawaja couldn't have picked out Ollie Pope better if he tried.

    Safe as houses from Ollie Pope on the boundary. Now, Australia, just before lunch lose two quick ones and England find themselves back in the battle of this Test match.

  17. wicket

    WICKET

    Khawaja c sub (Pope) b Tongue (Aus 83-5)

    The short ball does for Usman Khawaja!

    It's a surprise bouncer from Josh Tongue, the Australia left-hander takes it on but top-edges the hook shot.

    The ball travels a long way but these are big boundaries and Ollie Pope, on as a sub fielder, barely has to move to take the catch at fine leg.

    Game on!

  18. Far be it from me to disagree with the experts but I think Aggers and Alex are doing down an excellent ball from Brydon Carse, there.

    Not a whole lot Travis Head could do about that.

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

    What a big wicket that is! I am not sure what Travis Head was trying to do.

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

    The wobble ball from Brydon Carse. It didn't nip or do anything for Travis Head.

    Head prodded at the ball, he is trying to defend that one and he got stuck on the crease.