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

  1. Get Involved

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    Love the Carse decision. Mix it up. Always wondered why cricket has to be so rigid when other sports especially football have three-to-four formation changes within a half. Keep the opposition guessing. Great fun overall to be staying up watching this. It's about time!

    Rory, Norwich

    To be fair, it makes sense. It takes the shine off of the ball and gets us through to tea. No pressure.

    Rob, Buxton

    Can see the method in the madness. Any runs from Carse now may be more than he may get at the end.

    Jim, London

  2. Eng 61-0

    Top drive!

    Zak Crawley ends Mitchell Starc's over with a beautiful shot past a sprawling mid-off fielder for four.

    He moves to 21, while Starc's five overs have cost 28 runs.

  3. How's stat?!

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    England's Brydon Carse in actionReuters

    Brydon Carse has batted at number three only once before today in any form of professional cricket. He scored 58 runs off 30 balls on that occasion in the T20 Blast in 2023.

  4. Get Involved

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    What is going on here?! I’m gobsmacked!

    Manco, Caerphilly

    Sending Carse out is outrageous, this Test match is simply ridiculous.

    Amani, MCG

    Have England created a new role of tea-watchman?

    Stuart, Derby

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

    I'm laughing, but it is a nervous laugh. I don't know what is going on.

    The Australians are probably mind-blown by what is happening out in the middle.

  6. Eng 56-1

    Target 175

    Brydon Carse of England plays a shotGetty Images

    Well then.

    England's newbie number three Brydon Carse starts at the non-striker's end as Australia make their first bowling change, switching in Jhye Richardson for Michael Neser, whose three overs went for 26 runs.

    A Zak Crawley single brings Carse on strike and he immediately charges Richardson, sending a load of atmosphere flying as he swipes at thin air.

    Three singles follow before Richardson's last delivery beats Crawley's bat.

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

    Good lord. Brydon Carse at number three!

    Well, this is a bizarre change of batting order. Brydon Carse is batting number three, I never thought I would say that.

  8. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Melbourne

    Brydon Carse is batting three. My head has fallen off.

  9. Hello, what's this?

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

    Mitchell Starc of Australia celebratesGetty Images

    When batters are being aggressive in any format of the game, the yorker is such a dangerous delivery.

    Mitchell Starc showing all of his experience there, he bowls his yorker, and it gets through Ben Duckett.

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

    England lose their first wicket.

    Ben Duckett has set them on their way, but England's job is not done yet.

  12. wicket

    WICKET

    Duckett b Starc 34 (Eng 51-1)

    A yorker ends Ben Duckett's adventurous stay at the crease!

    His 26-ball innings comes to an end as an excellent Mitchell Starc yorker crashes through his defences.

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

    It is going to end today. England only require 130 more. That is only 20 overs of batting. They are not going to block many. Australia have lost that line and length, which they have been so good at bowling in three and a half Test matches.

  14. Eng 51-0

    Ben Duckett gets two in the covers, that takes him to 3,000 Test runs and past his previous series high-score of 29 at Adelaide.

    He cuts the following ball for four through backward point - his fifth boundary of the innings and bringing up England's first fifty opening partnership of the series.

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

    I reckon Scott Boland will be given the nod very shortly to come on to bowl. Mitchell Starc has just not got it right.

  16. Eng 45-0

    Target 175

    Ben Duckett pulls out a textbook defensive shot to the next ball, drawing massive cheers from the travelling England support.

    A single into the leg side follows.

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

    Ben Duckett plays a shotGetty Images

    Australia are spreading the field. The problem on this pitch is if you go back to conventional play you're far more likely to get out.

    They have both got to carry on and try and whack it. Another half an hour of this...

  18. 6 runs

    Eng 44-0

    And now four and six for Ben Duckett!

    That's how Zak Crawley started the last Michael Neser over and now Duckett gets in on the act.

    A big heave skews an edge to the third boundary, then a ramp clears the ropes behind the keeper.

    England are rattling along.

  19. Get Involved

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    I’m a Test cricket purist, but even I’ll admit this is gripping.

    Dan, Manly

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

    England batsman Zak Crawley is hit by the ballGetty Images

    We're only into the fifth over now and there has been swing, a hint of bounce, but it has not been nipping.

    That heavy roller will eventually wear off, and it will nip a bit more.

    I can't imagine England winning by 10 wickets on this pitch.