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. Eng 34-0

    Target 175

    Run 'em up, Ben.

    The England opener gets twos from drives down the ground and into the covers, then takes three from the final ball of the over with a shot out to the mid-wicket ropes.

  2. Not out

    Eng 27-0

    Umpire's call on both impact and contact with the stumps.

    Zak Crawley survives - having also run a leg-bye - while Australia retain their review.

  3. Australia review

    A first wicket for Australia?

    Nothing from the umpire, but after some consultation with his players. Steve Smith is going to take a look after Mitchell Starc raps Zak Crawley on the pads.

  4. Get Involved

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    Right I’m staying up for this one - all through this series I’ve gone to sleep only to wake-up to another England collapse. Not this time.

    Frazer, Hertfordshire

  5. Eng 26-0

    Target 175

    Ben Duckett of England plays a shotGetty Images

    Ben Duckett attempts the ramp shot to Michael Neser but can't make a connection.

    The veteran seamer then completely befuddles Duckett with a delivery in the corridor.

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

    This is a good start for England. It is perfect for them.

    For three years, they have been given a licence to go out and crash it. In Australia, they have been found out playing that way, but this is the perfect platform to play their game.

    There is no real pressure. They're expected to play shots because the pitch is doing all sorts.

  7. 6 runs

    Eng 25-0

    Six and four!

    England have a plan and it's to attack.

    Zak Crawley launches Michael Neser over the ropes down the ground, then crashes his trademark four through the covers.

  8. Eng 15-0

    Target 175

    Another big swing of the bat from Ben Duckett to end the over, lifting the ball out to point for two.

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

    Ben Duckett is not going to die wondering.

    It is not Test cricket, but it is quite entertaining. It has moved along at a quick rate.

  10. dropped catch

    Duckett dropped on eight

    Eng 13-0

    Mitchell Starc of Australia fields off his own bowlingGetty Images

    It's all going on for Ben Duckett!

    The opener gets another four through backward square off Mitchell Starc, gets beaten by a delivery that moves prodigiously, then tries to clip into the leg side and sees the ball seam past his bat.

    Starc draws a leading edge from the next delivery and hurls himself forward but can't quite hold on.

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    This game cannot just be looked at in the context of this series. England have the chance to win their first Test match in Australia since 2011. They win this and it goes a huge way to reversing the narrative of this tour.

    Tattz, Harborne

  12. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It seems ridiculous to be talking about a target of 175 as mountainous.

  13. Eng 9-0

    Target 175

    Fans show their supportGetty Images

    A couple of twos for Zak Crawley, advancing down the pitch to Michael Neser to lift him over mid-on, then slapping the ball to backward square.

    Incidentally, Australia required exactly this total (175) at the MCG in the fourth Test of the 1998-99 Ashes.

    They were bowled out for 162 on that occasion, with Dean Headley taking 6-60 to lead England to a 12-run victory.

    That was the only match England won on that tour as they went down 3-1, losing the final Test in Sydney.

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    The most ridiculous Test match I can remember, yet here I am at 03:13am compelled by it. I'm meant to be working later this morning...

    Nick, Crewe

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

    Ben Duckett was practising dancing down and baseball shots.

  16. Eng 5-0

    Target 175

    Hello Ben!

    Zak Crawley runs a leg-bye to get England up and running, before Ben Duckett turns his first ball through square for four - taking him past 100 runs for the series in his seventh innings.

    The opener then swings wildly at two wide-ish deliveries from Mitchell Starc, balls that probably could have been left alone.

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    Zak Crawley of England walks out to batGetty Images

    Comfortable chase incoming for the boys, time to put some respect on the Bazball name!

    Josh, MCB

  18. Eng 0-0

    Target 175

    Mitchell Starc opens up for Australia and immediately plants one on Zak Crawley's inner thigh.

    The sting a reminder, if need be, that this is going to be a really tricky chase for England.

  19. How's stat?!

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    The highest total England have successfully chased in an Ashes Test in Australia is 332 back in 1928 in Melbourne.

    For targets between 150 and 200 in Australia, they have won four, lost three, and drawn once.

    The last time England successfully chased a 100+ total in the fourth innings in Australia was back in Brisbane in 1978 (chasing 170 on that occasion).

  20. Steve Smith leads his charges out onto the field.

    The stand-in Australia skipper passed Allan Border's Test run total as captain during his unbeaten innings of 24 - he has now has 3,553 to Border's 3,548.

    Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley take a bit of time to emerge, but they're now out there too.