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Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby, Tim Abraham, Esha Nayar, George Booth and England spinner Jack Leach

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

    What a shot that is. Green just stepped away, swung his bat and sent it away. He just knew what ball that was going to be.

    That was a baseball shot.

  2. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    England haven't bowled very well today but they've also not really had any bits of luck.

  3. Aus 277-3

    A couple of baseball shots from Cameron Green.

    The Aussie all-rounder backs away to a short ball from Brydon Carse and slaps it down the ground for four.

    Carse repeats the delivery next ball and Green thwacks it square this time. He and Smith run three.

  4. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Steve Smith has scored 66% runs behind square in this innings so far. Of the 80 times he's gone past 50 in his Test career, only once has he scored a higher proportion of runs behind square in the first 50 runs.

  5. Jack Leach
    England spinner, sat with the BBC Sport live text team

    LeachGetty Images

    Steve Smith is in his own bubble out there. My first experience against him was at Lord's in the second Test in 2019.

    I bowled a ball to him slightly short and he cut it to the deep cover fielder. He said something like, 'So lazy, that has got to go for four!'

    He was having a go at himself and it feels like he is unaware of what's going on around him.

    He loves batting and when he gets into his groove he is hard to stop. Again, similar to what I said about Marnus Labuschagne.

    Smith is a tough competitor, he loves the competition, and he is always the most important wicket when you play against Australia.

    His record speaks for itself.

  6. Aus 270-3

    Ben Stokes has a lengthy chat with Gus Atkinson and he tweaks the field.

    Steve Smith unfurls a big booming drive to Atkinson's third ball but he does not make contact.

    A couple of deliveries later Smith inside-edges a full delivery from Atkinson down into the ground and it just misses the stumps.

    The Barmy Army trumpeter decides it's time for the Great Escape to rouse the travelling fans into song.

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    Is it too early to start discussing who might replace Baz after this series?

    Chris, Staffordshire

  8. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    AtkinsonReuters

    We have seen 25 boundaries scored against the pacers behind square in the first 50 overs of this innings. That is the most at this stage of the innings in any Test innings in our database since 2006.

  9. Aus 267-3

    Jofra Archer, two slips in place, decides to mix short balls and fuller deliveries but Cameron Green and Steve Smith are well set here.

    Archer has 1-59 from 16 overs today. He's bowled more overs than anyone else.

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    This bowling is buffet-style, help yourself to a 4 or a 6 any time. We will offer long hops, half volleys, full tosses, leg side, drag downs. It's Christmas - season of gifts.

    Peps, Cambridge

  11. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    This is Steve Smiths 26th 50+ score against England. He has the third-most half-centuries in Ashes cricket.

  12. Aus 266-3

    Not much chatter between England's players now. Few tea pots and arms folded.

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    In response to Myles Runham (@9:30), surely it has to be a Pink Lady, no?

    Josh, Surrey

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Steve Smith will just be frustrating England the more time he's out there. It's something that England have struggled to do for a long time, just take time out of the game.

  15. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Steve Smith has been really good today, watchful to start with, as skittish as ever. He's batted really, really well. His 80th time.

  16. 50 runs

    Fifty for Smith

    England look a bit flat here. They've pinned a lot on this session and it ain't happening at the moment.

    Steve Smith strikes Gus Atkinson for two fours - via a late cut and flick through mid-wicket - then brings up a 67-ball half-century with a little tip and run into the off side.

  17. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Australia are making it look all too easy out there.

    England haven't bowled good enough.

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    This Test is slipping away from us now. A big mistake not declaring yesterday and having 30-45 minutes bowling at them, could have skittled a couple of wickets and unsettled them coming into this morning. For the sake of letting Jofra Archer slap it around a bit for an extra 30 runs.

    Peter, West Yorkshire

  19. Aus 256-3

    Trail by 78 runs

    Classy stuff from Steve Smith as he plays a delicious late cut off Jofra Archer, guiding it between gully and point for four.

    Later in Archer's over Cameron Green plays with soft hands, opening the face, to guide another delivery down to the boundary.

    Archer looks a little weary.

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    What this shows, yet again, is how abysmal England batted yesterday (bar the exception of Root). Should have been 320-5 minimum at the end of day one, with a chance to put 500 on the board. There’s nothing in this pitch.

    Jar, Birmingham