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Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby & Timothy Abraham

  1. Aus 145-1

    Well Peter, I think Jamie Smith is the only member of this England XI who hasn't bowled in his professional career, so that might be fun? Zak Crawley has bowled 78 balls. Ben Duckett has two first-class wickets.

    Having once witnessed Dane Vilas and George Bell sharing the bowling for Lancashire (against Somerset, I think), I'm always up for rogue bowlers.

    Josh Tongue concedes three runs. Ben Stokes returns to the attack.

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    Surely it's time to put nine men on the boundary and bowl short rubbish. Maybe Harry Brook?

    Peter, SCG

    At the moment England's score looks way below par. Brook and Jamie Smith left runs out there. Now we are bowling so poorly. Suppose this what happens when you have not prepared properly.

    Anon

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

    It seems that whatever Matthew Potts serves up at the moment, it heads to the boundary.

  4. Aus 142-1

    Boundaries are back! The first and sixth balls of the over go for four.

    Travis Head opens up his body and pummels the ball through point, beating the dive of sub fielder Ollie Pope on the rope. Marnus Labuschagne plays square for his seventh boundary.

    There's a mid-over three as well.

    Matthew Potts' dismal figures are now 0-58 off seven. England's lead is under 250.

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

    The light hasn't got any worse but it certainly hasn't got better.

  6. Aus 131-1

    Josh Tongue concedes two singles. That's the first over without a boundary since Brydon Carse sent down a maiden for the 20th.

    More light meter chatter. Don't need a light meter to confirm it's dark in Salford.

  7. Aus 129-1

    Guess what?

    Labuschagne. Cover drive. Four.

    Oh, and the umpire is playing with a light meter.

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    I'm not sure what the selectors have seen in Matthew Potts that makes them think he's a Test bowler. He's not that fast, certainly not accurate. Sam Cook has far better skills.

    Jonathan, Morpeth

    Frankly embarrassing lines and lengths from supposedly 'international' level bowlers. How can we expect to keep with anyone if our bowlers are completely incapable of bowling a good line and length for more than one ball at a time.

    Nathan

    Just arrived in Sydney and watching from an Irish bar ahead of day three and four. England bowlers are bowling worse than my old boys team - and that’s saying something.

    Mike, Old Chesterfeldrians.

  9. Aus 123-1

    Morning Charles - good luck with the commute! I thoroughly enjoyed crunching through a centimetre or two of snow on my way into the office but I fear the novelty might have worn off ahead of the return trip.

    Marnus Labuschagne drives through the covers for four - I've typed that a couple of times today. Pinpoint placement.

    Seven from the over. Brydon Carse is finding himself on the expensive side once again.

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    Morning gang. Just about to leave for work for the first time since Christmas, hoping for another hours play to keep me going through part of my commute. It is currently -7 with wind chill here in South Wales. The old South Wales that is.

    Charles, Pontypridd.

    Re this England side. It’s got to a point that they are all 'yes' men. They don’t take criticism. Bad batting - 'Bazball is the answer', poor bowling - all over the place. It’s as if you can’t criticise the coach, captain, coaching (bat/ball) - they all pat each other on the back and tell themselves what a great job they are doing. England have been poor all around on this tour. Things need looking at - but they won’t be, summer will come - England will win some Tests: 'Aren’t we doing well?'

    Jon, Leeds.

    Pity that during the net sessions the coaches do not seem to have concentrated on bowlers bowling line and length.

    Tony, Putney

  11. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    England could be looking at a real first innings deficit if they do not get into Australia's middle order quickly.

  12. Aus 116-1

    Head 62 (60), Labuschagne 29 (43)

    Better from Matthew Potts - a pulled four from Marnus Labuschagne is the only scoring shot.

    His second delivery strikes Labuschagne on his right thumb and Australia's number three recoils in pain.

    He receives some treatment on his thumb during drinks.

    Australia trail by 268 runs.

  13. What's happened today?

    Up with the larks and wondering what's happened today?

    We'll gladly fill you in on how day two of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG has panned out.

    England resumed the day on 211-3 but lost Harry Brook relatively early on to a bit of a nothing waft and he was quickly followed by Ben Stokes for a duck.

    Joe Root reached three figures for the second time in an Ashes Test on Australian soil, though, as he notched his 41st Test hundred.

    A composed Root shared a stand of 94 with a decidedly more skittish Jamie Smith before the latter perished in a quite frankly embarrassing fashion.

    Approximately 10 minutes before tea, and the new ball due not longer after, Smith slapped a bouncer from Marnus Labuschagne (Yes, Marnus Labuschagne!) into the hands of Scott Boland at deep cover.

    Root was eventually dismissed for 160 and England's tail folded not long after as they were bowled out for 384. Michael Neser finished the pick of the Australian attack with 4-60.

    England have lacked a bit of control with the ball as Australia began with a blitz of runs. Jake Weatherald was dropped twice before he was trapped lbw by Ben Stokes.

    Travis Head has played the most fluently and passed fifty. He is currently unbeaten on 62 off 60 balls while Marnus Labuschagne is not out on 25 off 37 balls.

  14. Aus 112-1

    Another profitable over for Australia. Seven runs from it, including a Travis Head uppercut for four.

    Earlier in the over, Head and Marnus Labuschagne brought up their 50 partnership off 56 balls.

    Australia are ticking along at a shade over five an over.

  15. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It was one of those that was missing but not by a lot. The angle took it down the leg-side unfortunately.

  16. Not out - Aus 108-1

    Missing leg-stump. England lose a review.

    Australia came through for a leg-bye.

    Carry on.

  17. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Brydon Carse of England appealsGetty Images

    England are confident with this. It did not look that convincing on the field.

  18. England review

    England are sending a possible lbw against Marnus Labuschagne upstairs.

  19. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Matthew Potts of EnglandGetty Images

    Matthew Potts is struggling with his return to Test cricket. It is hard to hit the ground running when you have not played for a while.

  20. Aus 105-1

    Marnus Labuschagne also collects a boundary, beating the diving fielder in the covers.

    12 off the over. Matthew Potts has 0-37 from four.