- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR34.3 big appeal and up goes the finger! Bancroft knows a second opinion is futile. This was angled in, beat the inside edge, thumped the back pad, plumb in front of middle, to end a curiously durable innings from a man who never looked comfortable 122/147.4 edged, and he's gone this time! It's a thin tickle and Bairstow grabs it low down. Round the wicket, that nagging line outside off and Warner has a fiddle. This time there will no abrupt turn as he walks off. 135/257.1 dangled outside off stump, and Broad has a wicket at last! The line and length was what lured Khawaja, just a hint of movement exacerbating the temptation, and Bairstow gathers the edge. Broad's first wicket for some 70 overs, I believe, and the end of a grim innings from the off-colour Uzzie 160/396.2 got him! Dragged on. This time it is his first Test wicket. His foot is okay, they aren't checking for the no-ball. Short outside off, Smith went to force it through the off side and gets a bottom edge into his stumps. For all the planning, short outside off works a treat! 260/4109.6 a big appeal from Broad and England have reviewed! Broad reckons it's plumb, but that's rarely a fair indication. Certainly very full, and if there's no inside edge this is tight... sure enough, it is pad first. Hang tight... and it is out! Hitting the top of off, and that's a credit to the revised line of attack, bringing the stumps into play. Shock horror, it's been England's morning... 314/6100.5 another drag on! England have worked out their tactics. Short outside off, Marsh aiming to play square through the off side, gets a bottom edge into the pitch which then bounces into the timber. Slow-pitch dismissals 278/5112.2 another drag-on! Paine swivels into a pull, and pays the price as the ball stays a touch low, flicks off the toe and cannons into the base of his leg stump! Signs of the wicket's two-paced nature, maybe? But that is Anderson's 520th Test wicket, which puts him clear of the former world record-holder Courtney Walsh 318/7115.2 edged, taken low down at slip! Nicely done by Broad, pushing full outside off, Cummins goes for the drive, the edge reaches Cook very low. And now the umpires are checking if it's carried. The soft signal is out. Cummins is almost off the ground. Safely into the hands. Well taken by Cook. That will be a quick confirmation by the third umpire. 326/9113.6 big appeal and up goes the finger! Bird is walking immediately, but Cummins has called for the review, and why not, seeing as they've got a spare. No bat involved though, so this is surely dead. Wicket to wicket, recalibrating the line from off to middle, and the tailender had no answer 325/8118.6 full, straight given...Lyon has reviewed but he's also walking off! Does swing quite late. Probably clipping leg stump at worse. Certainly no edge. Umpire's call on hitting leg stump. Taking a decent chunk of it 327/10Extras2 (lb 1, nb 1)TOTAL327 all out (119 Overs, RR: 2.74)Fall of wickets: 1-122 (Cameron Bancroft, 34.3 ov), 2-135 (David Warner, 47.4 ov), 3-160 (Usman Khawaja, 57.1 ov), 4-260 (Steven Smith, 96.2 ov), 5-278 (Mitchell Marsh, 100.5 ov), 6-314 (Shaun Marsh, 109.6 ov), 7-318 (Tim Paine, 112.2 ov), 8-325 (Jackson Bird, 113.6 ov), 9-326 (Pat Cummins, 115.2 ov), 10-327 (Nathan Lyon, 118.6 ov)
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR11.3 aggression from Stoneman and he's paid the price! Down the wicket, looking to hit against the spin, but he chips a fast leading edge high to Lyon's right, who sticks out a mitt and plucks a blinder! There's the justification for Lyon's early introduction, and England's solid day's work has its first wobble 35/124.1 full, straight, gone! That's stone dead. Gets in on the full length, at the stumps, perhaps just a shade of reverse - although more like seam movement - and Vince basically misses it. Oh dear, oh dear! The replay has shown he's got an inside edge! Vince had no idea he'd hit it, just asked Cook if it was sliding down 80/268.5 the breakthrough! That's a shocker from Root. Dropped in short, Root goes for the pull and just offers a top edge to deep square leg who is about two-thirds of the way to the boundary 218/380.2 ping! There we go, wicket to wicket, thumps the front pad, and up goes the finger! Hang on, that looks like a massive inside edge but Malan hasn't reviewed! Like Vince before him, he's lost the nerve endings in his fingers. A big, big moment in the match, but due reward for Hazlewood's pace and persistence, instantly on the money from round the wicket 246/489.6 and he's struck! Huge wicket for Australia. Another loose shot. It was a short outside off stump, Bairstow goes back and aims through the off side, gets a top edge to Paine. Excellent take from the keeper 279/593.1 super catch! Another wicket for not a great delivery. Short outside off, Moeen rocks back and doesn't try to keep the ball down, drives in the air and it's grabbed out of the air at short cover by Shaun Marsh 307/6114.5 and the short ball has done the trick! That's a bit of a waste from Woakes. Short on leg stump, he's almost through his pull too early and it glances off the glove to the keeper. Reward for Cummins' hard work 366/7119.3 huge appeal for caught behind, Dharmasena says not out and Smith reviews almost before the appeal has finished. Back of a length ball, past the outside edge, and yes there's a Hot Spot on the bat. A simple overturn. Another edge an umpire didn't spot 373/8137.5 slashed high and hard into the deep ... Khawaja hurtles round to scoop a tremendous take, low to the ground. The umpires are conferring to make sure it carried... but the soft signal is out, so let's see ... nope, that has burst through his hands on impact, so Broad will bat on! Or will he? They are taking an age to overturn it, and the upshot is that the TV replay is inconclusive! That's a very controversial finish, reminiscent of a Steve Waugh catch off Lara in the Caribbean some years ago - 1998-99, I believe 473/9144.1 well, it's taken just one ball! Round the wicket, short of a length at the body, and Anderson just turn it into the hands of Bancroft at short leg. Perfect for Australia 491/10Extras12 (b 4, lb 5, nb 3)TOTAL491 all out (144.1 Overs, RR: 3.4)Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Mark Stoneman, 11.3 ov), 2-80 (James Vince, 24.1 ov), 3-218 (Joe Root, 68.5 ov), 4-246 (Dawid Malan, 80.2 ov), 5-279 (Jonny Bairstow, 89.6 ov), 6-307 (Moeen Ali, 93.1 ov), 7-366 (Chris Woakes, 114.5 ov), 8-373 (Tom Curran, 119.3 ov), 9-473 (Stuart Broad, 137.5 ov), 10-491 (James Anderson, 144.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB JR Hazlewood 30 5 95 3 3.16 0 0 JM Bird 30 5 108 0 3.60 0 3 NM Lyon 42 9 109 3 2.59 0 0 PJ Cummins 29.1 1 117 4 4.01 0 0 MR Marsh 12 1 42 0 3.50 0 0 SPD Smith 1 0 11 0 11.00 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR15.4 bowled him! Another drag-on! What a give-away, England were starting to look resigned to a long fruitless toil, but Woakes plugged away on a tight line and induced another aberration from the under-fire opener 51/169.2 spanked up in the air, and Warner has had a brainfart! Root brought in the field, tempted the slog over the covers, and Warner took the bait, a horrible slog, skied straight into the pocket of Vince! Reminiscent of Root's ego-twanging of Chris Gayle in the World T20 final... and is this the twist in the tale ...? Unquestionably the best birthday present that Root has so far received today! 172/321.1 edged and gone! Just enough nip off the seam from a perfect line, and Khawaja is caught in two minds on the crease as Bairstow gathers the nick! 65/275.6 edged and Bairstow grabs a sharp chance on the stroke of lunch! Wow... what a finish to the session... England have persevered, and given themselves just a glimmer. Good delivery, in the channel outside off, took a fat deflection and flew quickly to Bairstow's left, where it was snaffled in one hand! 178/4Extras4 (b 4)TOTAL263/4d (124.2 Overs, RR: 2.11)Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Cameron Bancroft, 15.4 ov), 2-65 (Usman Khawaja, 21.1 ov), 3-172 (David Warner, 69.2 ov), 4-178 (Shaun Marsh, 75.6 ov)
Match Details
Toss
Player Of The Match
Series result
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
Match days
Test debut
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- Tue, 26 Dec - day 1 - Australia 1st innings 244/3 (SPD Smith 65*, SE Marsh 31*, 89 ov)
- Wed, 27 Dec - day 2 - England 1st innings 192/2 (AN Cook 104*, JE Root 49*, 57 ov)
- Thu, 28 Dec - day 3 - England 1st innings 491/9 (AN Cook 244*, JM Anderson 0*, 144 ov)
- Fri, 29 Dec - day 4 - Australia 2nd innings 103/2 (DA Warner 40*, SPD Smith 25*, 43.5 ov)
- Sat, 30 Dec - day 5 - Australia 2nd innings 263/4d (124.2 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- DA Warner: 50 off 161 balls (4 x 4)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 174 balls (DA Warner 23, SPD Smith 27, Ex 0)
- Drinks: Australia - 138/2 in 62.0 overs (DA Warner 68, SPD Smith 32)
- Australia: 150 runs in 64.6 overs (390 balls), Extras 0
- Rain: Australia - 159/2 in 66.1 overs (DA Warner 83, SPD Smith 38)
- 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 276 balls (DA Warner 58, SPD Smith 42, Ex 0)
- SPD Smith: 50 off 151 balls (4 x 4)
- Lunch: Australia - 178/4 in 76.0 overs (SPD Smith 50)
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- Australia: 200 runs in 88.2 overs (530 balls), Extras 0
- Drinks: Australia - 205/4 in 91.0 overs (SPD Smith 69, MR Marsh 8)
- Tea: Australia - 225/4 in 105.0 overs (SPD Smith 87, MR Marsh 10)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 179 balls (SPD Smith 38, MR Marsh 14, Ex 0)
- Australia: 250 runs in 117.4 overs (706 balls), Extras 0
- SPD Smith: 100 off 259 balls (6 x 4)
- Innings Break: England - 491/10 in 144.1 overs (AN Cook 244)
- Australia 2nd innings
- Over 6.5: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - S Ravi, Batsman - CT Bancroft (Struck down)
- Drinks: Australia - 44/0 in 13.0 overs (CT Bancroft 21, DA Warner 23)
- Australia: 50 runs in 15.3 overs (93 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 93 balls (CT Bancroft 27, DA Warner 24, Ex 0)
- Lunch: Australia - 70/2 in 25.0 overs (DA Warner 28, SPD Smith 4)
- Rain: Australia - 86/2 in 36.2 overs (DA Warner 32, SPD Smith 16)
- Australia: 100 runs in 43.3 overs (261 balls), Extras 0
- Rain: Australia - 103/2 in 43.5 overs (DA Warner 40, SPD Smith 25)
- Tea: Australia - 103/2 in 43.5 overs (DA Warner 40, SPD Smith 25)
- Wet Ground: Australia - 103/2 in 43.5 overs (DA Warner 40, SPD Smith 25)
- Rain: Australia - 103/2 in 43.5 overs (DA Warner 40, SPD Smith 25)
- End Of Day: Australia - 103/2 in 43.5 overs (DA Warner 40, SPD Smith 25)
- JE Root: 50 off 109 balls (6 x 4)
- England: 200 runs in 60.6 overs (369 balls), Extras 7
- Drinks: England - 224/3 in 71.0 overs (AN Cook 120, DJ Malan 4)
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- England: 250 runs in 81.6 overs (495 balls), Extras 7
- Lunch: England - 264/4 in 85.0 overs (AN Cook 134, JM Bairstow 16)
- England: 300 runs in 91.6 overs (555 balls), Extras 12
- AN Cook: 150 off 260 balls (19 x 4)
- Drinks: England - 318/6 in 99.0 overs (AN Cook 154, CR Woakes 3)
- England: 350 runs in 110.4 overs (667 balls), Extras 12
- 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 113 balls (AN Cook 26, CR Woakes 24, Ex 0)
- Tea: England - 360/6 in 113.0 overs (AN Cook 173, CR Woakes 26)
- Over 119.3: Review by Australia (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - TK Curran (Upheld)
- England: 400 runs in 126.1 overs (760 balls), Extras 12
- Drinks: England - 406/8 in 127.0 overs (AN Cook 197, SCJ Broad 18)
- AN Cook: 200 off 360 balls (23 x 4)
- 9th Wicket: 50 runs in 61 balls (AN Cook 24, SCJ Broad 26, Ex 0)
- England: 450 runs in 133.3 overs (804 balls), Extras 12
- SCJ Broad: 50 off 59 balls (7 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 9th Wicket: 100 runs in 107 balls (AN Cook 44, SCJ Broad 56, Ex 0)
- End Of Day: England - 491/9 in 144.0 overs (AN Cook 244, JM Anderson 0)
- Australia: 250 runs in 93.2 overs (561 balls), Extras 2
- 4th Wicket: 100 runs in 234 balls (SPD Smith 63, SE Marsh 36, Ex 1)
- Drinks: Australia - 284/5 in 103.0 overs (SE Marsh 49, TD Paine 2)
- SE Marsh: 50 off 130 balls (6 x 4)
- Australia: 300 runs in 107.1 overs (644 balls), Extras 2
- Over 109.6: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - S Ravi, Batsman - SE Marsh (Upheld)
- Over 113.6: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - S Ravi, Batsman - JR Hazlewood (Struck down)
- Lunch: Australia - 326/8 in 115.0 overs (PJ Cummins 4, JR Hazlewood 0)
- Over 118.6: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - NM Lyon (Struck down - Umpire's call)
- Innings Break: Australia - 327/10 in 119.0 overs (JR Hazlewood 1)
- England 1st innings
- England: 50 runs in 16.4 overs (101 balls), Extras 1
- Tea: England - 72/1 in 23.0 overs (AN Cook 37, JM Vince 17)
- AN Cook: 50 off 89 balls (8 x 4)
- England: 100 runs in 31.3 overs (192 balls), Extras 3
- Drinks: England - 127/2 in 38.0 overs (AN Cook 67, JE Root 21)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 91 balls (AN Cook 27, JE Root 21, Ex 4)
- England: 150 runs in 47.6 overs (291 balls), Extras 7
- 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 180 balls (AN Cook 47, JE Root 49, Ex 4)
- AN Cook: 100 off 164 balls (15 x 4)
- End Of Day: England - 192/2 in 57.0 overs (AN Cook 104, JE Root 49)
- Australia 1st innings
- Drinks: Australia - 37/0 in 14.0 overs (CT Bancroft 7, DA Warner 30)
- Australia: 50 runs in 16.6 overs (102 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 102 balls (CT Bancroft 11, DA Warner 39, Ex 0)
- DA Warner: 50 off 64 balls (6 x 4)
- Australia: 100 runs in 27.3 overs (165 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 100 runs in 165 balls (CT Bancroft 19, DA Warner 83, Ex 0)
- Lunch: Australia - 102/0 in 28.0 overs (CT Bancroft 19, DA Warner 83)
- DA Warner: 100 off 130 balls (13 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Drinks: Australia - 131/1 in 41.0 overs (DA Warner 100, UT Khawaja 4)
- Tea: Australia - 145/2 in 54.0 overs (UT Khawaja 10, SPD Smith 5)
- Australia: 150 runs in 54.2 overs (327 balls), Extras 1
- Over 57.2: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - S Ravi, Batsman - SE Marsh (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Australia: 200 runs in 66.5 overs (402 balls), Extras 1
- Drinks: Australia - 209/3 in 71.0 overs (SPD Smith 46, SE Marsh 15)
- 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 89 balls (SPD Smith 34, SE Marsh 15, Ex 1)
- SPD Smith: 50 off 98 balls (5 x 4)
- New ball taken after 85.4 overs
- End Of Day: Australia - 244/3 in 89.0 overs (SPD Smith 65, SE Marsh 31)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsMCG pitch rated poor by ICC
Australian cricket has been embarrassed by the ICC rating the MCG drop-in pitch for the Boxing Day Ashes Test as "poor" following a dull draw in which only 24 wickets were taken over five days
'It's a shame it's taken until now' - Root
There was no victory for England, but Joe Root could at least take consolation from a side that had finally competed with Australia
Warner tames the beast within (almost)
There was little in David Warner's career history to suggest he could bat Australia to a draw on a slow pitch - but he has long proved he is more than a six-hitting circus act
Relentless Smith finds a fresh ally
Steven Smith gave praise for his partner on the fifth day at the MCG, as Mitchell Marsh slipped into a supporting role with a mature, unbeaten innings
Smith continues his prolific run
Steven Smith hit yet another hundred - the 23rd of his Test career - to ensure a draw in the Boxing Day Test