Ashes 2017: Australia amass 146-run lead after imperious batting from Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh

Had this series had been staged in England, it would have been pretty close, even in the absence of Ben Stokes. Being staged in Australia it is on course to become as lop-sided as the 5-0 whitewashes of 2006-7 and 2013-4.

The terrain is everything, as it should be in cricket, otherwise one match would be all too much like another. If this series was in England, the ball would be swinging and seaming for James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Australia’s fast bowlers would be less effective, and their captain Steve Smith would be human, not a cross between Bradman and Superman.

But on a traditional Australian pitch like this one at the Waca, as hard as Smith himself, England’s bowlers have been rendered impotent. One by one they chalked up their personal centuries as Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh staged their triple-century partnership, and none of them had the pace or the spin to do anything about it.

In his 21 Tests the younger Marsh had averaged 21. He was brought up on his father’s farm with a bowling-machine in the backyard and on his return to the Test side in place of Peter Handscomb, he drove England’s pace bowlers as if they were just feeding him another bucket of balls. It is no mean record for one family to have three Test centurions, with a total of ten between them, although Geoff the father was far more of a blocker than Shaun or Mitchell.

When the younger Marsh was inducted into Australia’s Test side in 2014, he scored plenty initially but ran out of runs in England in the Ashes series of 2015. After Shane Watson had padded up once too often - the biggest LBW candidate of recent times - Marsh replaced him, and bowled quicker than Watson ever did. But it is almost impossible for Test allrounders to score big runs and take wickets simultaneously, and soon Marsh did neither, and was injured, and was dropped.

Now 26, and the captain of Western Australia, Marsh might have brought the retirement date of one or two England pace bowlers forward. To be kept in the field all day by Smith is, by now, all too predictable. To have the ball powered back past you by a rookie knocks the stuffing.

Smith was the bedrock that allowed the younger Marsh to come good. He clocked up his 1000 Test runs for the fourth consecutive year while adding 137 to his score. It was his 14th century in 29 Tests as captain, not far behind Don Bradman’s 14 in 24 as captain. At the close of day three, Smith’s average in Australia stood at 76 and as captain, everywhere, 75.

The ICC match referee Richie Richardson does not explicitly say that he spoke to the two teams after the second day in Adelaide, when the on-field behaviour touched rock bottom and several players deserved to have the charge-book thrown at them; all Richardson will say publicly is that he keeps in regular contact with both sides. But this does not explain why England in this game backed off Smith tactically as well as verbally.

From the moment he entered at 55 for two, England were almost deferential towards Smith. Firstly they concentrated on getting his partner, Usman Khawaja, out with offspin: not a bad idea, except perhaps at the Waca when the ball is not spinning, but Smith was the priority. It was like Douglas Jardine ignoring Harold Larwood in favour of something slow when Bradman came in.

It was the same deference at the outset of day three, when Smith resumed on 92, against Anderson and Broad. Root - in conjunction with his bowlers - set one slip, and no gully. As the ball was 62 overs old, there was a chance of reverse-swing, which thus required at least four fielders on the legside, but the problem lay in the choreography: it proclaimed that England’s intention was simply to slow Smith down.

Smith put on his bib and tucker, and gorged himself, his scoring-rate not hugely retarded. He threaded on-driven fours off Anderson and Broad through their defensive fields to bring up his 100 off 138 balls; his 150 came up off 205, his 200, his first in Australia, off 301. Smith was only perturbed when Anderson tried his Adelaide trick of standing smack in front of Smith when he was non-striker, on 163 (perhaps England should try a “gate” of three fielders, all holding hands, to block Smith). He also became a bit loose in his 170s, and survived a LBW appeal because Anderson had no-balled, and because it was “umpire’s call,” Chris Gaffaney having given not out.

Moeen Ali took the one wicket to fall all day. What a boon for a captain to have a spinner who can dismiss a well-set batsman with an old ball, as Moeen did when Shaun Marsh pushed forward and edged to slip. But Moeen has only dismissed lefthanders in this series, the other two Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood. Against righthanded batsmen Moeen has threatened to beat neither the inside nor outside edge, even when the Fremantle Doctor came to assist his drift. Smith rubbed in the salt by saying at the close that he thought Dawid Malan, with his occasional legbreaks, was England’s best spinner.

‘Twas ever thus, of course, for English offspinners down under. Fred Titmus paid 40 runs for each Test wicket that he took in Australia, Raymond Illingworth 43, and Graeme Swann 52; Moeen’s average currently stands at exactly 100, and Root - part-timer - 154.

Craig Overton was the admirable exception to England’s impotence. The best recipe is to have experienced batsmen and young pace bowlers, whereas England have inexperienced batsmen and ageing pace bowlers. In spite of the hairline fracture of a rib on his left side, Overton has brought energy, both as a bowler and wholehearted fielder. Young. Aggressive. Australian.

9:52AM

That's all from me

Australia end the day with a lead of 146 runs with six wickets remaining.

Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh were imperious and there was nothing England's bowlers could do about it. A bleak day for the visitors.

9:48AM

OVER 152: AUS 549/4 (Smith 229* Mitch Marsh 181*)

England fans are doing the conga in the stands, with their ability to enjoy this Test genuinely moving at this point.

That might be the sleep deprivation talking. Smith and Marsh take their partnership past the 300-run mark before play comes to a close.

9:43AM

OVER 151: AUS 547/4 (Smith 228* Mitch Marsh 180*)

Ali joins Broad, Overton and Woakes as a centurion bowler, hit for four by Smith and giving away a trickle of singles.

9:40AM

OVER 150: AUS 540/4 (Smith 222* Mitch Marsh 179*)

Gah.

Woakes is denied a maiden over by a run off the final ball for Smith. It feels like hell will freeze over before England get another wicket.

9:35AM

OVER 149: AUS 539/4 (Smith 221* Mitch Marsh 179*)

Did Richard III even like cricket? Was cricket even 'a thing' back then?

We ask the serious questions on this particular Ashes live blog. Moeen Ali bowls five dot balls, but Smith grinds out another run.

9:32AM

OVER 148: AUS 538/4 (Smith 220* Mitch Marsh 179*)

A wicket, a wicket, my kingdom for a wicket.

Richard III didn't die for this. Two runs off the over, Smith and Marsh going nowhere.

9:29AM

OVER 147: AUS 536/4 (Smith 219* Mitch Marsh 178*)

By-the-numbers stuff from Moeen Ali, but without much effect.

Australia lead by 133 runs.

9:27AM

OVER 146: AUS 533/4 (Smith 218* Mitch Marsh 176*)

Malan gives Steve Smith a scare with the opening ball of the over, the man with the bat chipping a weak shot back towards the bowler.

It falls well short of a catch, but at least it's something.

9:23AM

OVER 145: AUS 531/4 (Smith 217* Mitch Marsh 175*)

Stuart Broad is now 0-112, which is obviously not ideal.

Mitch Marsh hits a tidy four to leg side, leaving Broad scratching his head.

9:19AM

OVER 144: AUS 526/4 (Smith 216* Mitch Marsh 171*)

Steve Smith places a perfect shot for four, securing his highest ever Test score.

9:17AM

England's bowling woes

9:16AM

OVER 143: AUS 521/4 (Smith 211* Mitch Marsh 171*)

Marsh drives into the offside for two, with Malan stopping the boundary. His next shot is even better, a square drive which flies past Malan's despairing dive.

He gets another boundary off the fourth ball, making it 10 runs from the over. Hard times for Stuart Broad.

9:12AM

OVER 142: AUS 511/4 (Smith 211* Mitch Marsh 161*)

Malan suddenly looks dangerous, his menacing wrist spin challenging Steve Smith more than most.

It's a maiden over for the 30-year-old. Joe Root deserves praise for changing things up and bringing Malan in to bowl.

9:07AM

OVER 141: AUS 511/4 (Smith 211* Mitch Marsh 161*)

Anderson is trying, oh how he's trying.

Three dots balls, a run from Steve Smith, two more dot balls. He's putting the batsmen under a bit of pressure, but that crucial wicket still feels very far away.

9:03AM

OVER 140: AUS 510/4 (Smith 210* Mitch Marsh 161*)

It's another good over from Malan, but the concentration levels from the Australian batsmen are impeccable.

9:01AM

OVER 139: AUS 509/4 (Smith 209* Mitch Marsh 161*)

Smith and Marsh are nothing short of relentless, eeking out a trickle of runs against Anderson as they wait for their next opportunity for a flurry of fours.

8:57AM

Some perspective

8:56AM

OVER 138: AUS 503/4 (Smith 208* Mitch Marsh 156*)

Not a bad first over for Malan, but Australia extend their lead to 100 runs.

8:54AM

Players back out

... and Dawid Malan is ready to bowl his first over of the match. A last throw of the dice for England?

8:50AM

OVER 137: AUS 500/4 (Smith 207* Mitch Marsh 154*)

As England bowlers go, Anderson seems to be causing Australia the most problems at the moment and even goes in for some furious reverse swing.

Time for a break, as the players trudge off for a drink to quench a thirst worked up under the gleaming Western Australian sun.

8:46AM

OVER 136: AUS 498/4 (Smith 205* Mitch Marsh 154*)

Mitch Marsh whacks Moeen Ali for four, but then a slower delivery finds him out and nearly leads to a low catch for the man with the ball.

Smith and Marsh are up to 250 runs all told.

8:43AM

OVER 135: AUS 494/4 (Smith 205* Mitch Marsh 150*)

Good, aggressive bowling from Anderson leads to six dot balls for Steve Smith, 

Anderson mixes up the length a bit, almost hitting Smith on the toes with a yorker. That's more like it.

8:38AM

OVER 134: AUS 494/4 (Smith 205* Mitch Marsh 150*)

"I'm sorry to say if you're watching at home, Australia are just killing England."

Geoffrey Boycott sums it up nicely there.

8:33AM

OVER 133: AUS 493/4 (Smith 204* Mitch Marsh 150*)

Mitch Marsh leathers Woakes for four before notching a single to reach 150.

Milestones are coming thick and fast for Australia here.

8:30AM

OVER 132: AUS 487/4 (Smith 203* Mitch Marsh 145*)

Overton looks like he might have spared Moeen Ali's blushes with a brave bit of fielding to deny Mitch Marsh a boundary, but he's in contact with the partition and it goes for four.

8:25AM

OVER 131: AUS 480/4 (Smith 203* Mitch Marsh 138*)

Chris Woakes works hard with the ball but, as with all of England's bowlers, he struggles to cause Smith any real problems.

Australia lead by 77 runs.

8:21AM

OVER 130: AUS 479/4 (Smith 203* Mitch Marsh 137*)

Moeen with a maiden over, helped by some alert fielding.

8:18AM

OVER 129: AUS 479/4 (Smith 203* Mitch Marsh 137*)

The offside is proving fruitful for Mitch Marsh, who guides the ball serenely to the boundary once again.

Talk of Australia scoring 600 here. That certainly looks feasible.

8:14AM

OVER 128: AUS 471/4 (Smith 202* Mitch Marsh 130*)

Another miserly over from Moeen, but he's offering a form of containment as opposed to genuine menace with the ball.

8:11AM

OVER 127: AUS 469/4 (Smith 201* Mitch Marsh 129*)

Marsh twice drives through the offside for four as Root starts to haemorrhage runs.

This is grim viewing for England fans.

8:09AM

OVER 126: AUS 460/4 (Smith 200* Mitch Marsh 121*)

There it is. Steve Smith brings up his double-century with an irrepressible drive through leg side, tearing off his helmet like a Homeric hero to let the crowd see him in all his glory.

It's been an Achillean batting performance, fantastic stuff.

8:04AM

OVER 125: AUS 459/4 (Smith 199* Mitch Marsh 121*)

Joe Root is up. Can he continue to deny Smith his double-century?

Yes, but only by a whisker. A neat single brings Smith within touching distance.

8:01AM

OVER 124: AUS 458/4 (Smith 198* Mitch Marsh 121*)

The Barmy Army are still enjoying themselves, which is a testament to the human spirit really.

An otherwise decent over from Ali is spoiled somewhat by a loose final ball, which is immediately hit for four by Marsh.

7:58AM

OVER 123: AUS 453/4 (Smith 197* Mitch Marsh 117*)

Australia lead by 50 runs, with Steve Smith a single boundary away from another ton.

7:56AM

OVER 122: AUS 450/4 (Smith 195* Mitch Marsh 116*)

Ali provides some cagey deliveries as Anderson partly redeems his earlier misfield, stopping a fierce shot from Marsh.

This slowdown is surely only postponing the inevitable, with Smith's double-century looming.

7:53AM

OVER 121: AUS 449/4 (Smith 194* Mitch Marsh 116*)

Smith and Marsh make it a 200-run partnership after a clever tucked shot from Marsh goes for three (well fielded, Moeen).

There's an appreciative cheer from the crowd as the two men touch gloves in the middle of the wicket. Their opponents look on, nonplussed.

7:49AM

OVER 120: AUS 442/4 (Smith 191* Mitch Marsh 112*)

Marsh smashes a shot straight through James Anderson for another boundary. The break in play hasn't exactly rejuvenated England's fielding, then.

7:46AM

OVER 119: AUS 437/4 (Smith 190* Mitch Marsh 108*)

Mitch Marsh thrashes a wicked shot down the field for four, as the runs keep coming.

7:42AM

OVER 118: AUS 430/4 (Smith 189* Mitch Marsh 102*)

Smith gets the first boundary of the session with a lovely outside edge. Here we go again.

7:38AM

OVER 117: AUS 425/4 (Smith 184* Mitch Marsh 102*)

Good bowling from Overton, including a rip-roaring bouncer which gave Steve Smith pause for thought.

Smith puts on one run from the final ball. Australia now lead by 22.

7:35AM

OVER 116: AUS 424/4 (Smith 183* Mitch Marsh 102*)

A relatively parsimonious over from Moeen Ali to get us back in the mood.

Some probing deliveries there, but nothing too challenging for the men at the crease.

7:31AM

Teams back out

Will Magee here, hopefully the harbinger of an immediate Australian batting collapse. But probably not.

7:12AM

Tea: Australia 421/4 (Smith 182* Mitch Marsh 100*) lead by 18

Savage stuff. 107 runs and zero wickets. I am going to hand you over to Will Magee for the final session. Cheers.

7:10AM

OVER 115: AUS 421/4 (Smith 182* Mitch Marsh 100*)            

Marsh crushes Broad through point to move within a hit of a ton. And another boundary soon after, driven behind point for four. He has done it! Well batted Mitchell Marsh, that is fantastic cricket - and a fantastic celebration. Massive hug from Smith, the crowd are on their feet, his brother looks made up. Well batted mate, that has been a superb knock. He can enjoy that over tea.

7:08AM

OVER 114: AUS 413/4 (Smith 182* Mitch Marsh 92*)           

Moeen Ali comes on. Three runs off the over. Can MM get to his ton before tea?

7:02AM

OVER 113: AUS 410/4 (Smith 180* Mitch Marsh 91*)          

Smith has edged again! Third time in the session. Third time in as many weeks. Streaky Smith flukes his way towards double century. Again, nowhere near carrying. Good over from Stuart Broad, this.

6:57AM

OVER 112: AUS 410/4 (Smith 180* Mitch Marsh 91*)         

Woakes. Marsh. Scorching straight drive. Geoffrey Boycott may not rate him, but this guy can give it a terrific whack. That is as nice, and powerful, a shot as you could wish to see.

6:54AM

OVER 111: AUS 406/4 (Smith 180* Mitch Marsh 87*)        

Marsh, who has been excellent, takes a single that gives him his joint highest score in Tests, the Aussie bogey number of 87.

6:52AM

OVER 110: AUS 405/4 (Smith 180* Mitch Marsh 86*)       

Smith donks one the ground for a single, moving Australia into a lead. Only fatigue or possibly some sort of act of God can deny him a double century, you feel. 

6:45AM

OVER 109: AUS 403/4 (Smith 179* Mitch Marsh 85*)      

Aussies are level. Boycs: "every run counts two now." Broad's back on.

6:41AM

OVER 108: AUS 402/4 (Smith 178* Mitch Marsh 85*)     

Glorious, delicate shot from Smith as he glides the ball through third man for four. Played it late, played it elegantly. Perfect placement. Four hundred is up, the innings defeat is on, I reckon.

6:34AM

OVER 107: AUS 397/4 (Smith 174* Mitch Marsh 85*)    

An edge! For any younger readers, that is when an England bowler moves the ball through the air or off the pitch to draw a false shot from an Australian batsman and so hits the outer part or "the edge" of his bat. It lands short of the slip, Alastair Cook. Even more amazingly, it came from the edge of Steve Smith's bat.

Anyhow, Marsh has scored two further boundaries. Drive through the covers, drive down the ground. Brutal.

6:29AM

OVER 106: AUS 388/4 (Smith 173* Mitch Marsh 77*)   

Woakes comes on and bowls a maiden to Marsh.

6:27AM

OVER 105: AUS 388/4 (Smith 173* Mitch Marsh 77*)  

Like Overton's over, the first two balls of Anderson's over are Mitch Marsh boundaries. Four to third man, then a full toss to the legside. Marsh loving this, he had no idea Test cricket could be so easy.

This feels like the sort of Test match people quit the sport after. The Swann Escape.

6:21AM

OVER 104: AUS 379/4 (Smith 173* Mitch Marsh 68*) 

Overton. Full and wide, short and wide, both sent to the fence by Mitchell Marsh. This is wretched. 

6:19AM

Sparsely attended

6:11AM

OVER 103: AUS 370/4 (Smith 173* Mitch Marsh 59*)

James Anderson returns. He's hit Steve Smith on the pads, it is given not out, and England are going to review. It's a no ball. Magnificent. Well done everybody.

England, more than they deserve, don't actually lose that review. Had it not been a no ball, they would have done: the ball was umpire's-calling into the leg stump. A curio.

It's drinks.

6:07AM

OVER 102: AUS 369/4 (Smith 173* Mitch Marsh 59*)               

Talking of Moeen, here he is making a mess of a fairly regulation bit of fielding down on the fine leg boundary. Four more to Smith, Overton the bowler.

6:05AM

OVER 101: AUS 364/4 (Smith 168* Mitch Marsh 59*)              

Brief blog hiatus there, had to go and let my colleague Will in because his pass wasn't working. It's like a well-oiled machine, this. An appropriate mirror of the England performance, you might say. During that hiatus, Marsh played a very attractive drive off Overton, and Moeen Ali did some bowling.

5:53AM

OVER 98: AUS 350/4 (Smith 163* Mitch Marsh 51*)             

Craig Overton does now get a bowl. He has found the edge of Steve Smith's bat! This is not a drill: Craig Overton has found the edge of Steve Smith's bat. Obviously the ball goes nowhere near a catchable place for the slip, but still. England should surely get a wicket for that. Well bowled Craig Overton MBE.

5:48AM

OVER 97: AUS 349/4 (Smith 163* Mitch Marsh 50*)            

Marsh gets the single he needs at the first time of asking. A gentle knock into the covers for one brings him a half century, his third in Tests. Smith carves Ali behind point for four. Smith drives square for a couple more and that's the 100 stand.

5:45AM

It's Moeen Ali!

Overton was preparing to bowl, had even gone to his mark, but Root has changed the plan and it'll be Moeen. A bit of kidology, perhaps.

5:42AM

OVER 96: AUS 342/4 (Smith 157* Mitch Marsh 49*)           

Mitch Marsh murders a short ball from Chris Woakes through point. Four runs. Bring them home etc etc.

5:38AM

OVER 95: AUS 335/4 (Smith 155* Mitch Marsh 44*)          

Broad digging the ball in at Marsh, who is flapping impatiently, looking to take it on. Sometimes connecting, sometimes not. After a single, Smith nails another one through the covers. Four. 

5:35AM

OVER 94: AUS 330/4 (Smith 151* Mitch Marsh 43*)         

Smith has a couple through the covers, and that brings up a magnifico one hundred and fifty.

5:34AM

The Don

5:33AM

Interesting stat

That gives the lie to this idea that pace and pace alone is vital in Australia.

5:32AM

OVER 93: AUS 327/4 (Smith 149* Mitch Marsh 42*)        

Broad digs it in and the ball flicks MM's upper arm on the way through to the keeper. Punches for three. 

 #cans on the plane home eh lads

5:27AM

OVER 92: AUS 324/4 (Smith 149* Mitch Marsh 39*)       

Woakes gets one to spit off a length at Smith. Later in the over, Smith slams a pull for four and moves to within a run of an immaculate 150.

5:25AM

OVER 91: AUS 320/4 (Smith 145* Mitch Marsh 39*)      

Broad starts with a pie outside off, and they're soon fetching it from the point boundary. I've pretty much had enough of this and I am sure I am not alone. Marsh pulls and misses.

5:23AM

OVER 90: AUS 315/4 (Smith 140* Mitch Marsh 39*)     

Not for Joe Root the old "start with your best bowler after the interval" cliche. He's chucked it to Woakes. Single to Smith, some 81 mph affability.

5:22AM

Right

Brief technical snafu and we're back in the game. Apologies, readers.

4:51AM

400 and losing

46 times in Tests the team batting first has made 400+ and lost.

4:43AM

I don't think England have bowled badly at Smith

But if the ball does not swing, at this pace? He's all-but unbeatable.

Re Mitch Marsh: Vaughan thinks that England have missed a trick by not bowling some short stuff at him early in his knock.

4:32AM

LUNCH: Australia 314/4 (Smith 139* Mitch Marsh 39*)

Miserable.

111 runs in that session. One wicket, out of the blue, when Moeen spun one and had Shaun Marsh caught slip. England wasted a review in desperation. 27 overs of total control from Smith and the Marsh bros. Smith is an absolutely exceptional player. 22 centuries in 108 innings. Ponting: "I got a big high five from him last night about 90 minutes after play and he said 'I am still switched on'." He is buzzing. God alone knows what to do with him.

4:32AM

OVER 89: AUS 314/4 (Smith 139* Mitch Marsh 39*)    

Decent bouncer from Broad. But the follow up ball is short and wide outside off, Marsh helps himself to four. Now Broad with another short one, bit of a finger rattler for Marsh that one. Another short ball. Marsh plays that well. Another bouncer. Ducks it. One more ball before lunch. "Broad's bending his back, but why wait until just before the break to do that?" asks Ponting. Marsh blocks it.

That's lunch.

4:29AM

OVER 88: AUS 310/4 (Smith 139* Mitch Marsh 35*)   

Bit of a cross-batted affair, inside edge, but Marsh has muscled this from Woakes away for four. He's a strong chap. Root removes a slip, goes to silly mid on. Runs starting to come now. Marsh tucks a poor ball from Woakes to fine leg for four, reducing the deficit to two figures. Another half volley from Woakes, that's very nearly another boundary but big Craig Overton slides in to keep it to three. Now a wide one from Woakes, Smith creams that through the covers, he seemed to have so much time there. 14 runs off the over and it's going from b to w for the tourists.

This stand is worth 62 from 80 balls. 

4:23AM

OVER 87: AUS 296/4 (Smith 136* Mitch Marsh 24*)  

Broad's having a dart from the other end. Strangled shout when he hits Marsh on the pad, bat involved. 

4:20AM

OVER 86: AUS 293/4 (Smith 135* Mitch Marsh 22*) 

Broad, a ghost in the machine, wafts off and Woakes comes on for a bowl. He rattles the splice of Marsh's bat.

Seems amazing that England are 110 runs ahead. Perhaps I am projecting onto the match situation but this feels grim and hopeless.

4:10AM

OVER 85: AUS 291/4 (Smith 135* Mitch Marsh 20*)

England review. Right then. Anderson to Smith. Full. Smith across his stumps, playing across the line. Hit on the pad. Doesn't seem to be any bat. Given not on the field but England review. More in hope than expectation I have to say.

It's the work of the moment to confirm that this is not out. England lose a review. The ball went for four leg byes, just to put the icing on that particular cake of crusted effluent.

Earlier in the over, Marsh had inside-edged past his own stumps.

4:10AM

OVER 84: AUS 286/4 (Smith 135* Mitch Marsh 19*)           

Sir Geoffrey might not rate him, but there's not a lot wrong with the way Mitchell Marsh strikes this ball! Glorious, aggressive, clean hit through the offside for four. Broad not looking a boy very likely.

4:05AM

OVER 83: AUS 281/4 (Smith 135* Mitch Marsh 14*)          

Smith is looking to break Anderson here. Anderson is pitching it up, and Smith is looking to drive him at every opportunity. A couple of runs through the covers, then a straight drive that Jim tips onto the stumps. Marsh well back. Now Anderson is left cursing as Smith produces a magnificent flowing drive. Four all the way.

4:01AM

OVER 82: AUS 274/4 (Smith 129* Mitch Marsh 13*)         

Broad, wide on the crease, beats Marsh with a peach.

3:55AM

OVER 81: AUS 272/4 (Smith 128* Mitch Marsh 12*)        

Anderson persists with the old ball. Single to Smith. Dot to Marsh. Now Anderson bowls one very full and Marsh plays an absolutely superb off drive, timed the bejaysis out of that one. Anderson is so disgusted he just leaves the ball at the boundary rope and gets the new ball! Swing right away, he finds the outside edge. Downwards towards the cordon. Marsh plants the ball to the covers for a couple.

3:52AM

OVER 80: AUS 265/4 (Smith 127* Mitch Marsh 6*)       

Albeit that Mitch Marsh has flicked him to leg for four, Overton has been quite impressive.

3:48AM

OVER 79: AUS 260/4 (Smith 126* Mitch Marsh 2*)      

James Anderson comes on, presumably to make sure he's nice and loose for the new ball. Tries a couple of bang-in balls to Smith. "I don't see any chat or encouragement from the fielders," says Adam Gilchrist. "England need to lift themselves by 20 or 30 per cent."

3:45AM

OVER 78: AUS 259/4 (Smith 125* Mitch Marsh 2*)     

Boycs is giving Mitchell Marsh's technique an absolute kicking, and warms to his theme when Mitchell prods out beyond his front foot and scoops the ball in the air.

3:39AM

OVER 77: AUS 256/4 (Smith 123* Mitch Marsh 1*)    

Mitch Marsh off the mark with one off Mo.

3:32AM

OVER 76: AUS 253/4 (Smith 121* Mitch Marsh 0*)   

Overton digs it in, doesn't get up quite as much as Steve was expecting and hits him on the shoulder. Smith reasserts control shortly after by playing the ball to third man for four. Drinks.

Here is the wicket ball to Shaun.

3:28AM

OVER 75: AUS 248/4 (Smith 116* Mitch Marsh 0*)  

Moeen got that into the footholes, it turned, and England have a wicket against the run of play. They also have a new Marsh to bowl at: brother Mitchell.

3:25AM

WICKET! Shaun Marsh c Root b Moeen Ali 28

You could knock Shaun Marsh down with a feather, I reckon. He joins a long and distinguished victims of Mo Ali. Shaun helps himself to a pair of fours off Ali through midwicket, looking as comfortable as can be. Out of the blue, Ali produces one that pitches and turns, taking the edge, and Shaun Marsh has edged to the slip! FOW 248/4

3:23AM

OVER 74: AUS 239/3 (Smith 115* Shaun Marsh 20*) 

Decent from Overton, solid and accurate. Gets a ball to bounce a little on Marsh.

Moeen coming on for a bowl.

3:21AM

Hi, Mo. Didn't see you there

3:18AM

OVER 73: AUS 238/3 (Smith 114* Shaun Marsh 20*)

Shaun Marsh's pork pies appear to be working well. Slots dear Woakesy away for a couple.

3:16AM

In particularly

3:13AM

OVER 72: AUS 236/3 (Smith 114* Shaun Marsh 18*)         

Overton gets one to pop a little and hits Smith on the glove but it's never going anywhere. Two singles off the over.

3:10AM

OVER 71: AUS 234/3 (Smith 113* Shaun Marsh 17*)        

Woakes is on. Smith drives him for four through the covers.

It's 3am in this deserted office, I've got man flu, and Smith looks like he could break Matt Hayden's record on this ground. Is this what they call rock bottom?

3:07AM

OVER 70: AUS 229/3 (Smith 108* Shaun Marsh 17*)       

First (matchbox sized?) hurdled cleared for Aus: Broad takes his cap. Overton. Around the wicket. Marsh bottom-handedly whips a pull drive for four. Nailed it for four. Overton looking to angle it in and hit a crack.

Ricky Ponting has just related that Shaun Marsh had an eye test before Adelaide and was told he is short sighted! He got contact lenses for the first time for that match. Incredible, really. "Imagine how well he'd have done if he got them ten years ago," muses Ricky.

3:01AM

OVER 69: AUS 223/3 (Smith 107* Shaun Marsh 12*)      

Couple of singles. Anderson not really causing any problems. Not doing anything wrong, like. Just not causing any discernible problems.

2:58AM

OVER 68: AUS 221/3 (Smith 106* Shaun Marsh 11*)     

Smith looks in total command. "A chanceless, pure innings," says MPV.

This is already feeling pretty wretched for England.

2:51AM

OVER 67: AUS 220/3 (Smith 105* Shaun Marsh 11*)    

With a four clipped to fine leg, Smith has done it. Yet another century. What a player. Another total masterclass in playing the conditions, building an innings, having a plan and sticking to it. The man is a marvel.

2:48AM

OVER 66: AUS 213/3 (Smith 99* Shaun Marsh 10*)   

Lovely on drive from Steve Smith moves him on to 98*.

2:44AM

OVER 65: AUS 208/3 (Smith 94* Shaun Marsh 10*)  

Excellent from Anderson to Marsh, blameless line, one or two in, one or two away. Last ball of the over flashes past his off stump. Marsh eager to get his big stride in.

2:41AM

OVER 64: AUS 208/3 (Smith 94* Shaun Marsh 10*) 

Broad. Smith cuts for one. Broad shapes one into the Marsh pads, tucked away for three. Hmm. Couple of wide ones to SS. Now the one angling back in. Steve bunny hops in front of the ball and drops the hands. That ball kept low. Hit a crack. Nothing too alarming but worthy of note.

2:36AM

OVER 63: AUS 204/3 (Smith 93* Shaun Marsh 7*)

Anderson straight, very straight. Smith shuffles across to ball four and manufactures it down to fine leg for the first run of the day, and indeed the run that ensures that Australia will NOT follow on. Ahem.

Shaun Marsh pokes it into the infield and fancies a run but Smith is not so keen. No alarms.

2:31AM

Here's James Anderson

How England could do with a bit of the ole magic from him and Stuart Broad. Between them, England's two main bowlers have 13 wickets in the series at 34, and none in this match thus far. Steve Smith takes strike.

2:29AM

Here come the England players

Spring in their step, for sure. Is there hope in their hearts? Steve Smith, with sideman Shaun Marsh, comes to the crease.

2:25AM

Geoff Boycott

"Fast-medium bowlers are not going to beat fast bowlers in Australia."

England have a chance to prove him wrong in about four minutes.

2:11AM

Overton is okay to play

He's had a scan this morning on a chest injury and he's alright.

2:08AM

High praise from Ricky

2:08AM

Where to bowl to Smith

2:07AM

Pitch battles

2:06AM

Here's Paul Hayward on Steve Smith

A sublime century, a poignant gesture - Jonny Bairstow is nobody's figure of fun now

2:04AM

As last chance saloon's go, it's quite picturesque

2:00AM

Good morning one and all

Tyers here, welcome to our live blog of the third day of the third Ashes Test. Australia are still 200 behind, so let's not starting writing the obits just yet, but it does feel like England are now in the last chance saloon this series.

1:52AM

Our preview

Jonny Bairstow made a super century for England but Steve Smith shepherded Australia to 203 for three at the close of day two of the third Ashes test on Friday.

They resume on Saturday at 2.30am UK time with Smith on 92* and a slow-starting Shaun Marsh on 7*.

England must avoid defeat to keep a chance of retaining the Ashes.

Usman Khawaja, who made an even fifty, said:

"I think the game is evenly poised at the moment. Tomorrow’s a big day. We talk about it in golf a lot - third day, moving day."

Unclear why Usman seems to think he is playing golf. Some English players have on occasion this series looked like they might be better trying anything other than cricket.

But they have a chance at least on day three to fight back.

While 403 all out looks on paper a fine score, England will feel they should have got more. They lost 6 for 35.

All that said, Australia are still 200 runs behind and England will feel that they still have a decent chance of a lead.

The ball is 62 overs old and England would dearly love a new man to bowl at when they take the new ball after 80 overs.