England set enormous target of 398 to win first Ashes Test

Steve Smith completed a majestic return to Test cricket with his second century in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston to leave England scrapping to salvage a result.

Smith, back in the Baggy Green 16 months after being banned for his role in the sandpaper scandal, followed a brilliant 144 on day one with an equally fine 142 on day four to become just the fifth Australian to hit twin hundreds against England.

Where the first rescued his side from the cliff edge at 122 for eight, the sequel helped set a monstrous target of 398. Matthew Wade also left his mark on the home team, chiming in with a fluent 110 before the declaration came at 487 for seven.

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The more realistic task in front of England was the bat right through for a draw, with first-innings centurion Rory Burns and Jason Roy successfully navigating seven overs before stumps.

They and their nine team-mates must collectively see off another 90 on day five if they are to reach Lord's all square, on a pitch offering plenty of turn for Nathan Lyon.

The 30-year-old from Sydney has single-handedly shifted the course of the match in a way that is rarely seen at this level, batting for 10 and a half hours and 426 deliveries in all, reasserting his dominance on an attack who will surely be having nightmares about the prospect of feeding him for the next five weeks.

England will rightly bemoan the loss of James Anderson on the opening morning, a right calf injury restricting their record wicket-taker to four overs and effectively leaving them a man down for the remainder.

Since heading for a scan at lunch on Thursday he has only been on the field for a first-innings batting cameo and may well be required for another before events conclude.

In his ongoing absence England needed a big performance from Moeen Ali but his off-spin provided neither the threat nor the constrictive control the team required.

If figures of two for 130 and an economy rate of 4.48 were not bad enough on a turning pitch, Joe Root's decision to use 26 overs of part-time spin - his own and Joe Denly's - spoke volumes. PA

6:45PM

Steve Smith speaks

6:34PM

Last ball was a beauty

6:29PM

CLOSE OF PLAY - OVER 7: ENG 13/0 (Burns 7* Roy 6*)   

Last over of the day from Pattinson. Plenty of slips in, four maybe. Roy flicks two into the leg side.

And the final ball of the day is... play and miss! That's it for Sunday, England survive with both their openers heading into Monday, when they will have to bat all day long.

Australia's day for sure. Matthew Wade's day really, scoring a first century in over six years to join Steve Smith and Rory Burns in the 100 club at Edgbaston.

6:23PM

OVER 6: ENG 11/0 (Burns 7* Roy 4*)   

Single for Roy. Five crowded round the bat as Lyon gets lots of spin and bounce bowling to Burns. That was so close. Good bowling, good blocking.

6:19PM

OVER 5: ENG 10/0 (Burns 7* Roy 3*) 

Three overs left in the day. Not sure who would come in as nightwatchman, Woakes maybe? Anderson can bat, but maybe not the best choice given his dodgy calf.

Pattinson replacing Siddle. Gets up to 88mph but Burns blocks easily enough. Maiden.

6:15PM

OVER 4: ENG 10/0 (Burns 7* Roy 3*) 

Lyon has started well though, really well. Roy blocks desperately, line and length look good. Two runs squeezed out of the over as Roy gives his bat a twirl.

6:12PM

OVER 3: ENG 8/0 (Burns 7* Roy 1*)

More Siddle and well played by Burns for two towards mid-on. Otherwise all dots, Burns looks alright.

6:07PM

OVER 2: ENG 6/0 (Burns 5* Roy 1*)

Decent bit of turn for Lyon first ball. Roy off the mark though with a single. Well-run three from Burns, into the leg side. Cracking ball but Burns blocks well, then Roy too.

6:04PM

OVER 1: ENG 2/0 (Burns 2* Roy 0*)

Siddle opens, Burns off the mark second ball with a drive into the off-side. No more runs. Here comes Lyon.

5:59PM

Out come Burns and Roy

No nightwatchman. They get a very warm reception.

5:58PM

Your thoughts

Is it all over already? Matt Hopkins think so.

Tom HJ weighing in. Aside from Ali's peach to Paine, fair point.

5:52PM

Heavy roller's out

England trying to take every last inch of interest out of the pitch.

Which leads to a fair point over email from Tom Harrington.

5:50PM

AUSTRALIA DECLARE - OVER 112: AUS 487/7 (Cummins 26* Pattinson 47*)                   

Cummins having a whack. One four over long-off, after finding the rope past mid-on. Single from Pattinson makes it 480. This seems like the last over to be honest. Denly gets a hand to one, just a single for Cummins.

Pattinson finishes it off with a six! Massive over mid-on and the wave comes from the balcony.

Testing period for England's openers as Australia declare.

5:43PM

OVER 111: AUS 470/7 (Cummins 16* Pattinson 40*)                   

Make that 376 - an almighty thump from Pattinson into the stands for six over mid-on. That was a monster. Three more singles and a leg bye.

All eyes on the balcony - Warner looks ready.

5:41PM

OVER 110: AUS 460/7 (Cummins 15* Pattinson 32*)                 

More from Denly, with England giving up six runs. The lead's up to 370.

5:37PM

OVER 109: AUS 454/7 (Cummins 10* Pattinson 31*)                 

Up in the air to Burns at third man but he drops Cummins as he dives forward. Two off the over.

5:32PM

OVER 108: AUS 452/7 (Cummins 9* Pattinson 30*)               

Ball beats batsman, Bairstow, everyone for four byes. Denly back on, by the way. Single from Pattinson brings up 450. Half a chance for Burns to catch Cummins but it goes down at extra cover.

5:27PM

OVER 107: AUS 445/7 (Cummins 8* Pattinson 28*)               

Another clubbed away by Pattinson! On the swivel, over deep square leg. Looks as though the ball landed straight in a pint as it emerges a little worse for wear. Ball quite understandably replaced.

Lead is now 355 runs.

5:21PM

OVER 106: AUS 437/7 (Cummins 7* Pattinson 21*)             

Six from Pattinson! Creamed over deep midwicket, very nice. Another wild one from Ali, loops over Pattinson's head. No ball.

5:14PM

OVER 105: AUS 430/7 (Cummins 7* Pattinson 15*)             

Cut by Cummins but Burns at third man stops a boundary. Then Cummins edges a Broad delivery, not given. No England reviews either... it definitely did hit! Drinks break.

5:09PM

OVER 104: AUS 426/7 (Cummins 4* Pattinson 14*)           

Nice sweep from Pattinson, races away to the fence. The lead is now 336 runs.

5:06PM

OVER 103: AUS 421/7 (Cummins 3* Pattinson 10*)           

Third man beaten by a Pattinson shot for four. That's the end of Stokes' 22nd over, some shift and he's popping off for some treatment. On comes Archer.

5:02PM

OVER 102: AUS 415/7 (Cummins 2* Pattinson 5*)         

Maiden from Ali, to back up his wicket. 90 minutes left in the day.

4:59PM

OVER 101: AUS 415/7 (Cummins 2* Pattinson 5*)         

Pattinson gets three towards backward point before Cummins edges one into the air but past short leg.

Really was a gem from Ali.

4:54PM

OVER 100: AUS 411/7 (Cummins 1* Pattinson 2*)       

Cummins in and off the mark.

4:52PM

WICKET! Paine b Ali 34

Pattinson off the mark - Roy did hit the stumps but he was comfortably home.

Then Ali bowls Paine! Nips back through the gate, lovely turn. Rips back actually. The Aussie captain's walking.

Ali's had a miserable day but that should hopefully give him a lift. And, uh, Nathan Lyon watching from the balcony. FOW 409/7

4:48PM

OVER 99: AUS 407/6 (Paine 33* Pattinson 0*)       

More short stuff from Stokes? You bet. Wicket maiden with Pattinson still on a pair.

4:44PM

WICKET! Wade c Denly b Stokes 110

And gone! Hit well by Wade but Denly does well out on the boundary at deep square leg with his feet. Straight to him. Wade departs after a fine knock. FOW 407/6

4:40PM

OVER 98: AUS 407/5 (Paine 33* Wade 110*)     

Nicely played reverse sweep by Paine for another boundary. Two more for Paine, then a big shout for lbw! Root reviews... no shot played. Not hitting either. England now out of reviews (not their biggest issue).

Enjoyed this from the comments by P J Honey on Steve Smith:

4:37PM

OVER 97: AUS 400/5 (Paine 27* Wade 109*)     

Stokes dialling up the aggression now and earns a maiden as a result, which almost feels like a small victory.

4:31PM

OVER 96: AUS 400/5 (Paine 27* Wade 109*)   

Well placed into the gap by Wade, four more through covers. Two more singles bring up a score of 400 for the visitors. Totally dominant.

4:28PM

OVER 95: AUS 393/5 (Paine 25* Wade 104*)   

Three singles for Paine before Wade pulls away a four to bring up a lead of over 300 for Australia. What do we reckon - get to 350 and declare? No one has chased down more than 283 at Edgbaston in a fourth innings before - that was South Africa back in 2008.

4:22PM

OVER 94: AUS 386/5 (Paine 22* Wade 100*) 

Single from Wade brings up the 50 partnership, off 50 balls. And then Wade brings up his 100 with a boundary from a reverse sweep! Big roar from the Australian balcony.

4:19PM

OVER 93: AUS 380/5 (Paine 21* Wade 95*) 

Stokes toiling here, as Wade latches onto one and whacks it away for four through the covers. He's edging in on three figures.

4:15PM

OVER 92: AUS 372/5 (Paine 20* Wade 88*)

Not bad from Root, only two singles. Why hasn't he bowled more?

4:12PM

OVER 91: AUS 370/5 (Wade 87* Paine 19*)

Not a happy over for Stokes. No ball, then Paine thumps him over point for six. Adds a four for good measure.

4:05PM

OVER 90: AUS 359/5 (Wade 87* Paine 8*)

Over from the England skipper yields only two singles. Sniff of a run out, but Roy misses the stumps. Paine would have been walking!

4:02PM

Final session of the day then

Many thanks to the great Alan Tyers. And what a day for Australia. Enormous lead, Wade working towards his third Test ton.

Here's the forecast for tomorrow by the way - even the weather might not save England.

3:47PM

Tea: Australia 356/5 (Wade 86* Paine 7*)

Another session for Australia, who now lead by 266. The only good thing you can say for England is that they eventually got Steve Smith out, he fell for 142, to go with his 144 in the first innings. He's clearly vulnerable in the 140s, something for England to capitalise on there, then, as the series goes on. England haven't bowled terribly, although Moeen Ali has been ineffectual.

Hopes of winning the game have receded throughout the day and really England are now waiting for a) the declaration b) seeing how they can bat on day five against Nathan Lyon's spin. The pitch has turned a bit and seamed a bit but nothing all that dramatic. But scoreboard pressure can be a funny thing....

Travis Head found batting with Steve Smith spurred him on, and Matthew Wade looked much more comfortable and positive today. If Smith starts inspiring the men around him, England really are in the soup. The excellent Mr Ben Coles will talk you through the rest of the day. Cheers!

3:43PM

OVER 89: AUS 356/5 (Wade 86* Paine 7*)                   

Stuart Broad to bowl what will presumably be that last ball before tea. The session comes to an end in suitably dispiriting fashion, from the English point of view, as Wade picks up the line and length early and sends Broad to the legside fence with real elan. That is tea.

3:38PM

OVER 88: AUS 349/5 (Wade 81* Paine 5*)                 

Another nice shot from Wade, this one down the ground, Woakes the unfortunate recipient on this occasion.

3:36PM

OVER 87: AUS 343/5 (Wade 75* Paine 5*)                 

Wade punches into the covers, excellent shot and well worth its four. Broad searching for his best line.

3:28PM

OVER 86: AUS 336/5 (Wade 70* Paine 5*)               

Busy start from Paine as he tucks to leg and pushes to cover, brace of runs for each and another clip to leg for a single.

3:25PM

WICKET! Smith c Bairstow b Woakes 142

Glory be, he's out! A full ball from Chris swings away, for just once Steve Smith's concentration wavers and he goes for a big shot, ball away from his body and his feet not quite moving away. Smith clearly has a problem in the 140s, but that was another wonderful innings from a true modern great. FOW 331/5

3:23PM

OVER 85: AUS 330/4 (Smith 142* Wade 69*)               

Broad brings it back from around the wicket and hits Wade high on the pad, the hapless umpire Wilson gets another one wrong. He gives Wade out but honestly that is miles over. Can tell you that on first look. Decision overturned on reivew.

Wade edges one later in the over, down towards the slips though.

3:16PM

OVER 84: AUS 329/4 (Smith 141* Wade 69*)             

Smith selects the delicate brush rather than the ball-pein hammer on this occasion and plays the most dink little tuck off his pads for a four very fine.

A largely forgettable half an hour or so there, but we should have some action now as Broad takes the new ball.

3:12PM

OVER 83: AUS 324/4 (Smith 136* Wade 69*)             

Filth from Moeen and Wade treats it savagely, clattering it for four.

3:09PM

OVER 82: AUS 315/4 (Smith 133* Wade 63*)           

Wade plays it out into the covers, Denly aims at the stumps, Smith has to haul his keyster to get there. Bit of a wild hack from Wade later in the over. Quite fancy Root to pick him up here actually.

3:07PM

OVER 81: AUS 312/4 (Smith 132* Wade 61*)           

Couple off this Ali over. No new ball as yet. The pleasing scoreboard of one badder having scored double what the other badder has.

3:03PM

OVER 80: AUS 310/4 (Smith 131* Wade 60*)         

Joe Root with an excellent over.  Turning it big, getting the ball to bounce. Seriously good stuff and I hate to say it but more dangerous than Moeen right now. Wade edges him wide of slip for four. And again he does Wade, ripping bouncing off break that rags away from the lefty.

New ball is due - but will Rootalitharan take it?

2:59PM

OVER 79: AUS 305/4 (Smith 131* Wade 55*)         

Smith slaps Ali for a couple.

2:58PM

OVER 78: AUS 303/4 (Smith 129* Wade 55*)       

Root beats Wade with two snorters in a row! Big turn! The best, best turn. Bigly.

Nathan Lyon presumably pricking up his ears.

2:57PM

OVER 77: AUS 303/4 (Smith 129* Wade 55*)       

Unmemorable three run over there from Mo.

2:57PM

OVER 76: AUS 300/4 (Smith 128* Wade 53*)     

Root gives himself a bowl and, yep, it's the August silly season. Seven off the over, as Wade reverse sweeps him fine for four, nearly hitting that helmet behind Jonny! That would have been jokes. Wade has himself a decent fifty. The other impact of Smith's magnificence is that it allows other lesser players to splistream, I guess? Like if the bowlers are being ground down, does that make it easier to play? Or do the opponents give up on getting the main guy out and try extra harder at the mere mortals?

2:45PM

OVER 75: AUS 293/4 (Smith 127* Wade 47*)     

Moeen to Smith. Turns the ball past his inside edge, hits him on the pad. hit him in line but it was doing too much. Umpire Wilson's decision is upheld and, sorry to say, not even umpire's call, so England say goodbye to their review.

That's drinks, with the Aussies 203 ahead

2:40PM

OVER 74: AUS 289/4 (Smith 124* Wade 46*)   

Cheers Colesy.

Here's No Pants Denly to Wade. Neat drive this, three runs. Now he gets one to rag and fox Smith - it loops up off the.... arm I think. Landed a way away from the slip anyhow.

Now Wade drills Denly away for a nice four through the covers. Crikey. Eight off that over. England's best hope in this game is rain now.

2:36PM

Here's Isabelle from Edgbaston

"If ever there was a Test match to give cricket coaches an existential crisis, it is this one. Steve Smith is just weird. His fidgeting, his stance, his reaction after the ball has been delivered, his demeanour at the crease, even the way in which he shook his head after getting a humdinger on the helmet. This man is on another planet. And then Rory Burns, the other centurion in this match so far. Sure, he might still be on Jupiter and Smith on Pluto, but his is not a conventional technique either. What do you do with a 12-year-old budding batter these days? Throw away the manual?"

2:35PM

OVER 73: AUS 281/4 (Smith 124* Wade 39*)   

Back-to-back fours for Smith, which will hardly help Ali's confidence. 10 runs off the over. Smith's swapping gloves again.

Tyersy's back for a spell.

2:31PM

OVER 72: AUS 270/4 (Smith 115* Wade 37*) 

Half a shout after a Denly spinner finds Wade's pad. He then slaps a reverse sweep for four to third man in response.

2:29PM

OVER 71: AUS 265/4 (Smith 115* Wade 32*) 

Moeen's back. 1-72 for his 17 overs before this one. He might be low on confidence but there is some turn there. Something's off though. Four singles.

2:25PM

OVER 70: AUS 261/4 (Smith 113* Wade 30*)

Three singles, the highlight being Smith's reverse sweep. More tidy stuff from Denly.

2:22PM

OVER 69: AUS 258/4 (Smith 111* Wade 29*)

Woakes mixing it up, off-cutters, the lot. Not a lot of joy, however.

Wade tickles a four down the leg side.

2:18PM

OVER 68: AUS 253/4 (Smith 110* Wade 25*)

Denly back on and gets one to loop up off Wade's glove into the air, but over Bairstow's head. Hint of something there.

He might actually be England's best bowler right now.

2:15PM

OVER 67: AUS 250/4 (Smith 109* Wade 23*)   

Single for Wade, cut off through the covers. Smith clips one to fine leg. Huge shout for lbw against Wade but England don't review, inside edge.

2:09PM

OVER 66: AUS 248/4 (Smith 108* Wade 22*)   

Broad's 15th over. Single for Wade and then that's a beautiful drive through mid-on by Smith for four. Completely relaxed.

2:04PM

OVER 65: AUS 243/4 (Smith 104* Wade 21*) 

Nearly another maiden for Woakes until Wade pulls a single square.

1:59PM

OVER 64: AUS 242/4 (Smith 104* Wade 20*) 

Bairstow accidentally hits Smith trying to throw the ball back to Broad. Quick apology (this is what it's come to for England, throwing the ball at the Australian captain runs machine).

Crowd catch at point caps off a maiden.

1:55PM

OVER 63: AUS 242/4 (Smith 104* Wade 20*)

Nice cut by Wade, four runs past backward point. Ball's doing nothing, pitch is doing nothing. Australia, really, should be aiming at a lead of 300. All I can see is a draw by the time we finish up tomorrow.

1:51PM

OVER 62: AUS 238/4 (Smith 104* Wade 16*)

And there it is! Both arms raised aloft by Smith, warm applause, after he threads a drive through covers for his 100. His 25th Test hundred in 65 matches (10th against England).

He joins an elite group.

Point comes round to limit Smith to a single, one run for Wade too.

1:46PM

OVER 61: AUS 232/4 (Smith 99* Wade 15*)

Single from Smith down to fine leg, meaning he's one away. Nice five balls from Woakes to Head though, testing deliveries. All dots.

1:40PM

We're back

Hi everyone. Woakes is bowling, allaying any concerns about his fitness. Steve Smith sitting there, poised on 98*.

1:29PM

#Spotted

1:19PM

More of your thoughts

"The only thing that can remove Smith is a JCB," says Bilbo Baggins. Didn't have him down as a cricket fan but there you have it.

While Ian Burgess says: "The truth is England simply don't have a batsman who is anywhere near Smith. Root is a poor captain and as John below says our spin bowler is not good enough."

1:10PM

We'll find out what is up

with Woakes during the interval and let you know. I am going to hand over to Ben Coles for a bit now, see you l8r m8s.

Reader John Jones writes: "On a turning pitch the side's only specialist spin bowler is not trusted to tie up one end if not actually take some wickets. As a result the captain first bowls some spin himself and later brings on another batsman to deliver his "occasional" leg-breaks. So what precisely is the case for this particular specialist spin bowler being in the team?

In other serious question marks over favouritism under a weak leader, what more does Woakes need to do to get a bowl on his home ground or to be allowed to bat higher than Moeen?"

1:04PM

Lunch: Australia 231/4 (Smith 98* Wade 15*) lead by 141

That has been convincingly Australia's morning. Smith has once again looked absolutely immovable and has been well supported by Travis Head with a fifty, and Wade who has made a bright start. How England get Smith out is the question of the day, the match, and surely the summer as well. England have been attempting that huge task without the use of James Anderson, whose injury has made him unable to bowl, and for some reason (presumably also an injury??) we have not seen Chris Woakes either. Ben Stokes has got through a power of work, picking up one wicket, albeit off something that would have been a no ball. Spinners Moeen Ali and Joe Denly have looked mostly harmless. Australia are starting to take control of this match.

1:02PM

OVER 60: AUS 231/4 (Smith 98* Wade 15*)     

Moeen Ali returns for that last over before lunch. Smith mainly watchful, but does allow himself one thump into the covers, but finding the fielder. Single off the last ball, and that is the lunch interval.

1:01PM

OVER 59: AUS 230/4 (Smith 97* Wade 15*)   

Stokes is into his eighth over. England cannot afford to bork another one...

Wade faces all of this over. Will Smith get opportunity to get those three runs before the interval?

Wade has come out with a positive addidood and crunches a firm four here.

12:56PM

OVER 58: AUS 226/4 (Smith 97* Wade 11*)   

Root keeps the faith with Denly.

That will settle Matthew Wade! Glorious shot through the covers for four.

Where is Chris Woakes?

12:52PM

OVER 57: AUS 221/4 (Smith 97* Wade 6*) 

Smith tucks Stokes away for a couple off the pads.

Our excellent reporter Isabelle Westbury writes: "It's an intriguing atmosphere at Edgbaston today. While Saturday is fancy dress day, it's also club cricket that day, so Sunday is reserved for the proper cricket enthusiasts. The kind of crowd you might describe as "knowledgeable".

The first hour of the morning was for discussing the various machinations that will decide this match, but the second hour has drifted into acknowledging how desperate England's situation is if they cannot dismiss Steve Smith.

The chants are still coming from the Eric Hollies stand, but you get the feeling that they are more to offer encouragement, anything to buoy England, rather than the true belief and conviction of success that imbued the first few days."

12:49PM

OVER 56: AUS 218/4 (Smith 95* Wade 6*) 

Smith gets a single first ball, bringing Wade, who is on a pair, on strike. Denly, annoyingly, dishes up an overpitched ball that Wade gratefully slots away.

More on that Stokes 'no ball' and Head wicket.

12:46PM

OVER 55: AUS 211/4 (Smith 94* Wade 0*)

Shot of the day from Smith, a back foot force through the covers that is West Indian in its flamboyance. Stokes has a wee word with him, Smith says something back. Crisp pull for a single off the last ball.

12:42PM

OVER 54: AUS 205/4 (Smith 89* Wade 0*)

Smith happy to take that Denly over cautiously.

12:38PM

OVER 53: AUS 205/4 (Smith 88*)

That off the last ball of the over.

Where's Woakesy, by the way?

12:38PM

WICKET! Head c Bairstow b Stokes 51

Well bowled Ben Stokes! Not the greatest shot from Head. Slower ball from Stokes, Head has a cut at it and edges behind. Gripped and bounced a bit and Bairstow has done well. Head has thrown that away he might feel, there was a chance to really put the boot into England here. But Stokes the man yet again. FOW 205/4

12:32PM

OVER 52: AUS 204/3 (Smith 87* Head 51*) 

Smith uses his feet to turn two nothing deliveries into two outright poor deliveries, manufacturing full tosses as it were. Batters them for a brace of fours and that might be the lot for No Pants Denly.

Smith, albeit that he is onto the Australian's bogey number of 87, is looking in command once again.

12:29PM

OVER 51: AUS 195/3 (Smith 78* Head 51*) 

Nice cut from Head, that's brought him four runs and a well-played fifty. Little bit of fortune with the two close LBW shouts against Broad first thing and one or two play and misses but he has dug in well in support of the titan Smith. Stokes not dazzling just yet.

12:24PM

OVER 50: AUS 190/3 (Smith 77* Head 47*)

Denly brings Head forward, he's beaten... but Bairstow has fluffed the stumping chance. He cannot react in time and the ball clangs into his pads.

Jon Horsley writes: "You say 'Hideous flashbacks to Graeme Smith, anyone?' What other type of Graeme Smith flashbacks are there?"

12:21PM

OVER 49: AUS 187/3 (Smith 75* Head 46*)

Smith lands a few big body shots on England! Stokes dabbed through third man for four, and now a peach of a stroke through point for the same result. Tucks a ball wide of the leg gully for another one - bit risky that. Three overs one maiden none for 13 in this Stokes spell so far, he's busting a gut for this breakthrough.

The bookies now make the Aussies 6-4 favourites. Followed by England at 15-8. And the draw coming in all the time, now 3-1.

12:11PM

OVER 48: AUS 177/3 (Smith 66* Head 46*)

Denly bowls to Smith. Leg bye.

Denly has got some rough to bowl at outside Head's off stump. Warne approves. "Good stuff this, tidy over," he says. Leg slip and a bat pad in. Asking some questions. Head comes back at him with a hard sweep that hits the man fielding close on the leg side. Oof.

12:06PM

Drinks: AUS 176/3 (Smith 66* Head 46*) lead by 86

That was all Australia, really. Broad might have had Head lbw early with a bit more luck. But Moeen hasn't asked too many questions, and England are now relying on Stokes to burst through with the old ball I feel. Ball is not doing much.

12:04PM

OVER 47: AUS 176/3 (Smith 66* Head 46*)             

Stokes. Searching for that full magic ball, has propelled one miles wide down leg to the leftie. And another full ball, head sends that on its way to the fine leg man and that is the (ominous) hundred partnership up.

Hideous flashbacks to Graeme Smith anyone?

Drinks

12:01PM

OVER 46: AUS 173/3 (Smith 66* Head 44*)           

Joe Denly comes on for an over of his slow leggies. Bit of turn, but at sub 50mph, readable off the pitch more or less. Three singles and a bye.

11:58AM

OVER 45: AUS 169/3 (Smith 64* Head 43*)           

Broad has a blow. Stokes on. Finds his lines and lengths quickly to the left-hander TH. 87mph yorker in there as well. But that's well played.

11:55AM

OVER 44: AUS 169/3 (Smith 64* Head 43*)         

Filth from Moeen as he serves up a full toss. Head donks that away for a cheap four down the ground. Not quite happening for Moeen after a decent start this morning.

11:47AM

OVER 43: AUS 163/3 (Smith 63* Head 38*)         

Jofra Archer is on the field and has to dive full length to half-stop a Head shot at mid off.

Root is still niggling at the umpires about the ball. Bairstow needs some shoes tying or something. England have a 12th man on to do something or other. The umpires are fiddling about with something or other. All told it amounts to a delay of a couple of minutes for no apparent good reason.

Lead continues to grow. 73 now.

11:45AM

OVER 42: AUS 161/3 (Smith 63* Head 36*)       

Nice bit of bowling from Mo as he brings Head forward and beats him with turn. YJB has the bails off but no dice.

Another useful over for the Aussies, six off this one.

Reader Sean Walsh has reflected on his earlier mail:

11:39AM

OVER 41: AUS 155/3 (Smith 58* Head 35*)       

The umpires have been fussing with the ball and do so again after 5/6ths of  this Broad over, causing a delay. But no change.

This is Head's best over of the morning, and Broad's first mistakes. Two deliveries stray onto the pads, and Head puts them both away for fours to leg.

This is Head's ninth Test. He is a 25-year-old from Adelaide who has made a very promising start to his Test career. he got a duck in his first knock but since then has scored...

72, 14, 36, 72, 14, 58, 19, 20, 34, 20, 84, 161, 59*, 35 and this current effort of 35*

So some useful contributions.

11:35AM

OVER 40: AUS 147/3 (Smith 58* Head 27*)     

Moeen slithers a ball past Head's edge. Nicely bowled. Head now takes a single and drops his bat in running.

11:31AM

OVER 39: AUS 146/3 (Smith 58* Head 26*)     

Smith making a meal of a leave here off Broad, swishing his bat like a conjuror's cape. And is then beaten by an excellent ball that nibbles away. A respectful nod from Smith to Broad.

11:27AM

OVER 38: AUS 144/3 (Smith 57* Head 25*)   

Head and Smith play Moeen with confidence in this over. Four singles.

11:27AM

OVER 37: AUS 140/3 (Smith 55* Head 23*)   

Rare half chance... actually not even really a half chance. A rare moment of encouragement offered by Smith as he slaps the ball aerially through the covers. Pierces the ring of fielders. England just one slip. Have they given up on getting Smith out, looking to bowl at the other end?

11:18AM

OVER 36: AUS 136/3 (Smith 51* Head 23*) 

Oooh, what a ball that is from Moeen. Drift and the rip away, beating Travis Head all ends up and alas for England, nutmegging YJB for four byes.

11:16AM

OVER 35: AUS 131/3 (Smith 50* Head 23*) 

Smith tucks Broad away for a single, and a fifty. A master at work.

Lovely bit of bowling from Broad. Curving in, nibbling away. Wasted on Travis Head. Now Head leaves one that just breaks in. He will say that he judged that well as it fizzes past the off peg. The 'oooos' from England's fielders suggest they do not share that view.

11:13AM

OVER 34: AUS 130/3 (Smith 49* Head 23*)

Moeen looking useful this morning. Played watchfully. Getting some turn.

11:12AM

Sean Walsh writes

"Your 10.24 quote from Steve Smith doesn’t make sense. I think that the first sentence should have read “cheat” instead of “sleeper”. Whole paragraph reads better that way."

11:10AM

OVER 33: AUS 129/3 (Smith 48* Head 23*)

Broad. And a lively start from him as well!  Coming around the wicket and angling it in at the left-hander Head, looking to swing it back in. Raps him on the pads two balls in a row. Wilson says no each time. Both looked like they were going down leg. First one might have just kissed the leg pole on umpire's call but Root right not to review either.

Maiden.

11:03AM

OVER 32: AUS 129/3 (Smith 48* Head 23*)

Moeen Ali has the ball, and it is a fun and feisty over to start the day. First ball to Smith turns hard and keeps low.

Now Smith comes down the ground and Ali lobs one over his head! Smith tries to play a tennis shot at it. Bairstow cannot gather it cleanly. It is a no ball.

10:58AM

James Anderson

his injury apparently did not respond well yesterday and the word is that he will not bowl today and will miss the Lord's Test at the very least.

Australia resume on  124/3 (Smith 46* Head 21*) off 31 overs, 34 ahead

10:53AM

Pitch and conditions

The pitch is dry, it might offer some uneven bounce. And there is some poor weather forecast for later...

10:49AM

Ben Stokes

is the latest man to try and figure out how to get Steve out.

10:24AM

Steve Smith

"I am an awful sleeper, I maybe average 15 or 20 hours across a whole Test match. It's all positive stuff, thinking about where I can going to hit the bowling. It is not nerves or negative thoughts. If I have a negative thought I will shut it out pretty quickly.

"I don't like watching cricket that much. I don't want to watch someone else doing it," he tells Nasser on an excellent Sky Sports piece.

10:19AM

Morning all

Tyers here, we could be in for another highly enjoyable day of Ashes cricket... as long as England can get that blighter Smith out, that is. What a phenom the guy is. It is he, surely who stands between England and a gettable fourth innings target. The match from this point seems likely to go one of two ways: Australia resume 34 ahead, Smith gets a pot of runs, and England are set 230-plus on a tricky last innings turner and fold to the spin of Nathan Lyon.

Or England get Smith early, rattle the Aussies out for a lead of 100-odd and knock the runs off in time for a few pints in the Walkabout this evening.

10:03AM

Day three preview: Anderson fears for Woakes

Chris Woakes fears the worst for James Anderson's prospects of featuring in the remainder of the first Ashes Test as England look to end the resolve of Australia linchpin Steve Smith.

England's record wicket-taker sent down only four overs on the opening morning before going for a scan on a calf complaint and though he was able to bat on the third afternoon, he moved gingerly and did not take to the field for Australia's second innings.

The tourists wiped out a 90-run first-innings deficit and were 34 ahead on 124 for three, Smith ominously still there at the close four short of his fifty when bad light and then rain at Edgbaston brought a slightly early end to proceedings.

Anderson's prognosis remains unclear but the continued absence of a player Woakes feels is "the best fast bowler that's ever lived" is a concern for his team-mate.

Woakes said: "I was gutted for Jimmy, he's obviously dying to play more than anyone and wants to play more than anyone.

"But it wasn't right which was unfortunate for him and unfortunate for us as a team with him being the best fast bowler that's ever lived, in my opinion, with the amount of wickets he's taken and all that.

"(His absence) is a bit of a blow but at the same time us as a unit have to go out there and try to do the job.

"Moving forward, I actually don't know (whether he will be available on Sunday). The fact he hasn't taken much part in the game so far doesn't look too promising but I actually don't know.

"It's a well-poised Ashes Test match. It's been a great Test match so far, reasonably even. We're pretty happy having them 30 for three.

"If we can start well in the morning, two big wickets up front could be quite crucial. All of a sudden if you have them 50 or 60 for five, it's a big turning point. Tomorrow morning, as always, is important."

PA