Ashes LIVE: More Boxing Day Test carnage as Australia lose 3-6 and England lose ANOTHER bowler to harm on day two on the MCG

WICKET: Neser 0 c & b Carse

Ball spoons up, Carse sticks out the left hand and it sticks. Australia are reeling now. Even with the low-scoring nature of this match, this has been lazy batting most of the time, not anything to do with the wicket. England will have strong belief they can win from here

Over 31: Australia 7-119 (lead by 161)

That is the second time that Stokes has brought himself back into the attack and claimed a wicket on the fifth delivery.

Daily Mail Chief Cricket Correspondent Lawrence Booth in Melbourne

It doesn’t seem to matter where Australia try to hide Cameron Green in the batting order – he just can’t get going in this series. That was a pretty tame poke at Ben Stokes, and Harry Brook was waiting in the slips, to leave Green’s batting figures in this series 112 runs at 18. 

WICKET: Green 19 c Brook b Stokes

It has been a constant theme in this match, just as the partnership starts looking set, a wicket goes bang. This time it is Stokes catching the edge of Green’s bat and it is a regulation slips catch for Brook

Over 30: Australia 6-119 (lead by 161)

Wickets are badly needed here and Ben Stokes is bringing himself back into the attack

Over 29: Australia 6-116 (lead by 158)

The Australian run rate has crept up over 4 now, which will not be making Stokes very happy at all

Over 28: Australia 6-114 (lead by 156)

Maiden over from Tongue

Over 27: Australia 6-114 (lead by 156)

Big appeal for LBW from Carse and Ben Stokes sends it upstairs for review. Ball tracking shows it is missing the stumps and Smith survives

Over 26: Australia 6-110 (lead by 152)

The Aussies take 12 off that Tongue over after lunch, just what England did not want to see. The lead is over 150 now. So far in this match, neither team has been able to score more than 151 in an innings

LUNCH: Australia 6-98 (lead by 138)

Carse whacks Green in the left arm. The tall Aussie allrounder shows no emotion, but that would have hurt. But this partnership survives to reach the lunch break after the Aussies lost 3-6. Enthralling afternoon session coming up after the interval

Over 24: Australia 6-92 (lead by 132)

Australia had lost 3-6 and needed something, so Smith delivers with a beautiful straight drive. Every run is going to be absolutely critical here – for both sides.

Over 23: Australia 6-88 (lead by 128)

It has all gone pear-shaped for Australia and England have the wind in their sails after a flurry of wickets. This lead is not insurmountable, even if Atkinson is unable to bat

WICKET: Carey 4 c Brook b Carse