England Bashing Continues In Boxing Day Test – How It Happened – Sporting News AU

Australia will be aiming to sink the final nail into England’s coffin during the third Ashes Test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

The home side lead the series 2-0 after comprehensive wins in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.

Can Australia wrap up the Ashes series before the New Year? Or will England finally show some fight?

Sporting News has all the scores, highlights and updates from the first day of the Boxing Day Test below.

Australia v England – Third Test LIVE updates and scores

Live score 

Current batters 

Live commentary and updates – Day 1

16th over: There’s a delay here after Stokes’ first ball of the over rises and strikes Harris’ left glove. It’s split open his index finger and he’s getting it taped up. He’s okay and bats on, facing a few nervous balls before edging past third man for four. Stokes can’t believe it and that just about sums it up for England. That’s stumps – Australia 1/61.

Marcus Harris is bleeding from the finger after copping a short ball from Ben Stokes #Ashes pic.twitter.com/pDRZtYYOMN

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

15th over: WICKET! Anderson back into the attack and claims the crucial scalp of Warner with his first ball. It’s an edge to gully and Crawley makes no mistakes. That’s a big turning point for the tourists! Australia send Lyon out as the night watchman and it’s a nervous welcoming for him but he survives. 1/57 with only a couple of overs left in the day.

14th over: Change of bowlers for England and Stokes is in to try and find something, anything, for the tourists before stumps. Harris shapes the second ball off the middle of the bat into the air and through backward point for four. Apart from that a very clean first over from Stokes. 

13th over: Robinson back into the attack and his first ball is too full and Warner punches it through deep mid-wicket for another three runs. This final session of the day hasn’t gone to plan for England. Warner and Harris in control. 0/53 after 13 overs.

12th over:  Warner goes again against Wood, cutting through a tight field on the leg side and finding three runs through third man. He’s sitting on a run-a-ball at the moment and Australia are 0/48 after 12 overs.

11th over: Robinson resumes. Warner leaves the first two but likes what he sees on the third, launching off the middle of the bat to deep mid wicket for another four. A shout from England for LBW but it’s an inside edge from Warner. They smartly choose not to review. Five from the over, Australia 0/45.

10th over: Just the single for Warner off this Wood over. He’s 27 off 26 with half an hour’s play. Australia 0/40 after 10 overs.

9th over: Robinson resumes trying to find something for England to stop this recent flow of runs for the Aussies. Warner is in good shape here and slicks one away through cover for three runs. Then Harris finds two runs from the last ball of the over. This looks good from the opening pair. 0/39 after 8 overs.

8th over:  Wood back into the attack and Warner puts one away for four with a crisp cut shot on his back foot. Some really positive batting from the veteran opener. Another four for Warner! Not his intended shot but he sprays one past third man. 33/0 after 8.

7th over: Another single for Warner down the off side. Harris pulls at the last ball of the over and doesn’t quite latch on, the ball falling just short of Leach at mid-wicket. Bit of a lucky break. 0/25 after seven overs.

6th over:  Early bowling change for England – Mark Wood into the attack after missing the last Test. Warner plays and misses at a top seed from Wood, before pulling a shorter delivery for three runs. Harris pops one up in the air but it falls short of the man behind square-leg. 0/24 after 6. 

5th over:  Warner slaps Anderson through the off-side and it goes all the way for another boundary. Harris watches carefully and continues to survive – not exactly threatening bowling though. 0/21 after 5. 

4th over:  Warner slices one over the top of the cordon for a boundary. 0/16 after 4. 

3rd over:  David Warner gets off the mark with a risky quick single. Tight leave from Harris to finish off the set. 0/11 after 3. 

2nd over:  Ollie Robinson opening up from the other end. Just two runs off it for Harris. 0/8 after 2. 

1st over:  James Anderson starts things off, bowling to Marcus Harris. He gets off the mark with a lovely flick through mid-wicket for a boundary. 0/5 after 1. 

A crisp way to get off the mark from Marcus Harris ? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kJtVI1VgF5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

END OF ENGLAND’s 1ST INNINGS 

Poor batting display from England once again – shot selection from senior players including Root, Buttler and Stokes the major concern. Australia bowled reasonably well, led by Cummins at the start, while Lyon also chipped in with three wickets. It will be a nervous period of play now for Marcus Harris, who comes into this game with his Test career on the line. 

66th over:  WICKET!!! Lyon finishes the job as Robinson goes aerial and finds Boland out deep. Robinson did a good job to get some extra runs on the board for himself and his fellow bowlers to have a crack at, but a poor batting performance overall. All out 185 in the 66th over. 

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 26, 2021

65th over:  Robinson grabs two boundaries off Starc, including a bizarre shot where he backed away and played it through the slips and gully. 9/185 after 65. 

64th over:  WICKET!!! A delivery with some added bounce and turn from Lyon is too much for Leach to handle, who plays outside his body and edges it straight to Steve Smith at slip. 9/176 after 64. 

63rd over:  Just two runs off the Starc over. 8/175 after 63. 

62nd over:  Leach goes over the top but it plugs in the outfield, Green chases and cuts it off for two runs. Next ball he goes again and sends Lyon all the way over the rope for six. Leach slaps him through the off-side for three more runs. England looking to hit out or get out here, probably want to have a bowl at the Aussies this evening. 8/173 after 61. 

That’s a superb straight six from *checks notes* … Jack Leach! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/9Gb88cIDcz

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

61st over:  A bit more ‘Bodyline’ bowling from Starc, who gets a delivery up around Robinson’s rib cage. He pops it up but it manages to land safely. Maiden over. 8/162 after 61. 

60th over:  Lyon back into the attack. Robinson chips one to the mid-on region, but it falls short of the fielder. 8/160 after 60. 

59th over:  WICKET!!! Starc bounces back after a boundary with a nice short delivery at the body of Bairstow, who is unable to avoid it and gloves one up in the air, as Green charges in to take a diving catch. Jack Leach back in the side and is dealt a tough first assignment with Starc sending down his quickest ball of the day at 145km/hr, but he survives for now. 8/159 after 59. 

A ruthless delivery from Mitchell Starc, an even better catch from Cameron Green and Jonny Bairstow is on his way! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/2M69GAXPn7

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 26, 2021

59th over:  Starc back into the attack for Australia now. Robinson drives down the ground and adds three more. Bairstow drives through the covers for a boundary off a full Starc delivery – probably the shot of the day so far. 

58th over:  Lovely straight drive from Robinson to get off the mark. He backs it up the next ball with a flick off his pads for three runs. 7/152 after 58. 

“Top-order batsmen would be happy with that one – beautiful, full face of the bat,” Mike Hussey said on  Fox Cricket. 

57th over:  Just one run off Cummins’ over. Might be time for Lyon to come back on shortly. 7/142 after 57. 

56th over:  WICKET!!! Boland gets his first Test wicket, trapping Wood in front and dismissing him LBW. England review the decision, but it was pad first and going on to hit the stumps. Great moment for the Victorian seamer, playing at his home deck on Boxing Day for his country. 7/141 after 56. 

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2021

55th over:  Wood looks to pull a bouncer from Cummins but misses out. He connects the next time and adds two runs. 6/140 after 55. 

54th over:  Boland back into the attack. Inside edge from Bairstow almost hits the top of leg-stump before racing away for a boundary. 6/138 after 54. 

53rd over:  Cummins continues after the tea break. Big shout from the skipper for LBW but they opt not to review it. 6/134 after 53. 

52nd over:  Mark Wood out to bat now, not Ollie Robinson as most believed would be the case. He slaps Lyon through the covers for three runs. 6/132 after 52. 

TEA BREAK

England have now twice lost a wicket just before a break, which is extremely disappointing for them. Stokes was looking good at the crease and should have gone on with it after making a start, while the dismissal of Root was a tough blow for the visitors and the frustration was clear to see from the skipper. Green has bowled brilliantly for Australia, using the bounce to his advantage, while Cummins and Starc continue to chip away. With a long English tail now exposed and plenty of cricket left in the day, don’t be surprised to see the hosts batting before the first day is over at the MCG. 

52nd over:  WICKET!!! Buttler takes on Lyon just before tea, but he didn’t get all of it and Boland takes a catch in the outfield. Poor shot from the England keeper considering how close they were to the break and the situation of the game. 6/128 after 51.2 overs. 

Nathan Lyon gets his first wicket of the Test and local hero Scott Boland is into the action with a good catch in the deep! #ASHES LIVE ? https://t.co/AIhMj4zZgM pic.twitter.com/YHNuNhnsqd

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 26, 2021

51st over:  Yes, wait, maybe, not now! Bairstow looks to play through gully but it’s a tough task getting the ball past big Greeny this series, and he cuts off any chance of runs. Pitch invader halts play for a few moments as well – wouldn’t be a day of Test cricket without one. Maiden over from the Aussie skipper. 5/128 after 51. 

50th over:  Bairstow plays an uppercut shot over the top of gully for three runs off Starc’s bowling. 5/128 after 50. 

49th over:  Cummins back into the attack, replacing Green despite his wicket the previous over. Jos Buttler gets off the mark with a three. 5/125 after 49. 

48th over:  Bairstow grabs two more behind square. A loose and short ball from Starc is helped by Bairstow down the boundary for four runs. 5/121 after 48. 

47th over:  WICKET!!! Green gets a huge breakthrough. A shorter delivery cramps Stokes for room, who tries to cut away on the off-side and hits it straight to Lyon at backward-point. The all-rounder has bowled extremely well this series and this is just another big moment for him. Poor shot from Stokes, just as he was starting to get into the contest and looked like doing some damage. Green almost bowls Buttler a few balls later as a good-length delivery seams through bat and pad and narrowly goes over the top of middle stump. 5/115 after 47. 

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7sPKMGcEJa

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

46th over:  Lyon coming around the wicket to Bairstow with a short-leg in place. Another maiden over. 4/115 after 46. 

45th over:  Green continuing to chip away and look to break this partnership, which is starting to build some momentum for England. Stokes looks for a big drive through the off-side but misses out. Maiden over. 4/115 after 45. 

44th over:  Bairstow again sweeps Lyon, this time right into Marnus Labuschagne’s foot at short-leg. 4/115 after 44. 

43rd over:  Stokes plays and misses outside off-stump, before grabbing a single on the leg-side. Green generating some dangerous bounce, but no rewards just yet for him. 4/114 after 43. 

42nd over:  Bairstow attempts to sweep Lyon, but is struck on the pad. Stokes uses his feet again and grabs a single to mid-on. 4/113 after 42. 

41st over:  Green back into the attack now for Australia. Stokes gives himself room and tries to play a short delivery over the top of the cordon, but misses out. 4/111 after 41. 

40th over:  Bairstow whips Lyon safely through the leg-side for three runs. Stokes uses his feet and takes Lyon down over mid-on for a big horn into the crowd. Lyon comes back well and closes out the over with three dots. Drinks break time. 4/110 after 40. 

39th over:  Inside edge from Bairstow for a single down to fine-leg. Stokes flicks a ball off his pads again for another boundary to the fine-leg region – a gift delivery from Starc. England bring up three figures. 4/101 after 39. 

38th over:  Well, we called it – Lyon back into the attack now, replacing the debutant Boland. Just the one run off it, but he will be desperate for a wicket this spell and help Australia expose the English tail. 4/96 after 38. 

37th over:  Two aggressive batters at the crease who are going to look to score. Starc leaks a few runs. 4/94 after 37. 

36th over:  Boland continuing – you have to wonder how much longer they will persist with him for. Lyon looked good early on, while Cummins has had a brilliant day so far. 4/89 after 36. 

35th over:  Jonny Bairstow to the crease now for the first time this series, as Starc continues. He gets off the mark with a single on the leg-side. Stokes pulls a loose delivery away for a boundary. 4/87 after 35.  

34th over:  Maiden over from Boland. 4/82 after 34. 

33rd over: WICKET!!! Root hangs his bat out there off a wider delivery from Starc, edging it behind to Carey who takes a nice catch. Big trouble for England now with their skipper gone, who was looking fantastic at the crease before that moment. Disappointing way for the captain to get himself out, especially considering how poorly the other batters have been performing, and you could see his frustration immediately. 4/82 after 33. 

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2021

32nd over:  Boland almost takes the edge of Root, who plays and misses just outside off-stump. England’s skipper flicks one off his pads for a single, bringing up a tough and entertaining half-century. 3/82 after 32. 

Third Test match, third 50 of the series for Joe Root #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Pt9V4kM4ka

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

31st over:  Stokes punches a fuller delivery from Starc through the off-side for three runs. Big noise off a leg-side delivery and a few half-shouts for a caught-behind, but not much love from Starc and no review taken. 3/81 after 31. 

30th over:  Back-to-back boundaries from Root off the bowling of Boland, before adding another two runs with a lovely square drive to finish the set. 3/77 after 30. 

29th over:  Starc back into the attack – only three overs prior to this. Cummins admitted on  Fox Cricket  that he ‘messed up’ and was meant to bring the left-armer back on prior to the break. Starc takes the edge of Root but it lands safely in front of gully. Root drives down the ground for three runs – he has looked impeccable thus far despite the carnage around him at the top of the order. 3/67 after 29. 

28th over:  Boland back into the attack after lunch. Stokes is walking down the wicket to the seamers – an interesting tactic, so we will see how that works out for him. He tucks a single away behind square on the leg-side. 3/64 after 28. 

“I don’t know about this,” Mike Hussey said on  Fox Cricket. 

“You don’t want to be moving too much as the bowler is about to bowl the ball. You can muck around with your rhythm as a batsman.”

“He is trying to disrupt the bowler’s length – I think that’s what his tactic is.”

27th over:  Cummins completes his over to Ben Stokes, who is moving around a lot at the crease early on. 3/61 after 26. 

LUNCH BREAK

Exciting first session on Boxing Day. Australia struck early as both English openers fell, before a steady partnership between Joe Root and Dawid Malan. Cummins broke that partnership right before the lunch break, which swings things well and truly in the hosts’ favour. Cummins has been absolutely terrific with the ball after missing the second Test, while Nathan Lyon has looked promising. 

27th over:  WICKET!!! Cummins strikes again, nicking off Malan to Warner in the slips right before the lunch break. 3/61 after 26.3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

“That tips the session Australia’s way,” Allan Border said on  Fox Cricket. 

26th over:  Root cuts behind point for a single. 2/60 after 26. 

25th over:  Root hooks a short ball from Cummins. Malan edges, but it falls short of David Warner in the slips. 2/59 after 25. 

Just short of first slip #Ashes pic.twitter.com/51s7ryRbdm

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2021

24th over:  Lyon comes around the wicket to Root. Tight start from the offie. 2/58 

23rd over:  Good bouncer from Cummins, sending it right past the nose of Malan. He plays a nice drive through cover and adds two more to his tally. 2/55 after 23. 

22nd over:  Lyon continuing to bowl straight to the left-handed Malan. Two runs off the over. 2/53 after 22. 

21st over:  Cummins back into the attack. Root drives him down the ground for three runs, before Malan drives for three more. Few singles to close out the over. 2/51 after 21. 

20th over:  Malan advances and Lyon catches his pad first, garnering a half-shout from behind the stumps. Malan misses out on a wide delivery, cutting it straight to the fielder. 2/42 after 20. 

19th over:  Malan drives a full delivery but a lovely piece of fielding at point from Lyon saves a boundary. Root picks up another couple of runs. 2/42 after 19. 

18th over:  Bowling change for Australia – Nathan Lyon into the attack for the first time today. Immediately a promising sign for the off-spinner, with his first ball generating plenty of bounce. Maiden over to start for Lyon. 2/38 after 18. 

17th over:  Tidy over from Green but doesn’t appear to be threatening Root too much at this stage. 2/38 after 17. 

16th over:  Boland bowling nice and straight to Malan, forcing him to play at plenty of deliveries. Maiden over. 2/36 after 16. 

15th over:  Just one run from Malan off Green’s second over. 2/36 after 15. 

14th over:  Boland has changed ends and will replace Cummins. Root guides one through the slips cordon for a boundary. 2/35 after 14. 

13th over:  Bowling change for Australia, with all-rounder Cameron Green coming into the attack. Maiden over to Malan as the lads pause for a drinks break. 2/31 after 13. 

12th over:  Cummins continues to threaten as Root continues to take runs and look busy at the crease. 2/31 after 12. 

“He (Cummins) is always asking the question making it difficult to score, and difficult to survive,” Michael Vaughan said on  Fox Cricket. 

“Try and get down the other end, or hang in there for the first spell. Hopefully by the second spell, the ball is a bit older and he’s tired.” 

11th over:  Root looking to score quickly, showing plenty of positivity. Malan gets off the mark with a guided edge through the cordon for a boundary. 2/29 after 11. 

10th over:  Play and miss from Root, before he whips through leg-side for three runs. 2/22 after 10. 

9th over:  Poor delivery from Boland is flicked by Root for the first boundary of the day. He comes back nicely with three consecutive balls that strike Root on the pads. 2/19 after 9. 

Joe Root is quickly finding out what every net session looks like facing @sboland24 … inner thigh pad, box, thigh pad all get a thorough workout ?

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 26, 2021

8th over:  WICKET!!! Cummins strikes again, this time dismissing Crawley. A good length delivery gets some nice bounce and a thick edge flies to Cameron Green at gully, who takes a nice low catch. Joe Root is out to the crease now, and he will need to lift for his side here. 2/14 after 8. 

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2021

7th over:  Huge cheer at the MCG as local lad Scott Boland comes into the attack in his Test debut. Crawley takes a quick single late in the over, great intent. 1/13 after 7. 

6th over:  Crawley drives through cover for two runs off Cummins. He then flicks off his pads through mid-wicket for another three. Fantastic start for the new England opener. 1/12 after 6. 

5th over:  Crawley attempts to play through the leg-side but ends up producing a leading edge that landed safely on the off-side, adding three more to his tally. 1/7 after 5. 

4th over:  Malan leaves tightly over off-stump, before leaving one onto his thighpad. This extra bounce would be a salivating sight for the Aussies. Maiden over. 1/4 after 4. 

3rd over:  Extremely tight leave from Crawley as Starc continues. Plenty of bounce and carry on the MCG deck early doors. Crawley takes a swing at a wide delivery but misses out – looking to play his shots. 1/4 after 3. 

“If he smacks that for four, it puts a bit of pressure back on Mitchell Starc,” Shane Warne said on  Fox Cricket. 

“It’s a little bit risky, but I don’t mind that intent.”

2nd over:  WICKET!!! Cummins gets an early breakthrough, sending Hameed packing for a duck. The skipper catches the edge of the England opener with a perfect delivery, with Alex Carey taking a regulation catch behind the stumps. Dawid Malan plays and misses to close out the over. Top start from Cummins. 1/4 after 2. 

Captain Cummins strikes early and England are one down! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/reJnT7HYza

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 26, 2021

2nd over:  Pat Cummins opening up from the other end, bowling to Ashes debutant Zak Crawley. He punches with confidence down the ground for three runs. 

1st over:  We are underway on Boxing Day! Mitchell Starc gets things underway for Australia and his first delivery is called a no-ball after the left-armer overstepped the front line. Very wide early on from Starc, but the last couple of balls were a lot closer to the stumps and forced Haseeb Hameed into some very tight leaves. 0/1 after 1. 

10.35am:  Australia have won the toss and will bowl first. Pat Cummins returns to the bowling lineup, while Scott Boland comes in for his Test debut. For the visitors, Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow come into the top six, replacing Rory Burns and Ollie Pope. Jack Leach and Mark Wood have returned to the side in place of Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. 

10.15am:  Toss is now set to take place at 10.30 and the first ball will take place at 11. 

Good morning from the MCG, where steady rain has delayed the start of play. The umpires are out in the middle and the heavy covers have come off. Apparently the ground staff have left 11mm of grass on the pitch and it looks rather green. That might make for an interesting call at the toss. Josh Hazlewood has presented Scott Boland with his Baggy Green. The Victorian is one of only four players of Indigenous descent to play at Test level for Australia. –  Melinda Farrell

9.45am:  A bit of drizzle around the world-famous MCG, but it is expected to clear before the first ball at 10.30am. There is plenty of grass on the wicket according to all reports, making the delayed coin toss a very interesting one for Pat Cummins and Joe Root. 

A bit of rain around this morning, so the coin toss has been delayed #Ashes

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2021

8:30am: Welcome to Sporting News’ live blog for the first day of the third Ashes Test on Boxing Day between Australia and England at the MCG. Australia currently lead the series 2-0.

Australia v England – Third Test scorecard

First innings batting – Australia

First innings bowling – England

First innings batting – England

First innings bowling – Australia

Who is in Australia and England’s Ashes XI?

Australia:  Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris,  Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, David Warner 

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

How to watch the Ashes in Australia?

Kayo Sports, Foxtel, and Channel 7 will all be broadcasting the five Tests between Australia and England, with an exciting summer of cricket expected.

Fans can sign up for Kayo, purchase the sports pack on Foxtel, or watch Channel 7’s free-to-air broadcast.

SPECIAL KAYO OFFER FOR NEW CUSTOMERS: Get two months of Kayo Basic for just $5

Kayo will be simulcasting Fox Cricket’s broadcast of the action, and Channel 7 will have their own coverage.

ABC Radio will also be covering the commentary for listeners of the game.

What will the weather be at Melbourne’s MCG for the five days of the Ashes Test?

The weather forecast is looking good for five days of play during the Boxing Day Test with no rain currently predicted for Melbourne during the match.

Sunday, December 26 – Day 1: Partly cloudy, max temp of 20, 10% chance of rain

Monday, December 27 – Day 2:  Partly cloudy, max temp of 25, 5% chance of rain

Tuesday, December 28 – Day 3:  Sunny, max temp of 26, 0% chance of rain

Wednesday, December 29 – Day 4:  Mostly sunny, max temp of 27, 10% chance of rain

Thursday, December 30 – Day 5:  Partly cloudy, max temp of 27, 10% chance of rain