Ashes Boxing Day Test LIVE: England strike again. Visitors snare another wicket with MCG clash on tenterhooks – The Age

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Brydon Carse has bowled Travis Head. A crucial blow for England.
England spokesperson re Atkinson: “England seamer Gus Atkinson left the field after bowling his fifth over of the innings, having felt some soreness in his left hamstring. He will be assessed over the next few hours.”
Travis Head has become the highest scoring batter of this match.
He moves to 46 off 64 balls, passing Harry Brook who made 41 for England in the first innings.
Travis Head is the highest scorer to date in this test match.Credit: Getty Images
Michael Neser was the best of the Aussies in their first dig, scoring 35 off 49.
As Head closes on 50, Australia are 3-79 off 20 overs and lead by 121 runs.
Steve Smith has scored eight off seven.
Marnus Labuschagne is not happy.
He edges Josh Tongue into the cordon where Joe Root claims a low catch.
Labuschagne is adamant that it did not carry, Root that it did. The umpires go upstairs, and the replays are interpreted to say the ball bounced up off Root’s fingers rather than the ground.
There’s an argument that one is identical to the Alex Carey catch given not out in Adelaide but this time Labuschagne is given out.
He tosses away his chewing gum and marches off.
Marnus Labuschagne is out for eight, caught at first slip by Joe Root off the bowling of Josh Tongue.
Labuschagne refused to walk, claiming the ball did not carry.
It was a close call, but the third umpire ruled that Root managed to squeeze his hands under the ball.
Steve Smith comes to the wicket with the score at 3-61 and an Australian lead of 103 runs.
And he is straight off the mark, hitting a Tongue delivery through cover for three. Travis Head is 38 off 55.
The Australians have pushed their lead beyond 100 runs and are now firm favourites to win this match.
The Aussies are 2-61, leading by 103, as we enter the second hour of day two. Travis Head is 37 off 53 balls as he pushes to become the first batter to make 50 in this game. Marnus Labuschagne is eight off 17 overs.
Gus Atkinson claimed the wicket of Scott Boland before leaving the field with a hamstring strain, while Ben Stokes bowled Jake Weatherald.
The first hour of play on day two of the Boxing Day Test has delivered two wickets for England – night watchman Scott Boland (six) and left-hander Jake Weatherald (five).
But Australia have started to build a decent lead on a dynamite pitch.
The home team are 2-51 in their second innings, giving them a 93-run lead. Travis Head is 28 off 44 balls and Marnus Labuschagne is seven from eight.
Ben Stokes has given new batsman Marnus Labuschagne a torrid time, striking him twice on the right hand.
The deliveries have risen sharply from marginally short of a good length and cannoned into the fingers of the glove.
Marnus Labuschagne yanks his hand off the bat after being struck by Ben Stokes.Credit: Christopher Hopkins
On both occasions, Labuschagne has whipped his right hand off the bat and shaken it vigorously in obvious pain.
But, to his credit, he has waved off the team physio and soldiered on, guiding a thick edge down to the third-man for a boundary.
He moves to seven off eight, Head is 26 off 39 and Australia are 2-48, leading by 90 runs.
England skipper Ben Stokes has bamboozled Jake Weatherald with a fine delivery from around the wicket that clips the top of his off-stump.
Weatherald was caught in two minds and chose to leave a ball that he should have played.
He is out for five. Travis Head is 25 off 33 and Australia are 2-40 off 11 overs. The Aussies lead by 82 runs and Marnus Labuschagne comes to the wicket.
It is a poor morning for Weatherald who has struggled throughout this series other than a 72 at the Gabba. He is averaging a meagre 20.85 across the four Ashes tests.
The English fans show their appreciation for their country’s captain.Credit: Getty Images
England have another injury.
Gus Atkinson’s last ball was very slow, clocking in at 98km/h, and after bowling it he has immediately limped off the field favouring and holding his left hamstring.
After being arguably England’s best bowler in terms of consistency, his loss is a major blow for Ben Stokes.
Josh Tongue comes on at the other end on a hat-trick, and Jake Weatherald clips it through midwicket for three.
Former Australian Test opener Chris Rogers says Atkinson’s injury will make a huge difference to how the day plays out.
“England lose one of their quicks and as a batter you’re thinking ‘oh, Will Jacks is going to have to bowl now’,” he said on SEN Radio.
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