Ashes 2023 live: England v Australia fourth Test, day three score today – cricket updates

Cameron Green is next to present his food at the buffet, his offerings being hurled halfway down while pretty much all the other Australians are back at the fence. England work angles to score five from their over before Pat Cummins comes on at the other end.

Driven majestically! And again! Harry Brook finally found his timing, elbow up and shot clean, as he pulls off an appetizing half-volley, full-throw combo while Mitchell serves up some tasty small plates to Starc outside the stump.

Four more! Brook breaks through the barricade with a run down to the third man.

Stokes is on the move, twirling baton in hand as he carries Josh Hazlewood through the midwicket for four. Australia have so far penetrated the surface and batsman’s body, with Hazlewood around the wicket – would hiding him outside be a better approach?

However, the older ball causes some problems for England, occasionally the shorter ball does not quite get through. Three overs until the new one is available and Australia has to make a decision.

“No no no!” Ben Stokes roars, but it’s too late for Harry Brook – and he would have been gone if Pat Cummins had managed to hit the pegs at the end of the bowler. Brook had stopped just short of his spot and resigned himself to his fate after a short Harry Kari run, but another chance was not long in coming for the Australian captain, who missed with similar reluctance last night.

Better from Starc beating his Yorkers with some consistency to keep England at bay. Three singles from the over.

It would have been an intriguing decision for Kumar Dharmasena but Australia’s immediate withdrawal of an appeal meant the on-field referees did not refer it. The contact happened almost simultaneously – and Dharmasena calls Sky Sports’ comment box to signal he would not have released it as he did not believe the hanger had been removed from its groove before Carey’s gloves slammed.

Anyway, Stokes stays and knocks Hazlewood through the middle of the wicket for his fourth boundary.

blow! Here comes the carnage, Ben Stokes backs away and knocks Starc through the midwicket for a four. Cameron Green retreats from the canyon to position himself at the fly slip.

Starc almost knocks Stokes over on the next ball and gnashes his toes with a perfectly aimed Yorker which the England captain scoops out pretty well.

Almost an outlet! It’s Michael Neser again, a rocket arm from deep cover, nearly ending Stokes’ fun. It really should have been outside – Alex Carey drops it and wipes balls just as the ball hits the stump, and his raised hands admitting a mistake obviates further inspection by the third umpire. But should he have been so hasty? He’d deflected the ball onto the stumps, though perhaps not with enough force to dislodge the stirrups before his gloves struck half a stroke later.

Mitchell Starc can bowl too – he’ll test that sore shoulder on the other end first.

Solid enough to start, in the channel at 89mph when Ben Stokes blocked for offside.

A block early from Ben Stokes but a massive swing on the second attacking ball is perhaps more indicative of England’s likely play this morning. No contact.

A single down point gets England going and then Harry Brook plays his best shot yet, a crisp shot up through cover, with a sliding effort on the border that puts him to three points. Mitchell Starc is out there but Mitchell Marsh isn’t – Michael Neser, who scored a remarkable hundred for Glamorgan in the period between Tests three and four, acted as a substitute.

Pat Cummins has a slight grimace on his face as he brings his side out. Yesterday was one of his worst days in Test cricket – what good ideas did he come up with overnight?

Josh Hazlewood will toast thigns-off, a slip, a gully with square fielders down either side.

We’re about to leave for Old Trafford, the outfield is clear, security is gone and the blankets are down. Some stalls are filling up more slowly than yesterday, perhaps due to the morning rain. Can Australia recover from yesterday’s defeat?