England vs Australia, Ashes 2019: live score and latest fourth Test updates from day two at Old Trafford

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7:20PM

CLOSE: ENG 23/1

England will resume tomorrow 474 runs behind Australia with nine wickets left. Geoffrey Boycott maintains that you should never judge a batting performance until both teams have batted so will reserve judgment on the state of play until we see how England cope tomorrow. Suffice it to say that England will need to bat with the adhesiveness of which Burns, Root and Stokes are capable to keep the Ashes alive. Rain is forecast for tomorrow so it could be one of those horrible on-off-on-off day which make settling into an innings very difficult. Join us to see how they get on in the morning. 

7:15PM

OVER 10: ENG 23/1 (Burns 15* Overton 3*) 

Overton ducks the wayward, loopy bouncer, leaves one outside off and defends the third solidly. You can hear on the stump mic constant chirping about 'being all over this bloke' from the cordon. Overton looks as if he couldn't give a fig. He limbos beneath another pair of off-stump bouncers and that's the end of playt. 

7:11PM

OVER 9: ENG 23/1 (Burns 15* Overton 3*) 

Overton has a fence at a defensive that sears past the edge, defends a bouncer round the corner and turns down a single to protect Burns when he taps a defensive into the vacant midwicket area. He takes the single off the fifth ball, whipping it fine off middle to long leg. Burns ducks the bouncer and Overton will face the final over of the day from Hazlewood. 

7:07PM

OVER 8: ENG 22/1 (Burns 15* Overton 2*) 

Burns cuts twice for four, once convincingly, once not. The first is murdered through cover, a little uppishly, the second off the bottom edge through Paine. Lyon's fifth and sixth balls are also short, the first too wide to hit with control, but Burns drives the last off the back foot behind point for two. 

7:05PM

OVER 7: ENG 12/1 (Burns 5* Overton 2*) 

Terrific nut from Cummins that angles in, pitches on off and nibbles back through the gate. The next is fuller, seams back in and Wade makes a sensational catch. It hit him on the sternum but he held on to the rebound diving to his right. Overton is the nightwatchman and he elongates his defensive to take two through mid-on. Three more overs tonight if Lyon bowls next, which he will. 

7:00PM

Wicket!!

Denly c Wade b Cummins 4  Great delivery jags into him. Denly inside-edges it on to his thigh-pad and Wade snaffles it at the second attempt. FOW 10/1

6:58PM

OVER 6: ENG 10/0 (Burns 5* Denly 4*)

Hazlewood tries to use the angle across Burns to tempt him into playing away from his body but he keeps them tucked in, ducks the bouncer and defends the three he has to play. Only a no-ball, a massive overstep, turns the scoreboard over.

6:55PM

OVER 5: ENG 9/0 (Burns 5* Denly 4*)

It was a short spell.  Here's Pat Cummins, the No1-ranked Test bowler. Rory Burns drills a drive through cover and they run three then Cummins drops short to Denly and he cuts it off the back foot in front of square for three more. Better. Cummins pitches it up to Burns who dinks a single to mid-on. England's best first-wicket stand of the series is 22.  

​

6:48PM

OVER 4: ENG 2/0 (Burns 1* Denly 1*)

Burns gets off the mark by working a straight ball off his pads down to fine leg for a single. Denly is in all sorts of bother against Hazlewood, beaten outside off as one nibbles away, struck on the pad by the wobbleseam inswinger  that was heading down and then playing and missing outside off twice more on the drive and then with a forward defensive. I feel like Bobby Chariot. On pills for me nerves. But not sleeping in me Jag. 

6:42PM

OVER 3: ENG 1/0 (Burns 0* Denly 1*)

Could be quite a short spell for Starc with the new ball as he palpably cannot control it, spraying it very wide of Denly who leaves a couple well alone and defends the straighter one. The next ball is better, shorter and hits Denly on the wrist as he takes his eyes off it, much in the manner of his dismissal in the second innings at Headingley.  He middles a half-volley on the drive but cover cuts off the run and then is struck high on the thigh as Starc finds his range.

6:38PM

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

Joe Denly faces Josh Hazlewood, a far more precise prospect than Starc. And he starts with a snorter that pitches on off-stump and nibbles back in, striking him on the thigh. Two that move the other way draw wafty drives that he is fortunate to miss and he gets off the mark with a positive defensive push to cover. Raucous, sustained cheers greet England's first run. Burns has one ball to face and they target his vulnerability straightaway with a vicious lifter that hits him on the shoulder as he turns his head away. Short leg is constantly in play when Burns is on strike to an Aussie quick.

6:32PM

OVER 1: ENG 0/0 (Burns 0* Denly 0*)

Mitchell Starc takes the new pill.He has four slips, a gully and a short leg. The first is floaty and wide and goes through to the keeper. He adjusts with a straighter line to Burns at 89.9mph and the opener defends. His struggles to control a red Duke's continues with another hooping wide one that Burns leaves alone. And another. He's consistently quick but Burms has to play at only one of them. A maiden in name if not stature.

6:22PM

AUS 497/8 declared

Australia have added 327 for the loss of five wickets today, thoroughly dominating England who dropped three catches, two of them dollies, and gave Steve Smith a life when getting him out of a no-ball, an error by Jack Leach that allowed him to go from 118 to 211. 

​If England's first innings is over before the end of Friday, it's going to be tough, barring any further miraculous heroics, to save the chance of regaining the Ashes. Winning is such a remote possibility, only the draw and Test match batting can be their focus for the next 48 hours. 

6:18PM

OVER 126: AUS 497/8 (Starc 54* Lyon 26*)

Lyon tries to sweep Root, misses it, as does Bairstow and Broad, and it scoots down for four byes. Lyon dances down to Root and lofts him for four over long on. He ends the over with a sweep for a single and Australia finally declare. 

6:15PM

OVER 125: AUS 486/8 (Starc 53* Lyon 20*)

Nathan Lyon retreats towards the square leg umpire, helicopters a pull and top edges it for four over Bairstow. A Chinese cut brings him one more. 

​And on they bat. Weirdly conservative from Australia. I suppose they do hold the Ashes. But it seems a bit belt and braces. 

6:11PM

OVER 124: AUS 481/8 (Starc 53* Lyon 15*)

Root is milked for a pair of singles as we wait for a puff of white smoke. Starc has a massive swipe across the line and misses, then hoicks two to midwicket. Roy's throw beats the batsman to the non-striker but Root breaks the stumps with his wrist before he collects it cleanly. Australia bat on. 

​

6:07PM

OVER 123: AUS 477/8 (Starc 50* Lyon 14*)

Lyon uppercuts Archer for a single, Starc plays tip and run to bring up his 10th Test half-century and Australia close in on the declaration. Not yet, though. Interesting stat on Archer:

6:04PM

OVER 122: AUS 475/8 (Starc 49* Lyon 13*)

Root begins his fourth over round the wicket to Lyon who nurdles a single into the legside. Starc drives down to long-on for another and Lyon plays the release shot for a further single to steal the strike.

5:59PM

OVER 121: AUS 472/8 (Starc 48* Lyon 11*)

Archer bowls the first over after drinks. Lyon plays the uppercut at the first, misses, then connects second time for one. Can't get his line right for Starc at first, the perfume balls are too wide, the first to far outside off-stump, the next too high. A wild slash at a fuller ball, a top-edged pull, sails over third man. Buttler makes a headlong dive to try to get it and almost reaches it in an acrobatic and valiant effort but cannot prevent it going for six.

5:53PM

OVER 120: AUS 463/8 (Starc 40* Lyon 10*)     

And make hay they do - Starc carts Root for six to cow corner, followed by a pair of slogged fours between mid-on and midwicket after England's leg-before review crashed. England look thoroughly demoralised out there which quite often presages a collapse. Joy!

5:50PM

NOT OUT

It did hit the glove.

5:49PM

England review   

Starc lbw b Root Did it hit the glove as he swept? 

5:48PM

OVER 119: AUS 447/8 (Starc 25* Lyon 9*)   

Archer is stiff and tired at the start of his new spell. He saves the bouncer until the third ball and Lyon hooks it without looking. The ball sails off the top edge and falls short of fine leg then carroms as Leach chased it down at fine leg and spins over the rope. Lyon then thrashes a long hop past point for four. They can play until 7.12pm tonight, so Australia will make hay for the next 20 minutes or so if they can.

5:45PM

OVER 118: AUS 439/8 (Starc 25* Lyon 1*)   

Both batsmen take singles off Root with back-foot, angled-bat cuts off the stumps then Smith plays an oddly erect but effective sweep for four. And next ball he is gone, the wicket goes to Root with an assist for Smith, sacrificing himself in pursuit of quick hits for the declaration.

5:41PM

Wicket!!

Smith c Denly b Root 211Continuing to accelerate he reverse sweeps Root's leg-spinner to short third man. FOW 438/8

5:39PM

OVER 117: AUS 432/7 (Smith 205* Starc 24*)   

Mitchell Starc tickles four fine off his pads and then flays Broad for four with a bullet off-drive. The next ball is lofted over mid-on for four more. Broad is taking his punishment badly, strains for the edge with the next ball and is thick-edged behind point for four more. Seventeen off the over. Root signals to Archer to come on and replace Broad.

5:35PM

OVER 116: AUS 415/7 (Smith 205* Starc 8*)   

Joe Root brings himself on and bowls quicker than Leach, making it spin waspishly out of the rough. Starc plays and misses and it rags to hit Bairstow on the end of his finger which diverts it on to Stokes' ankle. Both hop around in pain. The last ball is drifted into Starc's pads and England go up for leg-before when it jams into his knee roll, all but Root who spotted the inside edge.

5:31PM

OVER 115: AUS 413/7 (Smith 205* Starc 6*)   

Broad posts a short cover and shortish mid-off. Smith wanders across his stumps to work two fine of square leg to reach 200. Magnificent innings. He  was dropped on 65 and was caught off a no-ball on 118 but he just kept rolling along. He kisses the badge on his helmet. He had played the same stroke off the previous ball and his jerky movement diddled Starc into thinking he wanted the single. But Burns cut it off and Starc had to scamper back to safety to beat the throw with Broad behind the stumps. Broad goes fuller and Smith munches an on-drive past him for four.

5:24PM

OVER 114: AUS 407/7 (Smith 199* Starc 6*)   

Another single to third man for Smith outs him one short of his third double century against England. Starc has a swish at a good length delivery from Overton but survives. Ah - here comes Broad. Enfin.

5:20PM

OVER 113: AUS 406/7 (Smith 198* Starc 6*) 

Smith brings up Australia's 400 with a flourish, striding down to Leach and planting him over long off for six. A dab is cut off by point to keep him down to a single rather than the four he had planned to get to 400 and he berates himself for not pulling it off. Bowling change, please.

5:16PM

OVER 112: AUS 399/7 (Smith 191* Starc 6*) 

Starc pushes forward to Overton and nicks it. The ball is only 31 overs old but it doesn't carry to Stokes who is hit awkwardly on the finger after it bounced just in front of his dive. Starc smiles then hammers a straight drive for four. Broad to the left-hander for pity's sake.

5:12PM

OVER 111: AUS 395/7 (Smith 191* Starc 2*) 

Leach beats Smith once with turn and bounce and Smith beats Smith when he misses a long hop he was trying to cut.

5:11PM

OVER 110: AUS 394/7 (Smith 191* Starc 1*) 

Steve Smith's broomhandle drive from yesterday is given an encore as he falls over to reach a wide one to drive. He doesn't connect and topples over, getting back to his feet in the manner of someone who has walked into a lampost but hopes no one has noticed.

He really is half Don Bradman, half Norman Pitkin. 'Mr Grimsdale!'

5:06PM

OVER 109: AUS 393/7 (Smith 191* Starc 1*)

Having a long on allows Starc to get away. Having pushed the ball down the ground, he saunters a single. Smith square cuts for one and Leach attempts his Siren's song act with Starc without dividend yet. Starc's a left-hander. Root should give Broad a spurt.

5:01PM

OVER 108: AUS 391/7 (Smith 190* Starc 0*)

Overton maintains his line but loses his length, drops short and Smith carts him through wide mid-on for four with a cross-bat pull. He shapes to pull the next one too, the old mummer, but only to wind England up, I think as the arc of his swing was a good 5cm above the ball.

4:59PM

OVER 107: AUS 387/7 (Smith 186* Starc 0*)

Leach tempts Starc with five tossed-up deliveries that he defends with ascetic discipline. He tries to whip the last wide of mid-on but succeeds only in hitting it too hard so the fielder can secure the maiden.

4:55PM

OVER 106: AUS 387/7 (Smith 186* Starc 0*)

Excellent from Overton to tie Smith up with a much wider line than they tried all afternoon. A maiden and Leach will have a dart at Starc.

4:53PM

OVER 105: AUS 387/7 (Smith 186* Starc 0*)

Smith chasses down the pitch and flays Leach through midwicket for four. Another glorious shot, followed by a single which brings Cummins on strike and exposes him to Leach's turn.

4:50PM

Wicket!!

Cummins c Stokes b Leach 4Big dip and turn as Cummins props forward to edge a simple catch to slip. FOW 387/7

4:49PM

OVER 104: AUS 382/6 (Smith 181* Cummins 4*)

Overton changes tack to Smith and is bowling a eighth-stump line with two men out on the hook. The first ball is called wide but the next five earn dot balls as Smith tries to realign by shuffling even further over. It takes him only those five balls to acclimatise and he whips the final one behind square for one.

4:43PM

OVER 103: AUS 380/6 (Smith 180* Cummins 4*)           

Smith takes to the dance floor to smear a Leach full toss over wide mid-on for six. He's bowling without his glasses, as he has all day. The series sponsors won't be happy. Bairstow is alternating between 'Leachoes' and 'Jackie' in encouragement. Smith leans back to ease a single through point and Cummins, the adhesive leech, defends the last two.

4:38PM

OVER 102: AUS 373/6 (Smith 173* Cummins 4*)           

Straight after dismissing Paine, Overton winced and placed his hand on the small of his back. He looks stiff and injured but continues. Cummins gets away with a tickle fine for four and Overton's pace increases for the final ball of the over to touch 80 so perhaps the niggle has dissipated.

4:33PM

Wicket!!       

Paine c Bairstow b Overton 58Bags the Australia captain with the first ball after tea. A 74mph loosener in terms of pace, it was a scrambled-seam jaffa in terms of length and line, held its line and Paine feathered an edge through to the keeper. FOW 369/6

4:16PM

TEA: AUS 369/5

England's worst session in the field all series and it could prove fatal to their chances of regaining the Ashes, probably unless they can bat Australia out of this match and go to the Oval all-square.

They dropped two catches - Paine on nine by Roy at slip and on 49 by the substitute Sam Curran at mid-on.

Leach had Smith caught off a no-ball for 118 and to compound their misery Stokes had to depart with a sore shoulder (though he has now come back on but not bowled again). Australia's sixth wicket pair have put on 145* and critics of Paine, who dismissed him as a passenger, have been made to eat their words by the captain by virtue of his reprieves.

4:11PM

OVER 101: AUS 369/5 (Smith 173* Paine 58*)         

Enter Joe Denly to use the breeze. No Pants arcs a couple in to Paine, drifting in on the breeze, looking for the bat-pad. Paine taps a single round the corner then Smith plays a back-foot drive through wide mid-on for four. He blocks the last and they walk off for tea in complete control.

4:08PM

OVER 100: AUS 364/5 (Smith 169* Paine 57*)         

Tea is at 4.10pm so we should get two more overs. Leach continues over the wicket to Smith who is hurried into a defensive then works a single behind square. Paine defends a couple then dinks a back-foot punch between bowler and mid-off for one.

4:05PM

OVER 99: AUS 362/5 (Smith 168* Paine 56*)       

Smith toe-ends an uppercut that sails down to third man and falls to ground about half a metre in front of a running, diving Denly. They run a single.Paine takes a tight single to cover but Broad slips on the saturated square and lands on his tuchas, allowing them two. Archer, back of a length, is cut hard for four by the Australia captain. This has been a rotten session for England. Their worst in the field all series.

Bairstow has been hit hard on the thumb when an Archer delivery swings erratically after soaring over the stumps. He is in genuine pain. On comes the physio, tests for a break and then tapes the heel of his right thumb.

3:59PM

OVER 98: AUS 355/5 (Smith 167* Paine 50*)       

Jack Leach switches to the Anderson End. Paine on strike. No silly point now, just a slip and short leg. Paine drills an off-drive to mid-off's right to move to fifty. Gutsy innings, stylish at times too. Dropped on none and 49. Leach comes over the wicket to Smith, aiming for the right-arm over bowlers' footholds. He elicits the drive to mid-on that he wants him to play, hoping it will stick in through long enough to make the batsman spoon it. Smith keeps it along the ground then whips a single wide of leg gully.

3:54PM

OVER 97: AUS 353/5 (Smith 166* Paine 49*)     

Smith is centimetres away from being strangled when he gloves one barely wide of Bairstow's full-stretch drive. Instead it flies for four. Archer is banging it in now, bowling with menacing intent and is told after two bouncers in succession that that's his allotment for the over.

3:49PM

OVER 96: AUS 349/5 (Smith 162* Paine 49*)     

Oh, what a lovely shot that is from Smith. Too full, too straight, no movement from Overton and Smith smacks it straight back down the ground for four.

Smith then gets a hook all wrong and it soars towards Leach at fine leg but lands safe.

Joe Root looks increasingly like a man without an idea for how to get back into the match.

Back over to Rob for the rest of the day's play.

3:45PM

Ben Stokes is back!

What a relief that is! "Soreness" apparently was all it was. Hope has returned!

3:44PM

OVER 95: AUS 342/5 (Smith 155* Paine 49*)   

Archer again. England need to put pressure on Paine while he is on 49 - and might make errors of judgement like he did in Jofra's last over.

Root wants to tempt him into a hook and it very nearly works but Paine is so far from picking it up than he just prods it back into the turf beneath him.

He then decides to dodge a couple of bouncers. Good thinking, Tim.

3:41PM

OVER 94: AUS 342/5 (Smith 155* Paine 49*)   

Too wide from Overton. Smith swats it through the covers for four.

3:37PM

OVER 93: AUS 338/5 (Smith 151* Paine 49*) 

Archer back on with England a man down. Smith is still in the 140s, where he has twice got out in this series - the only two occasions he has got out without having earlier been struck on the head.

That doesn't last long though. Smith pulls a short ball comfortably and that is his 150 up. A remarkable innings.

This is a genuine concern:

And then a chance! A truly bloody tough one but Paine has got impatient on 49 and he hooks but doesn't get hold of it at all. It flies straight at Curran at a sort-of-mid-on position but he puts it down! You can't let this many chances go, lads.

3:31PM

OVER 92: AUS 335/5 (Smith 148* Paine 49*) 

It has started raining at Old Trafford, which Joe Root probably won't be too disappointed about. Just a passing shower, though.

Oh, Overton just bowled an over. Nothing to report.

3:27PM

Some top statting from our very own Isabelle Westbury

3:25PM

OVER 91: AUS 334/5 (Smith 147* Paine 49*)

Stokes comes on for England, Root trying his final pace bowling option with the new ball. There is just no pace in this pitch - Stokes is struggling to reach 80mph. Anything wide is easy to pick off. Paine drives one through the covers for four. Then he pushes a straighter one down the ground for three more and he is onto 49.

Oh no. This doesn't look good. Five balls into the over Stokes grimaces, he looks really unhappy here. He walks straight over to the umpire, grabs his jumper and walks off the pitch, head slumped. England could really do with that not being a major problem.

Jack Leach bowls the final ball of the over.

3:19PM

OVER 90: AUS 325/5 (Smith 145* Paine 42*)

Helluva shot from Tim Paine as Broad both overpitches and strays too wide, the Aussie captain striking beautifully through the covers for four.

Meanwhile, at the other end...

3:13PM

OVER 89: AUS 321/5 (Smith 145* Paine 38*)

Paine swings lazily at a ball well outside off from Broad when there really is no need. Smith then fends off a beauty that swings in at him viciously for a single that he makes look typically, remarkably simple.

3:08PM

OVER 88: AUS 318/5 (Smith 144* Paine 36*)

Overton gets a go with a fairly new ball and gets six balls to bowl at Smith, who, in his 'nervous 140s', leaves everything alone. There is just no end to his patience.

3:05PM

OVER 87: AUS 318/5 (Smith 144* Paine 36*)

This just getting a liiiittle bit frustrating now isn't it? England are edging closer to a position from which the match will no longer be winnable, by which stage their only hope for the series will be drawing this Test - a result which would probably require a fair bit more of that lovely Manchester rain (which, in fairness, is more reliable than any of England's batsmen).

Broad comes in to Smith, beats the edge with a couple of good balls, but can't make the breakthrough.

2:56PM

OVER 86: AUS 317/5 (Smith 143* Paine 36*) 

Paine clumps an Archer half-volley for four through point. Five dot balls don't mitigate that pie. Drinks. Alistair Tweedale will take you through until tea from here.

2:55PM

OVER 85: AUS 313/5 (Smith 143* Paine 32*) 

Broad beats Smith with a ripper that angles into him and straightens past the edge then has him playing chest on again as the ball clips the edge and zooms past pint for two. Broad is ticking and, presumably, tocking.  An otherwise impressive over ends with a fullish ball on middle and leg that Smith whips fine for two. Michael Holding rolls out an appropriate daily rendition of " if he misses that ... but he never misses them.

2:51PM

OVER 84: AUS 309/5 (Smith 139* Paine 32*) 

Paine whips Archer for two through midwicket and taps a single to mid-on. Thoroughly flat despite the new ball. Smith reads the slower ball and flicks it into the legside for a single. Archer treats Paine to two short balls, cranking it up to 88mph, but the batsman copes comfortably, bobbing and weaving.

2:45PM

OVER 83: AUS 305/5 (Smith 138* Paine 29*)

Broad tries round the wicket to Smith, angling it across him and bowling very full. Smith flicks two behind square then unleashes a handsome cover drive, harpooning the ball to the boundary. Glorious shot. A drive to the point sweeper puts Paine on strike and he gets off it first ball by rolling his writs on a pull to midwicket for one.

2:37PM

OVER 82: AUS 297/5 (Smith 131* Paine 28*)

Smith plays tip and run to a back of a length delivery, dropping it from outside off into the leg side. The length has to change to Smith - much fuller or a genuine bouncer. Archer is finding it difficult to hit his Lord's speeds. Even to Paine it's all 82mph and the Australia captain comfortably ducks the bouncers designed to catch him on the hook.

2:32PM

OVER 81: AUS 296/5 (Smith 130* Paine 28*)

Stuart Broad takes the new ball. Root gives him a couple of slips and a gully, as before. Back of a length is filet mignon and Pomerol '61 for Smith and he tucks a single off his hip. Broad cranks up the pace for Paine who ducks the bouncer that was arrowed into his shoulders and square cuts the wider one for four. Jofra Archer will share the new ball.

2:28PM

OVER 80: AUS 291/5 (Smith 129* Paine 24*)

An ungainly hoick from down the pitch by Smith off Denly cuffs the ball through midwicket for a single. Paine is more circumspect, hanging on the back foot and whipping a single. Smith ends the last over before the new ball with another single on the charge and a swipe down to the midwicket sweeper.

2:24PM

OVER 79: AUS 288/5 (Smith 127* Paine 23*)

Three singles off Leach's over, two through point, one, inevitably, to square leg.

2:21PM

OVER 78: AUS 285/5 (Smith 125* Paine 22*)

Joe Denly will have a couple of overs before the new ball. On a good length from the start to Paine and the ball is turning, if only gently. Paine isn't troubled but cannot pierce the infield. Maiden.

2:19PM

OVER 77: AUS 285/5 (Smith 125* Paine 22*)

Leach continues to cause Smith problems, luring him down the track again where he hasn't looked so comfortable. He misses the drive, gulled by the dip and is struck on the pad. He's miles out of his ground but by the time Buttler gets there from silly point to try to side-foot it on to the stumps, he recovers his ground.

2:16PM

OVER 76: AUS 284/5 (Smith 125* Paine 21*)

Smith is salting England's wounds. He defends Stokes' good length delivery and it spins back. In even more of a flap than usual he worries it might rebound on to his stumps, races round after it then taps it away from around a metre behind the wickets. Bairstow is not happy as he was bending to pick it up at the moment of impact. Stokes, who lost his first Test wicket, Brad Haddin, to a no-ball in 2013-14, oversteps here to keep Leach company. The last ball of the over is a grisly full toss and Smith skelps it through cover for four.

2:10PM

OVER 75: AUS 277/5 (Smith 120* Paine 20*)         

Hell's teeth. Lovely delivery with dip and turn but it didn't count. Root gave a rallying cry in the huddle when it was overturned as England's players visibly shrank when the no-ball call was made, telling them to pick their heads up. I wish Fred Trueman were still alive to commentate on the moment a spinner overstepped.

2:07PM

Smith is caught off a Leach no ball

Taken at slip.

2:05PM

OVER 74: AUS 273/5 (Smith 118* Paine 19*)       

Ben Stokes has been brought on and begins with a floaty loosener that Paine rinses through mid on for for four. Broad was swinging it but Stokes has decided he will bounce Smith who pulls the first numper for four and uppercuts the second for four in the chasm between Roy at second slip and Burns at gully. When he pitches it up, the ball does swing away and he plays and misses. More of that.

2:00PM

OVER 73: AUS 258/5 (Smith 109* Paine 14*)       

False stroke from Smith off Leach.  He comes down the pitch, looking for a lofted drive over mid-on. It takes the leading edge and sails between cover and extra. One fielder turns and runs back, the other hares in but it bisects them perfectly and neither can reach it. Smith smiles and jogs the single. Earlier he berated himself for any mistake. He's less harsh on himself having passed his hundred. Fine delivery from Leach - it dipped and turned but sod's law dictates he serves a pie up to Paine, a filthy long hop outside off that the Australia captain cleaves to the boundary for four.

1:55PM

OVER 72: AUS 252/5 (Smith 108* Paine 9*)     

Smith plays a back-foot drive of such Caribbean grace for four that Nasser Hussain has a picture of Richie Richardson in his mind's eye. Next ball is pure Smith, he turns chest on and deflects it through square leg for one. Broad wants Paine at the striker's end and almost has him on toast again with one that sears past the edge, veering in before jagging away.

1:52PM

OVER 71: AUS 247/5 (Smith 103* Paine 9*)     

Stuart Broad has a list of dropped catches off his bowling. Roy's name is going on it. Here's a picture from the moment when it is inscribed.

Smith drives a single off Leach through cover. Paine has three balls and Leach varies flight and length to draw the batsman forward. He defends all three with an angled bat, keeping silly point on his toes.

1:47PM

OVER 70: AUS 246/5 (Smith 102* Paine 9*)   

And Smith picks up where he left off with a flick of the right wrist working the first ball through midwicket. Swing for Broad from this end ... which draws the nick from Paine, chasing a wide one, and Roy drops a sitter at second slip. Dreadful shot, terrible slip fielding. A goober, a cuckoo, and absolute dolly. Broad is fuming and rightly so.

1:42PM

The players are back out

Steve Smith scurried to the wicket. Ever the eager beaver. Stuart Broad will bowl the first over of the session from the Jimmy A En. having taken his wickets from the Brian Statham End. Good old George.

1:05PM

LUNCH: AUS 245/5

Australia have put on 75 in the morning session for the loss of two wickets. England have been much tighter but I think they need to be tighter still against Paine and wall up that legside flick of his. If they can block off 80 per cent of his runs in that area, it would help. Back at 1.35pm for the afternoon session.

1:03PM

OVER 69: AUS 245/5 (Smith 101* Paine 9*)   

Lovely shot from Paine who creams a cover drive off a Leach half-volley through extra for four. He really should have a higher average than 31. He can bat ... but is as impulsive a puller as anyone since Andrew Hilditch. That's lunch.

12:58PM

OVER 68: AUS 241/5 (Smith 101* Paine 5*) 

Steve Smith brings up his 11th Ashes century and 26th in all Tests with a flick to square leg for one followed by a flick to square leg for two. He plays the stroke with his toes pointing down the wicket and his bat swivelling across the line to whip it. Extraordinary cricketer, extraordinary method.

12:55PM

OVER 67: AUS 236/5 (Smith 98* Paine 4*) 

England are having no problems tying down Paine but Smith is knocking singles with ease, one to deep backward square, the other to cover off Leach's 12th over. Paine whips a drive to mid-on and scampers pff strike. Smith's last eight Ashes innings:

239, 76, 102, 83, 144, 142, 92, 98*

12:51PM

OVER 66: AUS 233/5 (Smith 96* Paine 3*) 

Guess where Smith turns a straight, back-of-a length ball from Craig Overton? Yes, down to square leg for a single. Have a biscuit. Two spokes on his wagon wheel. Overton looks far more menacing against Paine who flirts with the oustwinger before withdrawing his bat and defends a couple but again, not off the middle of the bat, inside-edging one into his pad and another, scissoring his bat down from ten to two, into the legside.

12:47PM

OVER 65: AUS 232/5 (Smith 95* Paine 3*)

Thanks, Alistair. Leach continues to Smith who demonstrates his uncanny ability to cuff anything through square leg for a single by turning one turning way from off-stump there. Paine is not so dexterous and is tied up by Leach for five balls who can't find the middle of his bat. One tapped push to mid-off seduces him into thinking there may be a single and he sets off, straight down the middle of the pitch, but Smith sends him back and Bairstow protests about the path he took. Kumar Dharmasena does not intervene ... yet.

12:42PM

OVER 64: AUS 231/5 (Smith 94* Paine 3*)

Overton again and he'll get a go at new man Paine. Paine dodges, ducks and leaves, but it only takes five balls before he is tempted into another hook. He does, this time at least, keep it low.

Time to hand over to Rob Bagchi who will guide you through a large part of the remainder of the day.

12:39PM

OVER 63: AUS 229/5 (Smith 93* Paine 2*)

A heap more turn for Leach as one moves well away from Smith and he gets a poor connection on it. Then he comes down the pitch but doesn't get anywhere near the pitch of it and pads a pretty dodgy shot away to safety. Leach is certainly the most likely to get Smith out.

12:36PM

OVER 62: AUS 227/5 (Smith 92* Paine 1*)

Shane Warne with a real gem here: "If England can get Steve Smith out here, they are right in this game." That is basically just true all the time, Shane.

Overton again and a bit of encouragement as Paine goes after a short one - as he did to get out at Headingley when Denly took that catch. This short is as unconvincing.

12:31PM

OVER 61: AUS 224/5 (Smith 90* Paine 0*)

Captain Tim Paine is the new man in. He survives the final ball of the over.

12:30PM

WICKET! Wade c Root b Leach 16

Sky highlight the relative struggles Smith has against left arm orthodox bowling and Leach does look the most likely to get him out... but after a single for Smith, Leach instead gets Wade out!

Wade tries to hit a full ball out of the ground but spoons it high up in the air and down the throat of Root at mid-on. It swirls around in the wind as it drops to the England captain but he clings on! Fow 224/5

12:26PM

OVER 60: AUS 221/4 (Smith 87* Wade 16*)

Overton again, he comes around the wicket to change the angle up but it doesn't bring any joy.

12:23PM

OVER 59: AUS 220/4 (Smith 87* Wade 16*) 

Nearly a mix up with the batsman as Smith tries to take a quick single but Wade sends him back. Smith dives desperately as Bairstow picks up the loose ball and turns to throw at the stumps... but misses. I think Smith would have been safe, but only just.

Leach then beats Smith with one that turns and bounces impressively. Smith nods in appreciation.

12:17PM

OVER 58: AUS 215/4 (Smith 82* Wade 16*)

Craig Overton has the ball in hand for the first over after the break, and for the first time today. It's so gloomy all of a sudden that the floodlights are on. Decent conditions for him to come on to... but he is bowling to Steve Smith.

He bowls two bouncers with the first two balls and then Smith takes an easy single. Overton then goes around the wicket to Wade, but he shuts out all three balls.

12:11PM

Break over!

The covers are off and the players and umpires are on their way back out.

12:09PM

Wowzer

12:07PM

Uh oh! The covers are out!

During that little break it has started spitting and the main cover is out. It's only the central part of the pitch covered so hopefully it's only a shower.

12:02PM

OVER 57: AUS 214/4 (Smith 81* Wade 16*)

Change of bowling: Jack Leach replaces Broad and he brings a bit of belief to the crowd as Wade attacks and plants one straight at Buttler at short leg and nearly top edges a sweep. Wade does however pick one up as he comes skipping down the track smacks through midwicket for four. Time for drinks.

11:57AM

OVER 56: AUS 209/4 (Smith 80* Wade 12*)

A Steve Smith single brings up Australia's 200, then Wade directs one from Archer wide of the slips for four through third man. He then tries to hook a short ball but misses it - the England players think he has nicked it through to the keeper but he clearly didn't.

England are desperate to get this ball changed. Umpire Erasmus isn't interested.

11:52AM

OVER 55: AUS 199/4 (Smith 79* Wade 8*)     

Broad gets a good run at Wade but no joy. The momentum of that earlier wicket seems to have dissipated a little now.

11:47AM

OVER 54: AUS 197/4 (Smith 79* Wade 6*)     

Archer comes around the wicket to Wade, who does brilliantly to lean back and out of the way of a fierce bouncer but is far less impressive in trying to flick one off his pads but very nearly tickling it through to the keeper.

11:42AM

OVER 53: AUS 196/4 (Smith 79* Wade 6*)   

The sun goes behind a cloud and all of a sudden Old Trafford looks ominously gloomy, and bad news for England: the wind is picking up again.

Smith pulls a short one but doesn't quite get it right.. a sniff of a chance but it flies well over leg gully to safety.

11:38AM

OVER 52: AUS 188/4 (Smith 77* Wade 5*)   

Archer vs Smith: this round is won by Smith. Five balls from Archer, including a couple of bouncers that the crowd like but Smith dodges well. Smith cuts one through third man well for four.

11:33AM

OVER 51: AUS 188/4 (Smith 73* Wade 4*) 

Smith takes a single off the first ball leaving Broad five balls to have a go at the new left-hander Wade. Wade preempts one moving away from him but it instead comes in at him and he completely misses it.

11:30AM

OVER 50: AUS 186/4 (Smith 72* Wade 3*) 

Jofra continues and one keeps low at Wade which he doesn't get out of the way of, and it hits him hard on the forearm.

That might just have shaken Wade up, with the next ball finding the edge and only just falling short of Root at first slip. Might he have dived forward to take that? It was a quick one from Archer so Root didn't have long to react.

11:26AM

OVER 49: AUS 184/4 (Smith 71* Wade 1*)

DRS shows a review wouldn't have overturned the umpire's decision.

11:23AM

WICKET! Head b lbw Broad

Broad comes around the wicket to Head as he has done to so many left-handers in this series so far and he gets a full ball to fizz back and smack Head on the pad! Huge appeal! The umpire's finger goes up!

Head has a quick discussion with Smith but they decide against a review and Head walks! Another one for Broady! Fow 183/4

11:19AM

OVER 48: AUS 181/3 (Smith 71* Head 18*)

Archer gets up to 90mph with one ball in a maiden over to Smith, who dodges a bouncer really well, even if it does get the crowd a little excited.

11:15AM

OVER 47: AUS 181/3 (Smith 71* Head 18*)

Good variation from Broad to Smith - bouncer here, good length there. Smith mistimes a pull shot and takes only a single from the over.

11:11AM

OVER 46: AUS 180/3 (Smith 70* Head 18*)

Smith has kept the strike and Archer does him too! A good length ball seamed away and fizzes past the outside edge. Smith then rocks back next ball and swats away a beauty of a cover drive or four. Then a full toss from Archer is driven back down the ground by Smith and it's in the air! Archer gets a hand to it but can't hold on, and then the ball almost ricochets onto the stumps with Head out of his ground! Instead it goes for four! Next ball, Smith inside edges past leg stump!

An eventful and ultimately expensive over, that.

11:05AM

OVER 45: AUS 171/3 (Smith 61* Head 18*)

A murmur of excitement rustles around Old Trafford as Broad comes steaming in for the first over of the day... and the crowd have reason to be excited!

Steve Smith pushes at the first ball and gets a decent edge on it, though it drops well short of third slip. Then the next ball is as poor a shot as you'll see Smith play, he wafts at one outside off and just misses the edge!

10:51AM

Broad speaks

10:46AM

The scene at Old Trafford

Lovely day for a kickabout.

10:35AM

THE SUN IS OUT

There is, of course, no reason whatsoever to think it will last, but for now we are looking good for the scheduled 11am start of play.

10:25AM

While you're waiting

Why not have a read Nick Hoult's view of a hugely impressive series so far for Stuart Broad? Here's a snippet of it:

10:03AM

Day two

So, after a rain-hit, Steve Smith-dominated opening day at Old Trafford yesterday, England, yet again, are facing an uphill battle to save this Ashes series.

It was such a promising start on Wednesday morning, with David Warner and Marcus Harris falling so early, but that man Smith and - frustratingly - the player who found his way into the Australia team thanks to Smith's concussion earlier in the series, Marnus Labuschagne, put on a 111-run stand to wrestle momentum back the tourists' way. A late breakthrough with Labuschagne falling to Craig Overton has given England a bit of hope.

But they need to win at least one of the final two Tests and can't afford to lose either of them. Given the situation in this Test with Australia on top, rain might not be the most unwelcome sight.

The variety of predictions for today's forecast depending on where you look suggests we're in for a typically Mancunian weather: blustery and changeable. It is also going to be pretty chilly out there. In all, far from your usual cricketing conditions.

What you can be sure of is that we won't get a full day's play. I hope Sky have got some good filler content at the ready...