Australia vs England, Day 4 of Ashes Boxing Day Test from MCG

Rain has forced play to be abandoned at the MCG, after England were warned for their treatment of the ball earlier in the day.

England skipper Joe Root talks with the umpire as the players walk off for another rain delay. Picture: Michael Klein.

Welcome to The Australian’s coverage of the fourth day of the 2017 Boxing Day Test, with rain ending the day’s play, Australia 2-103 still trailing England by 61 runs.

Adrian McMurray 5.40pm: Bizarre day ends in uninspiring circumstances

Jimmy Anderson bowls amid accusations of ball tampering. Picture: Michael Klein.

In the end the rain meant the action really petered out, but prior to that there was a fairly lively period. It all started with Anderson’s dismissal on the first ball, Cook carrying his bat. Then as the wickets of Bancroft and Khawaja fell, the warning came from the umpires over England’s tactics surrounding the ball.

In Smith and Warner Australia have something to work with, but the draw remains the most likely outcome. However if either of those two depart early tomorrow, things could get interesting for England. Australia finish the day 2-103, trailing England by 61 runs. Join us tomorrow morning for the final day of the 2017 Boxing Day Test.

Adrian McMurray 5.19pm: Play abandoned

Play has been abandoned, with rain brining a premature end to day four. Tomorrow’s start time has been brought forward to 10am AEDT.

Adrian McMurray 4.46pm: Rain intensifies

Raid continues to fall at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein.

It’s looking pretty bleak at the MCG, the full covers are on and puddles are forming all over the turf. Pretty safe to say that’s it for day four unless something changes pretty quickly.

Adrian McMurray 4.29pm: Will this delay end?

The Australian’s Andrew Faulkner isn’t so hopeful we’ll see another ball bowled today...

Big covers coming back on. Heavier rain on the radar. Reckon we're done for the day. #Ashes

— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) December 29, 2017

Adrian McMurray 4.26pm: Pitch to be inspected

The pitch will be inspected at 4.30pm AEDT. Standby...

Adrian McMurray 3.58pm: Play to resume shortly?

Tea has been rescheduled for 4pm AEDT, with play likely to resume after a pitch inspection at 4.30pm AEDT. Here’s hoping the rain stays away and we get a few more overs in today.

Adrian McMurray 3.24pm: No end to the delay in sight?

That radar isn’t looking ideal, with showers rolling through. Rain isn’t forecast for the entire day though, with a chance play could resume at the some point this afternoon.

Adrian McMurray 3.04pm: Rain returns

Grounds keepers put out the covers as rain falls on day four. Picture: AAP.

Oh no... We got another half-hour of play in but the drizzle is just too heavy to continue. Curran bowled another maiden and Smith hit another boundary through the covers off Woakes, but before the paceman could bowl the last of his over the umpires called for the covers. It’s hard going for Warner (40) and Smith (25) but they’re sticking it out, Australia 2-103, trailing by 61 runs.

Adrian McMurray 2.55pm: Runs ahoy!

David Warner bats against Jimmy Anderson. Picture: Getty Images.

There’s a bit of a Bronx cheer as Smith takes a single off Curran, Australia’s first in quite some time. But the MCG faithful are up and about next ball as Warner pulls one through deep mid-wicket for four. That’s more like it from Australia. Warner survives a nervous moment as he lobs one just over Anderson at short mid-wicket, Curran cleaning up but the opener importantly grabbing three runs. He might not be as prolific as usual but Warner is proving to be a stubborn customer.

Adrian McMurray 2.44pm: Run rate slows again

Three consecutive maidens has well and truly brought any momentum Warner and Smith were generating to a grinding halt. Woakes’s yorkers in particular are causing the Aussies all sorts of trouble. Run rate is at a troubling 2.15. Something’s got to give.

Adrian McMurray 2.30pm: Play resumes

Ground staff take the covers off the pitch after rain on day four. Picture: AAP.

Thankfully the players are back out there and Curran resumes his over after the enforced break. Warner and Smith have combined for 21 so far, they’ll be hopeful of picking up their rate of scoring.

Adrian McMurray 1.58pm: Rain stops play

Lights are on as ground staff cover the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Picture: AP.

Smith and Warner pick up a few singles as Woakes re-joins the attack, but the rain has set in at the MCG, the umpires calling for the covers two balls into Curran’s over. Warner sits on 32, while Smith is on 16. Australia 2-86.

Adrian McMurray 1.46pm: Curran joins the attack

Broad is replaced by Curran, the debutant tidy with just the one run off his first over back. Smith picks up three with a shot to deep backward point off Anderson and Curran collects a maiden following that. The momentum remains with England.

Adrian McMurray 1.31pm: Runs dry up

Turns out I went off a bit early, with the runs drying up again. A maiden for Broad and two for Anderson has seen the run rate drop below 2.53. Can Warner show composure and build a steady partnership with Smith?

Adrian McMurray 1.18pm: Smith gets going

Steve Smith in action on day four. Picture: AFP.

Smith kick-starts his innings with a lovely boundary, driving down the wicket with his first four of the day. A single to both Smith and Warner turns it into a costly over for Broad.

Adrian McMurray 1.14pm: Play resumes after lunch

Warner and Smith are out there again, and it’s that man Anderson who resumes despite the earlier furore. Let’s see how this one plays out. He starts with a maiden, a good start after lunch.

Adrian McMurray 12.34pm: Australia still in the contest at lunch

That’s lunch, with Warner (28) and Smith (4) still offering the home side hope. Two maidens were followed by a fair expensive five-run over from Anderson, Broad finishing the session with another maiden. Australia 2-70, trailing by 94 runs.

12.27pm: England warned by umpires for roughing up ball

Jimmy Anderson pictured with his nails on the ball at the MCG.

Umpires have seemingly cautioned England about their bounce returns at the MCG, a tactic used to scuff one side of the ball and quickly attain reverse swing.

Joe Root, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson were all involved in a tense discussion with umpire Sundaram Ravi on the morning of day four of the fourth Ashes Test.

Ball reversing under 10 overs 🤔 #ashes

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 29, 2017

Ravi later had a long chat with Root following the morning drinks break. The Nine Network suggested the discussions were about the fact Root and many teammates had failed to return the ball on the full to keeper Jonny Bairstow.

Read the full story here

Field umpires talk to Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson. Picture: Michael Klein.

Adrian McMurray 12.16pm: Khawaja’s quick appearance

Wicket! Khawaja departs. It was brief, 11 runs off 14 balls. An outside edge finds the waiting hands of Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Anderson. Steve Smith walks to the middle. Are England heading for victory?

12.09pm: How about this for a take?

An almighty six from Khawaja is cleaned up with a classic catch in the stands. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/1eQ76ynBRP

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 29, 2017

Adrian McMurray 12.04am: Khawaja’s intent

Doesn’t look like Khawaja is going to die wondering today. He starts with a massive six over long off, and two balls later smacks one along the ground past long off for four. He moves to 10 in quick time, an expensive over for Ali. Brilliant, confident start.

Adrian McMurray 11.51am: Bancroft departs

Cameron Bancroft, left, reacts after being bowled out by Chris Woakes. Picture: AAP.

Wicket! Woakes claims the opening scalp, and would you believe it, another inside edge onto the stumps! Bancroft walks for 27, just after he and Warner brought up a 50 partnership. That brings Usman Khawaja to the middle. After yesterday’s drama in the field, let’s see if he can produce with the bat.

Adrian McMurray 11.37am: Business picks up for Australia

That’s more like it from the Australian openers. Some confusion in the field leads to three for Warner, while both openers grab a four off Curran’s last over before drinks. Warner smashes one past deep cover, while Bancroft strokes it down the wicket, through Curran’s legs for his boundary. Australia 0-44 with that run rate now at a much more healthy 3.38.

Adrian McMurray 11.24am: Australia’s run rate slows

David Warner runs during day four. Picture: Getty Images.

Looks like the runs won’t flow the same way for Warner and Bancroft as they did for Cook. A pair of Woakes maidens and just two off a Curran over in between has the run rate at 2.60, Australia trailing by 138.

Adrian McMurray 11.17am: More review misery for England

NOT OUT! The original decision stands. AUS 0/24 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/sFcljzv1Ju

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 29, 2017

Bancroft teased by a Curran length ball, and there’s an appeal! Umpire is unmoved, but Root calls for the review. Nothing on snicko and the decision stands! England now with just one review remaining. They really should have reviewed the James Vince and Dawid Malan decisions yesterday. This is an area they just haven’t got right in Melbourne.

Adrian McMurray 11.07am: Warner joins in

You didn’t think Warner was going to miss out on the chance to get in on the scoring action, did you? The opener edges Anderson for four, while at the other end Broad is replaced by Chris Woakes. Interesting early change by Root, as Tom Curran takes Anderson’s spot. You can’t blame him for trying to mix things up.

Adrian McMurray 10.55am: Bancroft settles in

Shot. SHOT! Bancroft crunches the pull shot and then follows it up with a delightful drive back down the ground #Ashes pic.twitter.com/fBbYG2IZvy

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2017

Well, that didn’t take long! After just two runs off the first three overs, Bancroft hits two consecutive fours off Broad — through mid-wicket and long on — while Warner grabs a single.

Adrian McMurray 10.48am: Nervous start for Australia

Cameron Bancroft bats during day four. Picture: Getty Images.

Bancroft grabs the first run of the new innings, glancing one to long leg for a single. But he’s not looking that comfortable out there, Stuart Broad beating him with his first delivery with a nice length ball. Australia might need some more of Warner’s first-innings heroics.

Adrian McMurray 10.40am: Australia’s chase begins

So England hold a 164-run lead, with David Warner and Bancroft out there in the middle. After lasting one ball with the bat, Anderson is back in a much more comfortable position, handed the new ball.

Adrian McMurray 10.30am: Cook carries his bat

Alastair Cook of England leaves the field unbeaten. Picture: Getty Images.

Wicket! How many more twists will there be in this Test?! England resume batting, but Jimmy Anderson departs on the very first ball of the day. Pat Cummins gets the immediate result as Anderson gloves it to Cameron Bancroft at short leg. Cook finishes his innings at 244*. Incredible effort despite the rather abrupt ending today. He becomes the first player to carry their bat in Melbourne, while also having already brought up the highest score for an overseas player at the ground.

Pat Cummins reacts after dismissing James Anderson. Picture: AAP.

Adrian McMurray 10.15am: No delay at this stage

Off come the covers. Play is still set to resume in approx. 15 minutes. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/yJfmZWqXCu

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 28, 2017

The rain holds off and we should be good to go around 10.30am AEDT as planned.

Adrian McMurray 10.10am: Delay in play?

A light shower and the covers are on. ☔️ #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bE2jrrjhfI

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 28, 2017

Showers in Melbourne has forced a short delay to the start of the day’s play. We should get underway before 11am AEDT.

Adrian McMurray 10.00am: Will England declare?

While Alastair Cook is set to resume at 244, there’s every chance Joe Root could declare and give his bowling attack another crack at Australia. We’ll find out shortly.