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Live: Australia vs England, Ashes Third Test from the WACA

Dawid Malan becomes the first England batsman to score a ton this Ashes series ... but Australia only have themselves to blame.

25 min read
12:38AMDecember 14, 2017.
Updated 9:27PMDecember 14, 2017
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England's Dawid Malan watches as Australia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith miss the catch. Photo: AAP
England's Dawid Malan watches as Australia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith miss the catch. Photo: AAP

England has taken the points on Day 1 of the Third Ashes Test at the WACA, with a Dawid Malan century propelling the tourists to 4/305 at stumps. Here’s how the day unfolded.

Wayne Smith 9.05pm: It's England’s day

There is no debate. This has been England’s best day by far of the series. It has produced the first English century — by Dawid Malan — the highest innings total and their biggest partnership.

Two dropped catches played a part. Mitchell Marsh’s spill at first slip off Mark Stoneman only cost the Australians four runs but Cameron Bancroft’s bungle at third slip when Malan was 92 off the first delivery with the new ball so far has cost 18 runs and counting. More costly still was David Warner’s errant throw at the stumps when Malan was 32 and well short of his ground attempting a suicidal run.

But the Barmy Army was in five voice for almost the entire day and rightly so. England reach stumps at 4-305, with Malan on 110 from 174 balls and Jonny Bairstow on 75 off 149. Together they have put on am England ground record 174 for the fifth wicket and put on 130 in the final session.

Still, no sensible assessment can be made until Australia comes to bat and certainly this outfield is the quickest in the country.

Be with us tomorrow as we continue our coverage of the Third Test.

Wayne Smith 8.51pm: Deserved ton for Malan

Dawid Malan moves to 97 with arguably his best shot of the day, a magnificent cover drive off Josh Hazlewood and it is so close now to his century that he can almost taste it.

Dawid Malan of England celebrates after reaching his century. Photo: Getty Images
Dawid Malan of England celebrates after reaching his century. Photo: Getty Images

But first, another milestone, as Jonny Bairstow rotates the strike to Malan to bring up the 150 partnership. Bairstow is loving the new ball as he caresses another four through wide mid-off off Mitchell Starc, but then plays and misses at the next two deliveries.

But now the limelight reverts to Malan as he becomes the first English player to register a century in this Ashes series as he rocks onto the back foot and pulls Hazlewood for four. For the first time basically in the series, England are dominating proceedings and Malan could hardly have chosen a better time to “go big”.

The Australian bowlers, hailed by Ian Healy at the beginning of the day as the greatest attack Australia had ever fielded, look spent. Hazlewood’s speed has dropped to the 130kph’s, although nothing can stop Starc’s ability to bowl a pretty much unplayable ball. He does it again in with the new ball but unfortunately it pitches outside leg stump.

And when Bairstow punishes two full deliveries, one of off-stupt, the other ion leg, England bring up the 300 mark off just 86 overs.

Wayne Smith 8.30pm: New ball frustration

Jonny Bairstow is certainly not helping Dawid Malan to score his century before the new ball arrives. He has faced two of the last 16 balls, including playing out a maiden to Mitch Marsh. But now Malan has his chance, facing another over from Steve Smith. He doesn’t take it, playing out a sedate over as Smith tried to tempt him by tossing the ball above his eyeline.

As it happens, Smith decides not to take the new ball immediately. To bring Mitchell Starc on downwind, he’s given Marsh an extra over and Bairstow helps himself to another boundary — his seventh — as the West Australian serves up a full toss outside leg stump.

England reaches 4/271 with Malan 92 and Bairstow 59 when the new ball is taken.

Immediate frustration. Starc lands the first ball right on the spot, Malan gets the edge and Cameron Bancroft puts it down as he dives across from third slip. And now Starc is clutching at his ribs but still beats Bairstow all ends up as the ball flies wide of the slip to the fence.

ustralia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith miss an opportunity to catch England's Dawid Malan. Photo: AAP
ustralia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith miss an opportunity to catch England's Dawid Malan. Photo: AAP

Wayne Smith 8.18pm: If you want something done right...

Five overs until the new ball and Steve Smith tries something radical. He brings himself on to bowl. And it almost works as Dawid Malan chases a wide delivery and almost nick off to the keeper. But this is now the highest partnership of this Ashes series for England as Malan takes two out to point to move to 89 and 4-257. Certainly he deserves a maiden Test century because he has been positive right from the outset.

But, first, it’s time for the spotlight to shine on Jonny Bairstow who has fully warranted his promotion up the batting order by late cutting Marsh for four to bring up his 18th Test half-century from 107 deliveries. He has gone on to make three centuries and if England are to come back from 0-2 down in this series, a fourth ton would not go astray in this Test.

Wayne Smith 7.59pm: Aussies on the defensive

Dawid Malan uses his feet and clips a single to mid-on off Nathan Lyon to bring up only the second century-partnership by England in this series, following on from the 125 Mark Stoneman and James Vince scored on the opening day of the Ashes in Brisbane.

Australian captain Steve Smith decides it’s time to mix things up and brings on Mitch Marsh to replace Pat Cummins.

Jonny Bairstow is appreciative, stroking his first delivery through the covers for three. But Marsh almost takes his revenge in the same over as Bairstow gets an inside edge back onto his pads, with the ball then hopping over the stumps.

Meanwhile, Malan notches England’s highest score of the series, eclipsing Vince’s 83 in Brisbane, as he works Lyon through the covers for two to reach 85.

There still are another seven overs to be bowled before the new ball can be taken and, rarely for the Australians in this series, they are on the defensive with the last five overs yielding 29 runs.

Wayne Smith 7.47pm: Malan sets new PB

Pat Cummins has troubled Dawid Malan throughout the series with the ball that nips back at him from outside stump and he very nearly has success again with a delivery that raps the left-hander on the pads.

Umpire Marais Erasmus shakes his head and, as the Australian review shows, it was the correct decision. The Australians should have taken a hint from the fact that Malan, who is a reasonably tall man, was on his toes when he played the shot because ball-tracker shows that the delivery was going over the top of the stumps.

Malan was 64 at the time, one short of his highest Test mark, and he twice before has been dismissed in the 60s. But he survived and then takes a boundary down the ground to set a new PB.

Jonny Bairstow, meanwhile, has advanced to 35 and this partnership, now worth 99 and already the second highest of the series for England, has moved to 4/230. That’s drinks.

Daniel Sankey 7.35pm: Review lost

Australia’s desperation to remove Dawid Malan is laid bare when Steve Smith reviews an LBW appeal that was quickly turned down by umpire Marais Erasmus.

DRS shows that the Pat Cummins delivery was easily bouncing over the stumps.

Commentating for Channel Nine, former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne said it looked like the delivery was always going to sail over the stumps.

“There is some bounce in this pitch. It was always going to be too high you felt,” Warne said.

“He was on his toes as well ... if you look where Malan was when he gets struck, he was right on his tiptoes, nearly off his feet, and it hit him above the kneeroll.”

A referral by Australia is turned down. Photo: Channel 9
A referral by Australia is turned down. Photo: Channel 9

Wayne Smith 7pm: Malan now the key wicket

Dawid Malan late cuts Nathan Lyon to the fence to bring up the half-century partnership for the fifth wicket with Jonny Bairstow. The England wicketkeeper has contributed only 15 to their stand but England would be feeling a little better about winning the toss and electing to bat than they were at 4-131.

Australia’s bowling has lost a little of its sting and it was a little surprising that Steve Smith didn’t turn to Josh Hazlewood straight after tea. He has been the best of the bowlers all day, even if he has only 1-34 from 15 overs.

Having brought up the half-century partnership, Malan now bring up his own 50, punching a single to mid-off off Lyon. It’s the fourth time in his eight-Test career that he has reached the milestone but England need him to press on for three figures. His highest score is 65 against the West Indies at Edgbaston. Certainly this looks a pitch on which 350 would be only a par score, so Malan is now central to England’s hopes.

After 60 overs, England is 4/192 (Malan 54no, Bairstow 19no).

England batsman Dawid Malan celebrates his half century. Photo: AAP
England batsman Dawid Malan celebrates his half century. Photo: AAP

Daniel Sankey 6.30pm: Vaughan defends Stoneman dismissal

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says the right decision was made in giving Mark Stoneman out via a DRS reversal ... but he’s sympathetic to the frustrations of England captain Joe Root and fans.

Root was furious as third umpire Aleem Dar overturned Marais Erasmus’ not out call, punching the dressing room door.

Controversy erupted shortly afterwards as the umpires, after giving Stoneman out, went back to look at replays previously not viewed to double check their decision.

They ruled the ball clipped Stoneman’s glove on the way through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Vaughan’s take? While more replays should have been viewed before Stoneman was given out, the correct decision was ultimately made.

Wayne Smith 6.15pm: England 4/175 at tea

Mitchell Marsh comes on to bowl 10 minutes short of the tea break but he hasn’t had much bowling this season and struggles with his accuracy. Still, he only goes for three runs in his opening over as Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan are clearly batting for tea. It almost gets them into trouble as Malan plans and missed to his eighth delivery.

Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has bowled 11 overs for 25 runs — and that’s after Mark Stoneman and James Vince took the fight right to him before lunch. And that’s also on a wicket that is not giving him a lot of assistance in terms of spin.

At tea, England reaches 4/175, having put on 84 runs in the session for the loss of two wickets. Malan is 42no from 70 balls, while Bairstow is giving good support, scoring 14 off 36.

England's Dawid Malan plays one square before the tea break. Photo: AAP
England's Dawid Malan plays one square before the tea break. Photo: AAP

Wayne Smith 5.50pm: England batsmen survive

England are riding their luck, with Dawid Malan fortunately surviving a run-out and then Jonny Bairstow just bunting a return catch out of the reach of Nathan Lyon.

David Warner swooped on the ball at short cover as Bairstow played the ball gently into the offside and almost threw down the stumps as Malan (32) dived forlornly. He knew he was gone if Warner hit and he certainly didn’t miss by much.

It was Bairstow’s turn to have his heart in his mouth as he drove Lyon uppishly towards mid-off. Lyon had taken a brilliant diving catch in Adelaide to dismiss Moeen Ali but this would have been even better. Not to be, however. Lyon is bowling well into the Fremantle Doctor, especially to the left-handed Malan, but the England batsmen are determinedly grinding out its runs, reaching 4/165 with Malan on 36 and Bairstow on 10.

Daniel Sankey 5.35pm: Warne, Jones in Twitter tweet-à-tête

Former Australian Test and one-day star Dean Jones makes a pretty valid point on Twitter in light of the decision by third umpire Aleem Dar to overrule Marais Erasmus’ not out decision on Mark Stoneman.

But Shane Warne is completely correct with his response, made in his role as Channel Nine commentator.

Fair to say we haven’t heard the last of this one ... the reaction of the English press will be enlightening!

5.20pm: Come on now, Piers...

Wayne Smith 5.13pm: WICKET! Review removes Stoneman

Mark Stoneman’s innings comes to a controversial end as the short ball finally claims his wicket.

Mitchell Starc gets the ball to rise viciously and there is a noise as the ball is taken one-handed by Tim Paine.

Umpire Marais Erasmus initially says not out but the Australians immediately claim a review which demonstrates that the ball hit his glove on the way through. But was the glove holding the bat at the time? So Erasmus is advised to overturn his decision and Stoneman, who frankly could have been out half a dozen times before in his innings, comes to an unlucky end as he departs for 56 and England have slumped to 4/131.

Still, there is such conjecture about the dismissal that the umpires review it a second time and this time they decide that, in fact, the glove was holding the bat.

England skipper Joe Root angrily punches the dressing room door as Stoneman departs. Jonny Bairstow, who has been promoted up the order ahead of Moeen Ali, comes out to join Dawid Malan (21no).

Wayne Smith 5.02pm: Malan survives

Dawid Malan almost falls as Mitchell Starc gets one to rear at him but he just manages to guide it to the ground short of Cameron Bancroft, who catches the ball on the half volley at short leg.

The Australians are bowling magnificently but Starc lets himself down with a ball spearing down legside which Malan simply helps on its way to the boundary. And then, next ball, he slashes wildly at a ball outside off-stump and sends it flying for four as well.

England are 3/130 after 37 overs, with Mark Stoneman 56no and Malan 11no.

Wayne Smith 4.45pm: Stoneman survives, Root departs

Isn’t it always the way. Mark Stoneman was in more trouble than Flash Gordon but it is Joe Root the Australians have dismissed, caught down the legside by Tim Paine off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

Root had looked in outstanding form and probably was looking to take as much of the strike as possible to shield his batting partner. But after scoring 20 off 23 balls, he has gloved that delivery as he tried to glance and Paine has done the rest.

Daniel Sankey 4.39pm: WICKET! CUMMINS GETS ROOT

Australia finally has a breakthrough almost half an hour after lunch, with England captain Joe Root edging one from Pat Cummins down the leg side and straight into the waiting gloves of wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Root is gone for 20. England is 3/115 with Mark Stoneman not out on 52 and Dawid Malan making his way to the crease.

Wayne Smith 4.37pm: Headhunter Hazlewood

Whoa! Josh Hazlewood takes out his anger at Mitch Marsh’s dropped catch by hitting Mark Stoneman square in the helmet with a ball that rears of a good length.

Stoneman takes his eyes off it and the ball careers into him, shattering the neck guards which tumble to the wicket. The physio rushes out and asks him a few searching questions to determine whether he has been concussed. That’s two balls in a row that have unsettled him.

Ball number 88 was dropped by Marsh, ball 89 wrecked his helmet and now ball 90 hits the shoulder of his bat and lobs out to short point.

Nathan Lyon makes a valiant attempt and actually gets both hands to the catch but drops it. Hazlewood can’t believe his lack of luck as he pushes his fifth ball of the over straight past the edge of the bat but somehow Stoneman survives.

Wayne Smith 4.25pm: Marsh’s horror slip-up

Mark Stoneman brings up his 50 and England its 100 as he lofts Josh Hazlewood over the top of gully in the first over after lunch. The Australians had tightened up immensely just before lunch but England comes out aggressively after the interval stroking four fours from the first 12 balls.

Pat Cummins is clearly angling the ball in to Joe Root’s pads, but the England skipper is expecting to be tested in the area where he has been so regularly dismissed this series and is helping himself to runs through midwicket.

England has reached its devil’s number, 111, but it’s unlucky for Mitch Marsh. Hazlewood, coming around the wicket, gets the edge of Stoneman’s bat and the ball flies straight to Marsh at first slip but he drops it.

Suddenly, everyone is questioning why Peter Handscomb is dropped because he has been faultless at first slip. And now Root edges Cummins past the slips cordon for four and it’s 2/115.

Stoneman was 52 when he was given a life. How expensive will that mistake be for Australia?

Mitch Marsh drops Mark Stoneman at first slip.
Mitch Marsh drops Mark Stoneman at first slip.

Daniel Sankey 4.11pm: We’re back at the WACA

Play is back underway at the WACA ... and if the opinion of former England captain Michael Vaughan is anything to go by, he thinks the tourists have every chance to build a big first innings total on a “belter” of a pitch.

3.50pm: Ashes spot-fixing scandal update

Here’s what the key players have been saying in the wake of The Sun’s spot-fixing allegations that erupted before today’s Third Test.

‘ALLEGED FIXER’:
“I will give you work in Ashes, Perth Test ... you want to see something magic in the Big Bash? Big Bash we can do, winning and loss, some matches -- we have some news, we got some confirmed news,” says the alleged fixer in The Sun video.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CEO JAMES SUTHERLAND:
“There’s no substance to these allegations or justification to suspect that this Test match or indeed the Ashes series as a whole is subject to corrupt activities,” Sutherland said.

ICC HEAD OF ANTI-CORRUPTION, ALEX MARSHALL:
“From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current Test Match has been corrupted. At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this Test have been in contact with the alleged fixers,” Marshall said.

AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN STEVE SMITH:
“As far as I know there’s nothing that has been going on or anything like that,” Smith said.

FORMER AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN MARK TAYLOR:
“It is nasty stuff ... we’ve got to also be careful we don’t jump at everything that’s mentioned by a potential fixer,” Taylor said.

FORMER AUSTRALIAN BATSMAN MIKE HUSSEY:
“I hate these stories ... I’d very surprised if it’s true. It’s dissipating, not we want to be talking about at the start of the last Ashes WACA Test,” Hussey said.

FORMER AUSTRALIAN BATSMAN MICHAEL SLATER:
“I’d be extremely surprised if any player was even tempted, let alone involved,” Slater said.

FORMER AUSTRALIAN PACEMAN GEOFF LAWSON:
“That’s just preposterous stuff. It looks like he knew he was giving a TV interview. That wasn’t a quiet conversation. That was somebody asking a very direct question. Most of that stuff I just thought was un-doable,” Lawson said.

Wayne Smith 3.32pm: England edges session

Josh Hazlewood makes the breakthrough as he has James Vince nicking to wicketkeeper Tim Paine off the third ball of his ninth over. He’s out for 25 from 63 balls.

The Australians had bottled England up in the past three overs and a ball that Vince might earlier have let go outside off-stump has just enough about it to entice him into a shot. He’d batted out 16 dot balls prior to the wicket.

Hazlewood bowled four maidens and took a wicket in the final 20 minutes of the session. England were 2/89 as captain Root joined Stoneman at the wicket, with the opener just three short of his half century.

Nathan Lyon relieved the pressure slightly as he sent down two loose balls but at lunch, England battled their way to 2/91, with Stoneman 48no and Root 1no.

Even the loss of Vince just before the interval can’t detract from the fact that it was marginally England’s session.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of England's James Vince, caught behind for 25 on Day 1 of the Third Test. Photo: AAP
Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of England's James Vince, caught behind for 25 on Day 1 of the Third Test. Photo: AAP

3.24pm: WICKET — Hazlewood dismisses Vince

Josh Hazlewood has the breakthrough just a few minutes before the lunch break, tempting James Vince to push at a wide delivery that nicks the edge of the bat and is caught by wicketkeeper Tim Paine. He’s out for 25.

England now 2/29 after 25.3 overs with Joe Root making his way to the wicket and Mark Stoneman 47 not out.

Wayne Smith 3.13pm: Tourists on the attack

Interesting change of tactics by England as they go on the offensive to Nathan Lyon the moment he was brought into the attack after 18 overs.

The off-spinner has caused England a lot of problems in the first two Tests of this series, the left-handed batsman in particular, and the feeling in Joe Root’s side is that they have been showing him too much respect. So Mark Stoneman goes down twice in his first over and sweeps him for single, while James Vince uses his feet to come down the wicket to take Lyon on the half-volley.

They bring up the half-century partnership and, just as they did in Brisbane, Stoneman and Vince are proving a nuisance for Australia. Certainly having a left- and right-hander at the wicket is making life tough for the bowlers, who are constantly having to adjust their line. When they get it wrong, they are being punished harshly by the batsman who are enjoying full value for their shots on this lighting outfield.

England 1/83 after 22 overs, with Stoneman 42no and Vince 25no.

England's Mark Stoneman sweeps Nathan Lyon. Photo: AAP
England's Mark Stoneman sweeps Nathan Lyon. Photo: AAP

3.04pm: Third Test is clean, Sutherland says

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland insists there is no evidence, substance or justification to spot-fixing claims that have marred the third Ashes Test, with the International Cricket Council also declaring the match is clean.

Australian and English cricketers woke this morning to bombshell spot-fixing allegations from British newspaper The Sun, claiming a fix attempt was due in the WACA Test.

The Sun published purportedly undercover video footage of bookmakers offering to sell details of rigged periods of play for betting purposes. The report claims two Indian fixers are alleged to be working with an Australian partner, known as The Silent Man, and that a former Australian cricketer and Australian administrator are involved in the racket.

The ICC and CA are both taking the matter seriously but Sutherland, having been part of a conference call involving the head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit Alex Marshall, insists no player or official involved in the game is under any suspicion or has been contacted by alleged fixers.

Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland speaks to reporters at the WACA today. Photo: AP
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland speaks to reporters at the WACA today. Photo: AP

Wayne Smith 2.44pm: The WACA of old?

England brings up its 50 as the WACA pitch reverts to type — Mitchell Starc gets one to take off, not only clearing Mark Stoneman but also wicketkeeper Tim Paine and it bounds away to the fence.

It was a brute of the ball but England have received more than a few of them this morning and have only lost the one wicket.

James Vince helps himself to a boundary from Pat Cummins the last ball before drinks as England advances to 1-58 after the first hour of play, but a loose shot from Stoneman directly after drinks almost presents Starc with his second wicket.

There’s clearly runs aplenty in this pitch and any batsman who brings about his own dismissal will have a long time to berate himself.

England are 1/63 after 15 overs, with Stoneman 35 and Vince 17.

Daniel Sankey 2.30pm: Cook ‘beaten down’, Chappell says

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell says England opener Alastair Cook looks “beaten down” with the pressure of opening the batting against Australia’s fearsome pace triumvirate of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“Just looking at the dismissal of Alastair Cook ... and just the way his head went down after he was given out and the slow walk off the field, he just looked like a man who is beaten down at the moment,” Chappell said in commentary for Channel Nine.

“Then there was a very slow walk off the field. I don’t think the’ve got anyone to replace him at the moment but it just tells you a little bit about his mental state.”

England's Alastair Cook walks from the field. Photo: AAP
England's Alastair Cook walks from the field. Photo: AAP

2.15pm: WACA looking wonderful

Wayne Smith 2.09pm: Aussies target Stoneman

Mark Stoneman is being worked over by the Australian new ball bowlers. Josh Hazlewood catches him out with a ball which climbs on him, catching him on the gloves and ballooning up in the air. If Steve Smith had set a short leg, the catch would have been swallowed easily, but he didn’t.

Then it is Mitch Starc’s turn as he breaks Stoneman’s bat, snapping the handle, and then shocks the England left-hander a second time with a bouncer that catches the shoulder of the bat and then flies safely to just short of the gully fieldsman.

Smith finally takes the hint when he positions a short leg after Stoneman again is caught out by the short ball and one wonders whether the horse has bolted. Certainly Stoneman is very strong off his pads and helps himself to another boundary flicked through midwicket.

England 1/36 after eight overs, with Stoneman 29 and Vince yet to score.

Wayne Smith 2pm: Starc strikes for 15th time

Mitchell Starc’s dismissal of Alastair Cook is his 15th wicket for the series, making him the most successful bowler in this Ashes contest.

His ability to bowl wicket-taking balls is, frankly, incredible. He has been spearing the ball down leg side and the England openers had been making merry, but then he unleashed his fastest ball of the day, 149kph, to pitch on the wicket and then zero onto middle stump.

He didn’t even look at his opening partner Mark Stoneman to see whether a review had any chance of success,. He just trudged off for seven runs as England slumped to 1-26. James Vince is the new batsman.

Alastair Cook departs after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc. Photo: Getty Images
Alastair Cook departs after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc. Photo: Getty Images

1.50pm: WICKET — COOK OUT LBW

Mitchell Starc has the first wicket of the match, trapping Alastair Cook LBW for 7 off 16 balls. England are 1/26 in the fifth over of the match.

It was a 149kph thunderbolt from Starc, with Cook’s footwork non-existent as the full delivery crashed into his pads. There was no thought of a review, with Cook realising the ball was likely hitting middle stump.

Wayne Smith 1.47pm: England on the attack

Alastair Cook, playing his 150th Test, takes strike and plays out an uneventful maiden first over from Mitchell Starc. The ball was pretty much pitched up so it was difficult to evaluate the bounce, but there is no question that the ball is swinging, especially when Josh Hazlewood is bowling at the other end to Mark Stoneman. He raises a shout second ball but it was clear that the ball pitched outside the line of leg stump and was swinging down the legside. There was no discussion of a review and Stoneman opens his account — and England’s — when he cover drives Hazlewood for four. Still, Hazlewood wouldn’t mind that particularly since he’s inviting the drive in the attempt for edges into the slips cordon. Still, first blood to England. And there's more to come when Starc directs two full tosses on leg stump to Stoneman who helps himself to two successive glanced fours. And then, when Starc overcorrects outside off-stump, the England opener helps to a third successive four to rush to 16 off just 10 deliveries. And now Cook joins the party and off-drives Hazlewood for four. England 0/21 after just four overs.

Daniel Sankey 1.36pm: Hazlewood turned down

Josh Hazlewood gets one to swing back into left-handed opener Mark Stoneman in the second over of the day and it catches him on the pad, prompting a strong appeal from the bowler and slips cordon. The appeal is quickly turned down, with replays showing the ball pitched slightly outside leg stump.

Hazlewood’s new ball partner Mitchell Starc also got one to swing away from the batsman in his first over, so the Aussies will be keen to make full use of this new ball.

Stoneman drives impressively for four on the second last ball of the over to get England off the mark. They’re 0/4 after 2 overs.

Wayne Smith 1.12pm: At least the weather is fine...

Good afternoon and welcome to The Australian’s coverage of the third Ashes Test at the WACA in Perth. The weather is fine and sunny, which is more than can be said of the atmosphere surrounding the Test, with allegations of match fixing.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has cautioned against taking those reports seriously but the International Cricket Council’s unit will investagte.

England captain Joe Root has won the toss and elected to bat, having named an unchanged team. It would have been daring beyond words had he sent in the opposition two Tests in a row, especially following the Australians’ win in Adelaide.

As expected, Australia has made one change to its team, with all-rounder Mitch Marsh coming in for batsman Peter Handscomb. Captain Steve Smith insisted the change was purely “horses for courses”, with Marsh coming in to ensure that the three pacemen — Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins — are not worn out on a WACA track that has lately been giving bowlers little assistance.

Daniel Sankey 1.05pm: England wins toss, will bat

England captain Joe Root has won the toss and has chosen to bat first ... bringing a huge cheer from the Barmy Army, who obviously still haven’t forgotten Root’s much-criticised decision to bowl first in Adelaide.

England has named an unchanged team ... unlike Australia, who — as expected — have brought in all-rounder Mitch Marsh.

“We’ve got Mitch Marsh in for Peter Handscomb, who’s unlucky to miss out, but the stats here over the past couple of years have shown we need to bowl a lot and we want to keep our three (fast) bowlers up, so we’ve gone with that option,” Australian captain Steve Smith said.

“(Mitch Marsh) has played well the last couple of weeks of (Sheffield) Shield cricket, got some scores under his belt and some confidence as well. He knows this pitch really well as it’s his home, so hopefully he can have a big Test match for us.”

ENGLAND XI: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (c), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

AUSTRALIA XI: Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Brothers Mitch (left) and Shaun Marsh will take to the field for Australia at the WACA today. Photo: Getty Images
Brothers Mitch (left) and Shaun Marsh will take to the field for Australia at the WACA today. Photo: Getty Images

12.50pm: WACA’s most fearsome bowlers

In years gone by, the WACA wasn’t the flat deck that we’re likely going to see today ... it was a fast, bouncy surface that the world’s most fearsome bowlers relished.

Here are four of the scariest performances to be seen at the WACA in years gone by:

Dennis Lillee charges in against the Rest of the World in 1971. Photo: File
Dennis Lillee charges in against the Rest of the World in 1971. Photo: File

Dennis Lillee rattles the Rest of the World, 1971: The Australian Cricket Board cancelled South Africa’s tour at late notice because of apartheid, but Don Bradman managed to pull together a World XI captained by Garry Sobers. Lillee was in his element on a seriously quick home deck, bowling and short and fast to dismiss Sunil Gavaskar, Clive Lloyd, Tony Greig and Sobers. The West Australian finished with figures of 8-29 from 7.1 overs, while the all-star XI was skittled for 59.

Michael Holding destroys Australia, 1984: Courtney Walsh didn’t bowl a single over in the hosts’ first innings, such was the efficiency at which ‘Whispering Death’ sliced through the middle order. Australia had no answers to Holding’s express pace — he claimed 6-21 from 9.2 overs as Kim Hughes’ side slumped to be all out for 76. It remains their lowest total in a home Test inning since 1936.

Curtly Ambrose creates chaos, 1993: The imposing Antiguan bowled West Indies to a 2-1 Test series win in stunning fashion. Australia progressed to 2-85 on day one after winning the toss but all hell broke loose, with Ambrose snaring 7-1 to roll them for 119. The visitors eased to victory on day three by an innings and 25 runs.

Curtly Ambrose in action at the WACA in 1993. Photo: File
Curtly Ambrose in action at the WACA in 1993. Photo: File

Shoaib Akhtar steams in, 1999: The scorecard suggests this match was nothing special; Australia eased to victory over Pakistan and Akhtar claimed one wicket for the game. But the Rawalpindi Express generated serious heat out in the middle, especially early on. Ricky Ponting regards one hostile burst as the fastest spell he ever faced in international cricket. Ponting and Justin Langer eventually ground him into submission, sharing a 327-run stand.

— AAP

12.35pm: What makes WACA so unique?

Some fun facts about the WACA, which hosts its final Test match today before they switch to the new Perth Stadium next year:

■ The oval was used before federation but the tyranny of distance (and the fact Australian cricket’s power base was on the east coast) meant it didn’t host a Test until 1970.

■ It is renowned as one of the hardest and fastest pitches in the world but more recently many players and pundits have complained about flat decks.

■ The Fremantle Doctor, an afternoon sea breeze, reliably blows in and helps pacemen gain even more pace and swing (and hinders those forced to bowl into the wind).

■ The ground will no longer host major events, such as Ashes Tests, because of the new stadium that has been built on the other side of the Swan River.

■ Australia have won 24 of 43 Tests at the ground, while England have won 1 of 13.

— AAP

12.15pm: WACA is looking a picture

Daniel Sankey 12pm: Robertson fears for game

Former Australian Test off-spinner Gavin Robertson believes cricket is yet to stamp out damaging match fixing attempts which have again rocked the game today.

“I don’t believe it’s clean. I think there’s stuff going on that’s way beyond us. Dangerous stuff,” Robertson said on Fox Sports News this morning as he recounted the events that followed the 1994 tour of Pakistan, on which Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May accused Pakistan star Salim Malik of offering them bribes to underperform in matches.

Gavin Robertson speaks on Fox Sports News this morning.
Gavin Robertson speaks on Fox Sports News this morning.

“I mean, I was on the ‘94 Pakistan tour so I remember coming home and thinking ‘no way, come on’, and then I’m being interviewed by a QC in town, and everyone was, you know. ‘What do you think was going on?’ I had no idea. It was the mid-early ’90s.

“We are in a dangerous world in cricket, it’s big money.

“The ICC is going to do their best and as Henry (Geoff Lawson) says, players are educated. I don’t know what else you could do other than you would have taskforces that would be involved, but that’s private. I wouldn’t think the ICC or Cricket Australia or anyone would be talking a lot about that, like how The Sun have infiltrated.

“But you’re talking about really serious stuff. It’s all about money, isn’t it?”

Gavin Robertson with wife Kathie and daughter Brittany, then 4, before leaving on tour of 1994 Tour of Pakistan. Photo: File
Gavin Robertson with wife Kathie and daughter Brittany, then 4, before leaving on tour of 1994 Tour of Pakistan. Photo: File

Daniel Sankey 11.30am: Lyon’s remarkable 2017

Thirteen months ago at the WACA, it appeared Nathan Lyon’s days as an Australian Test player were numbered.

After taking 0-146 in the second innings as South Africa romped to a convincing victory in the First Test in November last year, the critics were out.

Australia's Nathan Lyon during a training session at the WACA. Photo: AAP
Australia's Nathan Lyon during a training session at the WACA. Photo: AAP

Questions were asked whether Lyon had the ability to be a force in the final day of a Test match, and many wondered whether Australian captain Steve Smith still had the confidence to throw Lyon the ball when a breakthrough was needed.

What’s happened in the following 12 months has been nothing short of sensational, with Lyon the leading Test wicket-taker in 2017 (57 wickets at 22.10) and he’s now the man England most fears as they head into today’s Third Test at the WACA.

“Nathan Lyon has been the surprise of the series because every time he’s had the ball in his hand I don’t remember him not having a spell where you thought, ‘Wait a minute he’s holding an end. Wait a minute he’s getting wickets’,” former England captain Michael Vaughan told The Australian’s Peter Lalor.

“For instance, when you played against Shane Warne you had to gamble to try to knock him out of the attack or off his length. If you allowed him to bowl, he’d have you.

“I’m not saying Nathan Lyon is in Warnie’s category yet but he’s doing a similar job.”

Read more of Peter Lalor’s interview here.

Peter Lalor 11.15am: Spot fixing claims investigated

Cricket Australia says claims that spot fixers have targeted the third Test which begins in Perth today are a “serious concern”.

The Sun newspaper has handed to authorities details of two Indian men who claim to have been able to “spot fix” periods of the game through an Australian-based fixer known as “the Silent Man”.

The pair boasted connections to current and former international players and a track record of corrupting Twenty20 matches in the Indian Premier League and offered to arrange spot fixes in the Big Bash League.

The men said they work with former and current internationals, including a World Cup-winning all-rounder.

Read the full story here.

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