STUMPS: A tough day for England, but what a performance from Steve Smith
Good morning if you’re just waking up in the UK!
Umpires have just called stumps, with Australia taking a 134-run lead over England, after Steve Smith and Travis Head’s heroics.
While the sun is shining, things have not been going well for the tourists in this final session.
Their bowlers have once again struggled to take wickets, placing deliveries far too short on the wicket.
Smith became the second Aussie of the innings to make a century, after Head walked for 163 runs earlier today.
The stand-in Aussie skipper has been exceptional, playing some very clever shots to bat back England’s bowling attack and become the second-best leading Ashes runs scorer in the history of this age-old rivalry.
There was heartache for Usman Khawaja in his final Test match with the retiring Aussie batsman facing 49 deliveries for just 17 runs, before he was trapped by Brydon Carse for lbw.
Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue have both had hard days in the field, with the former expensing 141 runs for no wickets at an economy of 5.64.
Smith will return to the crease alongside Beau Webster on Wednesday, with England in danger of letting this Test match slip through their fingers if they are unable to find an early wicket in the morning.
Australia 518-7 and lead England by 134 runs.
