Australia vs England Highlights 4th Ashes Test Day 1: Australia Take Narrow Lead As 20 Wickets Fall On Boxing Day

Welcome to the final essay of this penultimate Test at the MCG. Steve Smith leads his troops out to the middle, as the Aussies take their spots on the field. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett stride out to the crease as the opening pair for England. A very interesting chase on the cards, folks. Don't go anywhere. Mitchell Starc has the new Kookaburra, and he's raring to go with three slips and a gully in place. Crawley to face. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

On Day 1, it was all about lateral movement, but today we have seen a few deliveries stand up, something England will need to contend with. The key will be to bat positively on a wicket where it feels like any ball could have your name on it. Having dismissed England for 110 in the first innings, Australia will be confident they can defend this total with their four-pronged pace attack, along with the support of Cameron Green. 175 is the magic number for England, who have been without a win down under in their last 18 Tests. Can they finally end that wait? Back in a bit for the last innings of this Test.

Travis Head made 46, the highest score of the game so far from either side, but was unable to kick on. Tongue continued relentlessly and found support from Brydon Carse, who stepped up admirably after England lost Gus Atkinson to a left hamstring issue. After the break, just as Steve Smith and Cameron Green were beginning to build a partnership, Ben Stokes broke through, and Carse picked up right where he had left off before the interval to get the job done for his side.

This Test continues to baffle. We are nearly halfway through the second session on Day 2 and already three innings have been completed. Australia have been folded inside 35 overs and ended up with a lead of 174. England’s bowlers have done their job and made the most of the conditions. It is up to the batters to respond. England were ill-disciplined with the new ball this morning, but the course correction was led by Carse, Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes, who hit their straps straight away.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND GONE! It's all over for the hosts as Stokes wraps it up with a three-for. He bangs it in hard, halfway down the pitch and aimed at the top of off. Jhye Richardson shapes for the pull off the back foot. He gets cramped for room, ends up in an awkward position through the shot, and can only drag a thick top edge towards cover. Zak Crawley settles comfortably underneath it and completes a straightforward catch. Jhye Richardson departs on 7 (10). AUSTRALIA ARE BOWLED OUT ON 132! England need 175 runs to win.

The stumps are attacked, on a fuller length. Jhye Richardson gets on the toes and tucks it to the mid on fielder.

Slower ball at 112 kph, full and arounde off, Smith waits for it and works it through extra cover for a single.

Safely negotiated! Short of a good length, cutting back in and skidding through. Jhye Richardson hops off and blocks it down the pitch off the toe end.

FOUR! That's handsomely played by the Australian number 11! With a beautiful transfer of weight on the front foot, Jhye plays with a straight bat and a still head as he drives this half volley down the ground for a boundary. The lead for Australia is 173 as this partnership moves into the double figures. Probably the shot of the day.

Very full, on off, Smith shuffles in the crease and slices it to deep backward point for a single.

Play and a miss! Back of a length, on top of off, nipping in. Steve Smith backs away to slash it to point, but misses as the ball goes over his angled bat.

Nicely played as Richardson pulls this short ball into the deep mid-wicket region. It slows down in the outfield and is mopped up by the square leg fielder. Three runs taken.

Short in length, outside off. Smith stays leg side of the ball and steers it behind square on the off side for a single. Feeds the strike to Richardson again.

Richardson survives! A peach of a delivery from Stokes as he bashes the length hard, in and around off, Jhye Richardson is squared up on the defence and gets beaten past the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

On top of middle, on a hard length, at 137.9 kph. Jhye Richardson hangs back and punches it onto the pitch.

Back of a length, on middle, Jhye watchfully tucks it across to mid on.

WHISKER! In the channel, on a fuller length, curving away a fraction. Jhye Richardson is forced to play with the line but the ball flirts past his outside edge and flies back to the keeper.

Pitched short, outside off, Jhye offers no shot. On his follow-through, Stokes seemed to feel a bit of twinge in his hip.

Shortish delivery, around off, Smith backs away to create room and slaps it past covers for a single and exposes Richardson for the remaining five deliveries.