Ashes 2025-26.

[GarlicJam]

and as I hit submit, he straight drives down the ground. Perfect shot, fully in control.

[andy]

Well done to root getting his hundred but not a good start loading brook and stokes early!!! Can smith finally register a score of note?!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Smith is a good bat. Reports of his demise are premature.

[andy]

At least starc is out the attack now! Having the series of his life! No suprise he picked up stokes England need to hit the rest out and keep bringing starc back for more and more spells

[GarlicJam]

Smith should have been out half a dozen times in his shortish innings.

Could have, at least.

So Green gets him caught in the covers. NO BALL! - by about 1.5 mm, but it WAS a no-ball.

Very next ball, he nicks behind. Carey lets it go for 1st Slip. 1st Slip, Webster, did not even see the ball. Smith gets a four instead of being dismissed, twice.

Smith has REALLY ridden his luck this morning - but has now scored 27 runs and built a 50 run partnership with Root.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Feels like Starc has been all over England in this series, but only has 28 wickets so far. Respect then to Aldermen who took 40+ twice in an Ashes. And Hogg who did it once. OK, six Test series, but still a lot of wickets.

[backfootpunch]

Smith is a good bat. Reports of his demise are premature.

He looks very very low on confidence

Not shown what he can do at all

That was careys catch all day long

[backfootpunch]

They might consider retiring smith to put him out of his misery and to stop him embarrassing himself further

He looked good until he got to 15

Since then its been an absolute horror show

[backfootpunch]

That is one of the worst innings of 46 i have ever seen

Topped off by one of the worst dismissals you will ever see

Smith desperately needs a few games in county cricket before the summer tests

[GarlicJam]

Smith is a good bat.

I think I saw 3 good shots - and some woeful ones.

He should be embarrassed with his dismissal.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Smith will be reflecting more with regret that he got out to out to Labuscagne than with relief that he lasted long enough for that to happen.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Crucial 94 run partnership. If Joe bats through, England may still get a competitive score. New ball though.

[GarlicJam]

Yep, Smith's innings was terrible to watch - frustrating for both sets of supporters - but it did produce a good partnership.

[backfootpunch]

Some balls are going through to carey head high, some are bouncing before they get to him.

Youd imagine batting may get tough on days 4 and 5.

Theres definitely been some seam movement with the 2nd new ball as well.

Australia didnt bowl particularly well yesterday but have been much more disciplined today.

Question is can england replicate that discipline. If they can this should be a competitive total.

If they spray it like they have several times in this series it probably wont be.

[GarlicJam]

I have confidence in Australia's wayward batting though, BFP, to assist the England bowlers in their task.

Which should be soon, as Root is just dismissed for a very fine 160