The Ashes live cricket scores: Australia and England resume battle in fifth and final Test at the SCG

Ahead of the first ball of the fifth Ashes Test, the SCG stood as one to honour the heroes of Bondi Beach.

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ENG 3-75

Much will rest on this parntership between England’s two premier players after their side won the toss and chose to bat.

Movement has been limited and conditions for batting are only likely to improve as the ball gets older, meaning it is critical these two get through to lunch.

ENG 3-67

Harry Brook very nearly found himself making the walk back to the pavillion, with an inside edge from a loose drive just barely missing his stumps but allowing him a run to get off the mark.

The uber-talented England No.5 batted in hyper-aggressive fashion on a very difficult MCG wicket but faces a different task here.

ENG 3-66

Joe Root has pounced on a half-volley from Michael Neser, producing a sublime cover drive which raced to the boundary.

Having broken a long-running drought in Brisbane, the second-leading run-scorer in the history of Test cricket would love to add one more hundred in what could be his final Test on Australian shores.

ENG 3-63

England are slumping at the SCG!

A change in angle to over the wicket has done the trick for Scott Boland, who has drawn an outside edge from Jacob Bethell to send England’s new No.3 on his way for 10.

The tourists now have two new batters at the crease, with Harry Brook joining Joe Root.

ENG 3-57

Zak Crawley greeted Michael Neser’s return to the bowling attack with disdain, pulling a half-tracker away to the boundary in a flash.

But the seamer quickly had his revenge, again exposing the tall opener’s vulnerability around his front pad by trapping him lbw.

A late call for a review did not save him, with ball tracking projecting the ball to hit the top of leg stump on umpire’s call.

Drinks are being brought onto the SCG, with Joe Root to join Jacob Bethell after the break.

ENG 2-51

After not scoring from the first 14 deliveries he faced, Jacob Bethell has got away with some style.

The left-hander seized on the slightest offering of width to carve Mitchell Starc through point to the boundary.

ENG 1-47

How’s this for a swipe from the England great towards Channel Seven’s Tim Lane!

All in good fun, of course, from the man who has without doubt been the breakout star of the summer.

ENG 1-43

Like most of England’s batters, Jacob Bethell does not waste any time.

But he was tied down in Mitchell Starc’s fifth over and is still yet to score from seven deliveries.

ENG 1-41

Duckett’s departure has brought England’s new No.3 Jacob Bethell to the crease.

The talented left-hander broke open his side’s chase in the Boxing Day Test by compiling a good 40 and will be looking to have a similar impact here.

ENG 1-41