The Ashes live scores: Follow the action from Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England
Cricket: Australia are eyeing an Ashes whitewash - and the bulk of the bumper crowd on hand at the MCG is hoping to watch it happen.
The Aussies may have wrapped up the series inside just 11 days, but they’re keen to put the foot on the throat even in the absence of star bowling duo Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
Can they continue to roll, or will BazBalling England finally provide some stern resistance?
Follow the latest below, with play set to start at 10.30am EDT (7.30am WA time).
Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.
Tongue gets Marnus again
Tongue continues.
EDGE! But drops short of second slip as Labuschagne is sqaured up again similar to his dismissals in Adelaide.
GONE NEXT BALL! Slightly fuller and Marnus goes to drive and sends an edge straight to Joe Root at first slip.
His struggles continue and England are right on top now.
11th Over: AUS 2-34
Atkinson continues what has been a fine spell to start the morning.
Smith nearly turns himself around trying to score on the legside, but somewhow gets bat on in while nearly falling over.
A maidenn
10th Over: AUS 2-34
Tongue beats Smith with a beauty first up as it angles in and then straightens to beat the edge.
Strays on the hip where he gets off the mark with a single.
Full and Labuschagne drives two past mid-off.
WEATHERALD FALLS!
Bowling change as Josh Tongue replaces Carse.
Weatherald gets behind it and defends the first.
GONE NEXT BALL! Soft dismissal as Weatherald gets a tickle down the legside where Smith pouches it.
England after a poor start a right on top now as captain Steve Smith comes to the crease.
9th Over: AUS 1-31
Atkinson goes full and Labuschagne drives, but the bowler stops it.
He cops a couple blows on the body from balls decking back in but survives a maiden.
8th Over: AUS 1-31
Carse continues, can he settle?
Labuschagne is squared up but it comes off the thigh pad to the slips.
Good running as Weatherald calls Marnus through for a drop and run single.
Weatherald defends the rest. A much better over from Carse
7th Over: AUS 1-30
Labuschagne to the wicket who looked scratchy in Adelaide.
He drives the first but it’s well stopped by Atkinson in his followthrough.
RUNS! Full and he drives past mid-on to get off the mark with three.
BOWLED HIM! Head b Atkinson 12
Back of a length and Head goes to cut but it nibbles in to cramp him for room and he cuts it back onto his stumps.
It’s a dismissal that has caught him out a few times in his career, but a massive breakthrough for England, who were threatening to waste the new ball.
6th Over: AUS 0-27
SHOT! Overpitched and Head crashes four through the covers for the first confident shot of the morning.
FOUR MORE! Not quite as well timed but the result is the same with another four into the covers.
Works a single into the legside as Carse straightens.
Runs for Weatherald as Carse overpitches again and he drives striaght past the bowler for two.
BANG! Overpitched and Weatherald cashes in this time to make it 15 off the over!
Carse all over the place in helpful conditions.
A summary of the early conditions
Jackson Barrett is our man at the ground this morning as he summed up the conditions
It’s unusually and unseasonally cold at the MCG today, with a top of 17 degrees forecast. But the good news is there’s little sign of rain on the radar so we should get away with a full day’s play, albeit under overcast skies.
Early signs are there’s plenty in the wicket for the bowlers. Gus Atkinson made better use of it than Brydon Carse, but Travis Head has found it tough going early on with the ball nipping around off a length.
The Barmy Army are in full voice this morning, packing out the area in and around bay 13, which is normally an Australian stronghold. The crowd looks around 80 per cent full to start the day, including a jam-packed MCC members reserve. The queue to get into the members area snaked through Yarra Park this morning.
Weatherald plays out a maiden to Atkinson.
