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The Ashes live scores: Follow the action from Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The Nightly
Ben Stokes of England celebrates the wicket of Alex Carey.
Ben Stokes of England celebrates the wicket of Alex Carey. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

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).

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Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.

23rd Over: AUS 4-64

Atkinson replaces Carse.

Leading edge beats a diving backward point and goes for three.

Carey is beaten defending outside off.

Leaves the rest.

22nd Over: AUS 4-61

Full and Carey drives two down the ground.

Overpitched and Carey goes through the covers for two more.

21st Over: AUS 4-57

Short, wide and Carey cuts three forward of the point from Carse.

Short and Khawaja nearly pulls straight to midwicket as it holds up in the wicket

20th Over: AUS 4-54

Alex Carey to the crease has arguably been Australia’s best batsman.

Gets off the mark with a single fine as Khawaja flicks two square.

These two now have a mouantain of work to do.

BOWLED HIM SMITH FALLS!

Tongue has Smith again!

Third time he’s got him in Test cricket.

Smith goes to drive and it decks through the gate to knock over the top of off stump!

All out 98 on the cards?! Tongue is on fire at the G.

18th Over: AUS 3-51

Khawaja misses out on the full toss, flicking it straight to the fielder.

Gets a hold of the next one with two squares to bring up 50 for Australia.

Beaten next ball as Khawaja hangs the bat out.

Too straight, and there’s another single off the pads.

17th Over: AUS 3-48

Khawaja jumps across to flick a single fine off Carse

FOUR! Short and Smith pulls through vacant square leg.

Rain in the air

Our man Jackson Barrett has informed that it’s started to drizzle at the ground but there’s no movement from the groundsmen yet.

Smith plays out a maiden to Tongue.

14th Over: AUS 3-43

Carse back on after an expensive opening spell.

Too full, and Khawaja drives two through the covers.

On the hip, and he gets one into the legside.

13th Over: AUS 3-39

Full and Khawaja moves across to take it off middle stump to fine leg.

FOUR! Classic Smith as Tongue goes full, and he unfurls the cover drive to break the shackles somewhat.

Big Appeal for caught down the legside and Stokes reviews!

It’s close but catches nothing but jumper as England lose a review.

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