The Ashes live scores: Follow the action from Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England

Marnus Labuachagne is not happy with his dismissal to Josh Tongue, he’s just hammered his Kookaburra stick into his pads in frustration.

Joe Root’s catch at third slip was sent to the third umpire to check, but replays show he did take the ball cleanly, just getting his fingers under it.

Labuschagne goes for eight off 18 balls and his unimpressive series continues. Remember, he still hasn’t scored a Test ton since the 2023 Ashes.

Steve Smith comes to the crease to face Tongue, who has dismissed him five times across formats and three times in Tests.

Australia are 3-61 and lead by 103.

Head gets another life, with a genuine edge from a rising Stokes ball flying through a gap in the slips cordon and down to the boundary.

The lead is 99.

The Aussies lose two in the first hour - and it was very nearly three in the final over before drinks. Tongue gets Head to cut one in the air, and Will Jacks can only get a hand to it before it spills out. It appears he didn’t quite pick it up in flight.

Head has made his way to 28 and looms large as he often does. Labuschagne has worn the aforementioned knocks and has moved to 7. How vital will the contributions from this pair and the incoming Steve Smith be today?

A bit of strife here as well for Marnus Labuschagne, who has copped two blows to his right hand from Ben Stokes.

Both balls jumped up off a good length, showing just how difficult this deck has been to navigate.

The first one appeared to strike the top of his middle finger, which can be a painful thing, and he ripped his glove off in response.

After a brief pause he copped another one in the same over.

Worth keeping an eye on both his hand - because he was in quite a bit of pain - and also how this wicket behaves as the day goes on.

Marnus is off the mark and the Aussie lead is up to 84.

Here’s the latest on Gus Atkinson’s injury, which looms as a serious concern for England if he can’t resume for the remainder of the day.

Jake Weatherald’s testing series continues, with Ben Stokes striking in his first over!

Stokes produces a beauty that clips the very top of off, and Weatherald was initially going to play, decided to leave, and lived to regret that call.

It’s now 2-40, a lead of 82, as Marnus Labuschagne gets his chance at the crease.

Here’s yet another blow for England in a tour that’s been full of them.

Gus Atkinson has limped off the MCG with what appears to be a hamstring injury. He pulled up short bowling the final ball of his last over to Travis Head, which was dispatched, then took his cap and slowly got himself off the ground.

Josh Tongue has replaced Brydon Carse at the Shane Warne Stand end and it’s likely to be Ben Stokes covering now for Atkinson at the member’s end. With Will Jacks England’s fourth bowler, they’re going to be light on quicks on a deck that suits them down to the ground.

Weatherald whips a full and straight one off his toes for 3, and the hat-trick is averted!

England have got some serious concerns following the last Atkinson over, however...

Head’s had a couple of nervy moments - including almost chopping on in near identical fashion to yesterday’s dismissal - but he’s raced to 23 from just 28.

Josh Tongue enters the attack, and after removing Neser and Boland with the final two balls of the first innings, he’s is on a hat-trick as he takes the ball for the first time in the second innings. He’s bowling to Jake Weatherald...

A wicket-maiden for Atkinson after providing the early breakthrough that England needed. He produces a play-and-miss from Weatherald with the last ball of it to provide further encouragement.

It’s worth noting that Boland has now faced more balls this series (119) than Ben Duckett (116) - with the England opener having batted in one extra innings, too.