The visitors currently stand at 17/2 with Dawid Malan and Joe Root unbeaten at the crease. Earlier, the host declared their innings at 473/9 in the third session. Mitchell Starc remained unbeaten after contributing with a run-aball 39*. Michael Neser also played an aggressive knock for Aussies as he smashed 35 runs off just 24 balls, which featured five fours and a six.

Bowling late in the final session, Starc dismissed Rory Burns early for 4 in the third over to draw the first blood. Later, Neser scalped Haseeb Hameed’s wicket on the second ball of his Test career. The England opener was caught at mid-on for 6. Resuming the post-dinner session at 302/5, captain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey started off steadily. The duo of Smith and Carey notched up a fifty-run partnership.

 Brief score: Australia 473/9 (Marnus Labuschagne 103, Steve Smith 93; Ben Stokes 3/113); vs England 17/2 (Haseeb Hameed 6, Rory Burns 4; Mitchell Sta