England vs Australia - Ashes LIVE: Smith falls for 71, Tourists lead

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Be sure to check out the full report from Paul Newman below.

18:30

That wicket ends the Australian innings and a fascinating day in South London.

Steve Smith's 71 took Australia towards parity after an excellent afternoon session for England, while Todd Murphy and Pat Cummins built a slender lead at the end of the day.

England will bat tomorrow as they look to set up a series-levelling win.

18:28

Root has Cummins caught brilliantly by Stokes!

The ball flies out to the boundary and finds the captain right on the line.

He takes it over his head, throws it in the air as he keeps his balance out of play and then jumps back over the line to catch it.

18:26

18:25

Anderson bowls a brilliant slower bowl that Cummins eventually picks when it's just in front of his nose. The 40-year-old looks happy with that one.

Cummins looks fairly confident in Hazlewood's batting and give him three balls of the over.

The number 11 plays that swat to point again but the sweeper gets round and keeps it to two.

18:19

Woakes strikes again, and after looking comfortable against the short stuff Murphy falls to a full in swinger.

Hazlewood isn't known for his batting but gets off the mark with a pleasing punch through point for four.

If England take another wicket now it will be a horrid short spell for the openers. 

18:14

Woakes strikes Murphy on the pad and it's given!

Australia review straight away and it is just clipping the stumps, but with the on side decision going England's way he has to go.

The Wizard strikes again and England have their breakthrough.

18:12

A rare maiden from Anderson.

He ends the ball with an excellent slower ball that just beats Cummins' outside edge.

It looks as though Joe Root is getting loose at slip.

18:08

Woakes finds the edge from Murphy but again the ball doesn't carry to Crawley at second slip.

There isn't nearly as much pace in the pitch now as there was earlier in the day.

Australia have faced 100 overs now, nearly twice as many as England did yesterday.

18:06

Anderson finds Cummins' edge but it doesn't quite carry to Crawley at slip.

Murphy then flicks one off his pads through fine leg and it brings Australia in front

These last two partnerships have been very handy for Australia.

18:01

England have kept the runs down in the past few overs but don't look much closer to a wicket.

Both of these batters have solid techniques for lower order players and there' not quite enough happening to prise them out.

If they can be not out overnight this will be Australia's day.

17:56

Anderson comes close to another wicket as Murphy chops one just past his off stump.

He's bowled well today and once again hasn't quite got the figures to back up his performance.

England's lead is now just six after what has been an excellent session for Australia so far.

17:51

17:50

More away swing from Woakes, and Cummins plays him watchfully in a rare quiet over.

England will value a chance to regroup with the momentum slipping away from them.

He may only have 25, but the manner of Murphy's assault has been matched only my Mitchell Marsh in this Australian side.

17:45

Another brilliant swivel pull from Murphy as he takes six more off Wood.

Again there was man right under the shot, but it was well over his head and into the stands.

Murphy goes again two balls later, and again it's in the stands.

This is a wonderful cameo at number 10 and the lead is now just 10.

17:40

Cummins get s a thick edge that flies over second slip for four.

This a very useful knock from him in what could be a very tight game. 

He looks to pull the next delivery but can't get hold of it and they just take one.

Woakes continues to find some swing but gets cut away nicely by Murphy, who moves into double figures.

17:34

That is some way to get off the mark.

Wood goes short to Murphy and he guides it nicely over deep backwards square with a classy swivel pull.

It's timed to perfection, and flies way over Joe Root's head for six.

He tries it again next ball and misses by around a foot.

250 comes up for Australia, the lead is now just 33.

17:31

Murphy appears to have a solid technique and keeps Woakes out nicely.

Batting is looking pretty straightforward now, and Australia's batters may be ruing their failure to make it through a tricky spell earlier.

Woakes nips the final ball away from Murphy and it flies past the outside edge of an expansive drive.

17:26

Wood goes short to Murphy straight away and isn't far from another top edge as the spinner looks to fend.

He doesn't look comfortable, but you have to wander whether it wouldn't be smarter to for the stumps.

It will be interesting to see how Cummins plays with Smith back in the pavilion. 

17:22

What a summer Chris Woakes is having.

Again he takes a key wicket, and with the game drifting back towards parity he has put England back on top.

Smith had just been starting to attack and had already chipped one just behind Broad a couple of balls earlier.

17:17

Woakes gets Smith caught behind!

Huge moment in the game. Woakes goes for the bouncer and it flies high off the op edge.

Bairstow runs back and takes an excellent catch to dismiss the former captain for 71.

Murphy the new man in.

17:11

Smith pulls Wood into the deep to bring up the 50 partnership between these two.

It's been a vital one in the context of the game, and England's lead now stands at just 48.

Wood has troubled Cummins previously in the series but doesn't quite get his radar right here.

17:08

17:08

Woakes bowls a wide yorker to Cummins who reaches for it and gets an inside edge past the stumps for four.

He looks comfortable against the moving ball and defends late with soft hands.

Woakes has been excellent today and looks the most assured swing bowler on either side.

17:04

17:01

Smith continues to scamper well for ones and twos.

He's keeping the scoreboard ticking over without taking any risks and can take Australia up to parity if the tail stays with him.

Broad tries the bouncer but Smith is happy to watch it sail over his head.

16:57

Tidy over from Anderson but Cummins looks comfortable enough in defence.

England continue to attack with this new ball and there seems to be a good deal of movement on offer, the extra bounce has been useful.

Anderson tails the last ball away late with the last ball of the over but the Australian captain digs it out well.

16:51

Byes run away for four as Broad's late swing prevents Bairstow from getting a hand to the ball.

Cummins faces up to the England seamer and is smart to not be lured into playing shot outside off-stump.

Australia's tactic is clear, get Smith on strike and let him go for it.

16:49

Smith begins to try and lead a fightback by deploying some range hitting as he swats Anderson into leg-side and scores quick boundaries.

If Smith goes then Australia are done but so far he is hanging on and looking to show his quality!

16:43

England are getting closer and closer as they try to wrap up Australia's tail order with Cummins surviving an LBW call that shows Broad's delivery missing the stumps. 

This is great new ball bowling from England and you feel it won't be long before another wicket falls.

16:40

16:37

England maintain pressure on the Australian as the new ball continues to threaten with plenty of movement being produced as the dark begins to set in and the temperature drops.

Smith will surely have to try and take on England's bowlers now but this won't be easy.

16:31

B\road gets immediate swing from the new ball and that will only increase as one side of the Dukes ball begins to wear down, but Smith is up to the challenge.

He brings up his half-century with a drive through leg-side for four and adds another boundary on the final delivery of the over.

16:27

16:25

Maiden over for Root as he bowls good line and length that is hard for Smith to judge.

The end of the over see's England take the new ball and here comes Broad.

16:23

That looks to be Brook's final over with the new ball just one over away as England ready their pace attack to come back into the fray.

Australia pass the 200 mark with Smith edging ever close to his half-century as Root is tasked with a late spin over before the new ball.

16:22

Crazy over that took for ages the review to eventually be decided upon keeps Smith in at the crease as England continue to add pressure.

Tense end to proceedings playing out with Cummins looking to get off strike and give Smith the chance to score runs.

England still in control.

16:17

That is so so close and could have gone either way. Bairstow made contact with the stump and the off-stump bail jumps out it's sitting but Smith gets his bat in before the second bail comes off and he survives.

Brilliant fielding by Broad to throw into Bairstow and England will feel hard done by.

16:12

16:11

Brook continues his surprise bowling spell after tea and you suspect that is because Stokes is giving his pace bowlers a rest before the second new ball becomes available in three overs.

Starc scores well with a clip to third man that races away for four runs with Smith adding a single for the over.

16:08

Two runs for the over as both Cummins and Smith score to get the evening session underway.

Stokes wants his field in close to prevent any singles and that means Australia will have to risk playing big shots if they want to score.

16:05

15:45

15:44

Harry Brook is given just a second over of the entire series as Stokes looks to mix things up.

Cummins gets off the mark with a single and Smith is made to defend robustly for the rest of the over as unorthodox deliveries are chucked down the wicket.

That brings up tea and England are enjoying themselves so much that Root even busts out some dance moves in the field.

15:42

15:41

15:34

Starc adds a quick single at the start of the over that places Smith on strike.

You have to wonder when Smith is going to start to go big because looking at the rest of Australia's batting order he is the only man capable of making a big score.

He can only manage one run that means Starc has to try and see out the rest of the over with Crawley coming in at silly mid-on in an attempt to unnerve the Australian.

That attempt works as Wood's shorter delivery is skies into the air and Duckett keeps calm deep in the field to claim the catch.

15:32

15:29

Stokes pauses before the start of the over to try and get the ball changed and undergoes a lengthy discussion with the umpire before conceding defeat and being forced to carry on with the same ball.

Crawley does really well to stop four runs at deep square-leg by stopping the ball, throwing it in the air, jumping over the boundary and then back in-time to catch it.

Starc claims three runs for the over as Australia move to within 100 of England's lead.

15:24

Wood fashions an out swinger that Starc tries to play but misses completely as England threaten with another attempted catch behind.

Starc tries to score with a rare pull shot - something we have rarely seen today - but fails to score as a man runs down to stop the ball on the angle.

Australia trail by 103.

15:20

Smith scores early and Root has a chance at Starc as the Australian deals with the remaining spin deliveries well for the rest of the over well.

Starc gets off the mark by scoring two runs on the final ball of the over as Australia add a few more to their total. It will be interesting to see how they attack the next few overs, go big and hope to score quick or maintain the same approach.

15:14

Wood returns and adds his blistering speed to England's bowling attack.

We see him smash a bouncer into the crease that hasn't often been a tactic deployed by England today and Smith does the simple thing to just duck out the way.

Smith adds three runs for the over and Starc has to face one ball off Wood at the end of the over that he does well to block back down the wicket.

15:10

15:10

Australia's men at the crease try to put pressure back on Root and Carey begins to do so by smacking six back down the ground.

Root recovers excellently on his next delivery and gets the scalp of the Aussie wicket-keeper who is as expected booed off the pitch by the Oval crowd.

Starc comes in for the tourists and chasing down England's total looks a huge ask now.

15:06

15:04

Smith nursed a difficult spell that saw wickets fall quickly after lunch but is starting to just come back into his own as he scores some quick runs with some good running between the stumps.

After scoring with a good shot he then risks an edge behind as Anderson's delivery bounces over the driving bat of Smith and settles in the hands of Bairstow.

Australia trail by 119 runs.

15:00

I said earlier that Root would need a few overs to find consistency with the ball in-hand and appears to have done so as he puts Smith under pressure.

Smith eventually attacks a looser delivery but is limited to just a single by England's organised field.

14:57

Smith adds a single at the start of the over and that is all he is able to get at the minute with England disciplined in their bowling and not giving runs away cheaply.

Carey must be so frustrated after trying to get off the crease for what feels like an eternity but finally does so with a lovely shot on the final ball of the over with a drive for four runs.

14:54

Nice little over from Root as he is given a chance to test Australia with some spin.

The LBW call dominates the over with Stokes clearly not happy with the decision but Smith stays and Australia continue to hang on.

Smith adds a couple more runs to his over but keeps his place at the crease.

14:52

14:48

There is some footage emerging showing Stuart Broad attempting to get into the head of Labuschagne just before the Australian was caught behind by Root.

It appears just Broad swapped the bails with one another just before the crucial ball and you can take a look for yourself below.

14:45

14:44

Smith looks to be disciplined and takes a single to put Carey on strike in a bid to get his team-mate off the mark.

Carey defends before flashing his hands at towards point that he makes a good connection with but watches Stokes stop any single.

That brings up drinks with England in the driving seat.

14:40

Stokes senses his seam bowlers are in the mood and hooks Root out of the bowling attack to put Wood back in.

Carey his nervous and rightly so after England's post-lunch dominance with the ball in-hand as a yorker almost squirms it's way through onto the wickets.

He looks to get off the mark with a nice drive into off-side but is stopped by some good fielding.

14:36

14:34

Anderson is brought back into England's bowling attack by Ben Stokes and he looks to try and abuse the same part of the wicket that was giving Woakes movement.

Does it work? Does it ever! Anderson has endured such a frustrating Ashes series but has looked really good today especially at the start of the day.

He ramps one onto the edge of Marsh and that beautiful sound of ball on stump echoes around the Oval as the crowd roar with delight.

Carey pads one off his thigh as he comes in to join Smith at the crease and Australia are rattling as they still trail by 132 runs.

14:32

Jimmy Anderson finally gets a first wicket of the day and it is deserved as he forces Marsh into playing a shot that the Australian can only edge onto his stumps.

Marsh has no answer to this and is gone, in comes Alex Carey.

14:29

14:29

Joe Root is asked to add spin to England's attack as Moeen Ali sits out today while still nursing a groin injury he suffered while batting yesterday.

The former England captain gets some turn out the wicket but might just need a couple of overs to find consistent length and line as one delivery trundles down leg-side and nearly runs to the boundary for four before being stopped.

He's England's only spin bowler and can do a job after previously taking Test wickets.

14:25

14:25

The Aussies get on their sprinting shoes and run a good couple as Marsh hits Woakes along the ground into mid-wicket.

Marsh isn't gifted anymore easy runs and the slower ball from Woakes forces him into playing a block.

The strong batsman works really hard for another boundary and a good ball is dispatched with a drive back down the wicket for four.

14:20

Marsh adds another to his tally as he looks to get comfortable at the crease up against a Broad who is hungry for another wicket.

Smith steals a single with a nice clip off his feet into the leg-side that places Marsh back on strike against Broad.

Marsh is just looking to dial himself in but this is hostile batting circumstances to come into.

14:16

Woakes is bowling really well and Smith is so lucky as a swinging ball comes in towards Smith and just beats the outside edge.

The Aussie knows he is lucky to have not touched that and shakes his head before refocusing.

Woakes hangs some more outside off-stump and gets a maiden ovr.

14:11

Broad after lunch has been sensational and he looks to try and wrap up the wicket of Marsh as another delivery clatters into the pad but is probably going to high and England don't review.

Marsh feels the best form of defence is attack and walks down the wicket next ball to smash Broad back over his head for six runs.

England's record Ashes wicket taker doesn't like that and rounds out the over with a dot.

14:03

Broad becomes England's leading wicket taker of the series as he leads the post-lunch charge against Australia by giving Head his marching orders.

This is old school Broad and he is absolutely loving life out there at the crease with Australia threatening to buckle under pressure like England did yesterday.

Australia have been disciplined all day, but that approach punishes you if you lose quick wickets. Now they must either attack and try to score quick or this could be dangerous for them.

13:58

Oh Stuart Broad this is another beauty! It's got everything, pace, movement and the edge of Head with the Australian trying to play a straight shot and edging behind into the safe hands of Bairstow.

The Aussies are crumbling at the Oval and if Smith goes as well then England are in the money!

13:55

Smith strikes back with a boundary as he clips Woakes into leg-side for four. The unorthodox batsman will lead Australia's charge and it is so vital that he keeps his place at the crease as the tourists look to chase down England.

Woakes is threatening with some nice bowling just cutting in that Smith confidently leaves.

We get four more byes as Bairstow scrambles to get across behind the stumps but can't stop the ball.

13:52

It's Broad to Khawaja and the man at the crease just nudges it back in front of him for the first ball. He's just three short of his half-century and struggles with a ball into his pads but survives.

The Aussie opener isn't as lucky with the next ball as Broad rifles one in at his pads and he gets caught up trying to play a clip off his legs.

Travis Head comes in and survives the final ball of the over.

13:47

13:44

13:06

Khawaja adds another boundary for the over to bring up lunch as Australia and England head off the field following an opening session that has lacked potency.

Australia will be the happier of the two sides as they leave the filed of play having lost just a single wicket through an outstanding Joe Root catch on Day Two.

England have hammered the wicket with pace and although they've got movement the Aussies defence is just too strong.

Australia trail by 168 runs at lunch.

13:01

Anderson restricts Khawaja of runs as the Australian maintains his presence at the crease.

The Australian defends consecutive deliveries and is unmoved in his approach as England continue to try and force an opening.

12:55

The crowd gets a little bit overexcited at the start of the over as they think Khawaja edges off the face of his bat through to Bairstow but it doesn't take an edge and the Aussie keeps his place.

Khawaja then adds a boundary by scoring with a nice cut shot through point that see's him close in on his half-century on Day Two.

A single rounds out the over with England starting to creek in their bowling attack.

12:51

Smith is starting to look settled and tracks Anderson's deliveries well to thrash a boundary by scoring straight back down the wicket and follows that up with an almost exact shot again to rack up eight more quick runs.

Anderson finds better length and more swing with his final delivery that stops any more runs from the over but Australia have got their tails up and you wonder whether Stokes might be considering some spin.

12:46

Khawaja starts the over with a single to put Smith on strike against Wood's wicked pace.

The England pace bowler wants to try and dangle the ball just wide enough of off-stump to tempt Smith into playing an edge but the Aussie is too good for that and adds another single.

12:43

Smith adds a couple more to his tally and wants to get settled early in a bid to build confidence at the crease.

Most of Steve Smith's Test centuries against England have come at the Oval and you feel if England can claim his scalp then they will be confident of racing through a few more wickets.

The only problem is getting Smith out in London has proved to be really difficult in the past.

12:38

Smith gets off the mark with a quick single that eases the pressure on him as England continue to attack.

Khawaja defends as he has done for the majority of the morning and maintains the style he has done all series to just frustrate England.

One run from the over, Australia trail by 191 runs.

12:34

Anderson comes back into the bowling attack and tries to unnerve Khawaja with some really consistent bowling at a fuller length. 

He is getting some decent swing but Khawaja is buried in his crease and it might have to be another special bit of magic to get him out.

Another maiden for Anderson.

12:33

12:30

That wicket has finally woken everyone up inside the oval as Labuschagne is sent walking and Smith comes into the fray.

Everyone is still harping over Root's brilliant catch that will be remembered as one of the grabs of the series with replays continuing to show it over and over.

12:25

12:22

Woakes gets some really good shape on the ball that Labuschagne leaves and it's brave from the batsman as the ball clips his thigh before rising just over the stumps.

Labuschagne adds another single to put Khawaja on strike and he is forced to defend back towards Woakes.

Khawaja tries to score with a swat behind square that would have easily gone for four runs before being stopped excellently in the field to deny a run.

Byes add four more runs as Bairstow is left with no chance to get to a rapid delivery that swings at the end of the over.

12:17

Khawaja is denied four runs by some strong running from Stokes as he gets a hand to a racing ball that was hit between cover and extra cover.

The Aussies still run three in the middle and Broad is given the chance to run in at Labuschagne after first getting the umpire to check the ball again.

Another single is then added as Australia show small signs that they are going to start attacking.

12:14

Today has been like a chess match with England trying to unhinge Australia's defence with the men at the crease slow and careful in their approach to scoring runs.

We are treated to another maiden over from Chris Woakes as he runs in at Labuschagne and the Australian leaves the majority of his deliveries, not being tempted into playing any risky shots.

England have now had 18 maidens off these 40 overs.

12:06

12:05

Broad comes around the wicket at Khawaja and is getting movement off the ball that Khawaja has to defend against.

He clips a nice shot through mid-on that probably should be a single but the Aussies don' look in a rush to run any risk singles for some reason.

Broad comically drops the ball on the run-in for his penultimate delivery of the over and has to start over before ending the session before drin