Australian opener Marcus Harris top-scored for the side in the first innings of the MCG Test. He scored 76 off 189 balls as Australia were bowled out for 267 in their first innings. England, meanwhile have lost four wickets for just 31 runs and are still trailing by 51 runs. It is very likely that they lose the Boxing-Day Test as well and the series in the process. 

Meanwhile, Marcus Harris batted with some luck during his innings. He was given out LBW in the 31st over of the Australian innings. Harris referred the decision. However, the funny part is, the hotspot did not pick that Harris head edged the ball after which the ball thudded into his pads. It was actually the Real Time Snickometer (RTS) which picked it up and the umpire had to overturn his decision. 

 His comments were clearly heard on the stump mic where he called the technology ‘hopeless’. “I wasn’t 100% sure but thought there maybe an inside edge. Hotspot is fu**ing hopeless,” Harris said.

Marcus Harris Scored 76 Off 189 Balls

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Harris was ultimately dismissed for 76 as Anderson ended his long vigil at the stumps. The middle and the tail-enders contributed to Australia’s total of 267.

England, in their second essay, are tottering at 31/4 with Joe Root (12) and Ben Stokes (2) trying to save the game for the side. The England opening combination of Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley did not show any resistance in front of a fiery Aussie pace-bowling group. Crawley was drafted into the side in place of Burns for this Test match, however, the move did not turn out as expected. 

England skipper Joe Root’s captaincy is under the scanner for his failure to inspire his team to a win in the series so far. A loss in the MCG Test would end the hopes of retaining the Ashes urn. 

Brief scores: England 185 & 31/4 (Mitchell Starc 2-11, Scott Boland 2-1) trail Australia 267 (David Warner 38, Marcus Harris 76; James Anderson 4-33, Ollie Robinson 2-64, Mark Wood 2-71) by 51 runs.

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