his partnership with shaun marsh wrestling back momentum from england, how crucial his wicket could beas the world's best test batsman, removing him is no easy task as england's bowlers found out. andy swiss is at the gabba. we hope he is! you get a sense that his wicket, steve smith's, could be crucial for wicket, steve smith's, could be crucialfor england wicket, steve smith's, could be crucial for england in this opening session to come? that's right, john. steve smith is the world number one batsman for a reason and when he and shaun marsh came together, australia we re shaun marsh came together, australia were 76—4 and in deep trouble and they've continued this recovery into they've continued this recovery into the morning, that's what australian fa ns the morning, that's what australian fans will be hoping. he's really the key man as far as england are concerned. if they can get him early and get into this long australian tail, the next batsman in is tim paine, the wicket—keeper, who has scored one first—class century in his career so there's a long australian tail. getting steve

good news as well for shaun marsh, getting a half—century.bout the australian middle order, they are still bear. by middle order, they are still bear. by the australia are happy they have gotten 10 wickets. this was going to be the best chance for england to win at the gabba because it was not the traditional fast seamer. speaking of adelaide, they have got all three there so far. had this going to be for them? -- how difficult is this. it will be difficult is this. it will be difficult and they will be disappointed. but they looked good this time. stoneman has shown he can handle this level. the bowling still has some issues. there is a doubt around james anderson. the english camp says it is all fine. he would bea camp says it is all fine. he would be a blow. we have seen with the pink ball test so far, as soon as dusk comes, the dew comes. it is exciting cricket, but you have to ta ke exciting cricket, but you have to take your opportunities when the ball is swinging widely. we are hoping they got it right. england desperately need to win

shaun marsh. australia have an incredible record here at the gabba.ve not lost a test match here the nearly 30 yea rs. lost a test match here the nearly 30 years. not surprisingly, they are full of confidence. we know how to play there. the crowd always gets behind australia. it'll be great. i'm hoping. it's one of my favourite places. i'm looking forward to getting out there and hopefully making the english uncomfortable. this is something of a fortress for australian cricket. we will see how it goes on thursday. most of the money is going on an aussie series win, but one englishman who has won the ashes twice twice has other ideas. i'm not quite as bullish. the big thing about australia, and i'm contradicting myself, all that pressure can quickly turn on them. the taxi drivers will start slapping the aussies. i think we will lose at the aussies. i think we will lose at the gabba. and then will get beaten in perth. and then melbourne and syd ney in perth. and then melbourne and sydney be. in just under 11 hours, the final match of the women's ashes w

raised eyebrows, with the inclusion of left—field selections like keeper tim paine and batsmen shaun marshcord here at the gabba, not losing a test match here ryan almost 30 years and not surprisingly they are full of confidence. we know how to lay here and the crowd gets behind australians. we are hoping to see a packed crowd out singing with the barmy army. 0ne packed crowd out singing with the barmy army. one of my favourite places to play cricket in australia andi places to play cricket in australia and i look forward to getting out there and hopefully making the english look uncomfortable. this place something of a fortress for australian cricket and may well be confident they can get off to a winning start when the first test gets under way on thursday. and don't forget, you can follow the ashes with the bbc‘s test match special team. there will be live commentary of every ball of every test beginning at midnight on thursday throughout the early hours on 5live sports extra and the bbc sport website and app. a look at the other headines now, with some flash photography in the pictures

it edged tantalisingly towards england, shaun marsh one of a cluster of early wickets, but they couldn't and he guided australia into the lead. when their innings finally ended, australia were 26 ahead and smith 141 not out, cheered to the rafters. now for england's openers to steady the ship — or not. a hook from alastair cook. it didn't get any better in a torrid final session. australia's pacemen piled on the pressure. a horrible moment forjoe root, thankfully unhurt. he clung on to the close but england are up against it. a bit disappointed to win two wickets but it could have been a lot worse. it was just proper theatre, proper test match cricket, fast bowling, batsmen playing well. tomorrow will be slightly different. a day which began so promisingly for england has ended with them under huge pressure. after two days of local pegging, it's now australia with the upper hand. it has been two decades since england appeared a rugby league world cup final, and after a world —— nerve shredding game with tonga england go through. for england, some wins are worth waiting for. after three s

australia subsided to 76—4 at one stage, but then her recovery thanks to his captain steve smith and shaun marshther day of fluctuating fortunes, but the match is intriguingly poised going into day three. sri lanka were dismissed for 205 in their first sri lanka were dismissed for 205 in theirfirst innings sri lanka were dismissed for 205 in their first innings against india sri lanka were dismissed for 205 in theirfirst innings against india on theirfirst innings against india on the first day of the second test. qualification for the woman's world cup in 2019 is continuing around europe. england played their second match in group a. they beat bosnia 4-0. match in group a. they beat bosnia 4—0. portugal have beat moldova yet— zero. the draw for the quarterfinal stage of the woman's champions league has pledged lyon against barcelona. will spark this prague, montpelier will play chelsea and manchester city will play the swedish champions, who have never been part of the last eight. belgium and france are level after the first day of the davis cup final. david goffin beat lucas pouille. that end

they've taken three australian wickets, shaun marsh was soon bowled out by england's stuart broad. there. it's going to be cold this weekend, that's for sure, but many places will stay dry and see plenty of sunshine, so if you wrap up it won't be that bad. plenty of showers though in the north and west. certainly overnight plenty of showers across the north—west of the uk, with wintriness mixed in, some cumulating snow over the hills, and that will lead to an ice problem in many northern and western areas to start saturday morning. it really will be a cold and frosty start. the wind will be a feature on saturday. that will make it feel colder than it actually is, and there'll be plenty of showers to start saturday morning. even longer spells of rain perhaps across the north and north—east of scotland and into the northern isles, here with gale force winds as well. wintry showers into northern ireland and down on the north—west england. snow again on the hills. some of these showers running through the cheshire gap, in towards the midlands already at 9am on saturday morning. plenty

it edged tantalisingly towards england, shaun marsh one of a cluster of early wickets, but they couldn'tock. steve smith had notjust a century but a batting masterclass. that's what it needs to rescue your team and he guided australia into the lead, and when their innings finally ended, australia were 26 ahead and smith 141 ended, australia were 26 ahead and smith 1111 not out, cheered to the rafters. now for england's openers to steady the ship or not, i hope from alastair cook. it didn't get any better in a torrid final session. australia's pacemen piled on the pressure. a horrible moment forjoe root, on the pressure. a horrible moment for joe root, thankfully on the pressure. a horrible moment forjoe root, thankfully unhurt. he clung on to the close but england are up against it. a bit disappointed to win two wickets but it could have been a lot worse. it was just it could have been a lot worse. it wasjust proper it could have been a lot worse. it was just proper theatre, proper test match cricket, fast bowling, batsmen playing well. tomorrow will be slightly different. a day which be

australia batsman shaun marsh had been making a career comeback of sorts making a half—century but soontnership between captain steve smith and marsh. tim paine replaced marsh for australia and soon got off the mark reaching the boundary for four. the latest score after it visit stands at australia 200 —— 202—6. lots more as always on our website and you can keep up with this cricket score as well. we are on twitter if you want to get in touch. let‘s get the latest weather prospects now with stav danaos. hello, there. it‘s going to be cold this weekend, that‘s for sure, but many places will stay dry and see plenty of sunshine, so if you wrap up it won‘t be that bad. plenty of showers though in the north and west. certainly overnight plenty of showers across the north—west of the uk, with wintriness mixed in, some cumulating snow over the hills, and that will lead to an ice problem in many northern and western areas to start saturday morning. it really will be a cold and frosty start. the wind will be a feature on saturday. that will make it feel colder than it actually is, and there‘ll

it edged tantalisingly towards england, shaun marsh one of a cluster of early wickets, but they couldn'tjust a century but a batting masterclass. he guided australia into the lead. when the innings finally ended australia were 26 ahead and smith 141 australia were 26 ahead and smith 1a1 not out, cheered to the rafters. now for england's openers to steady the ship — or not. a hook from alastair cook. james vince next. 17 for two as australia's paceman piled on the pressure. a a horrible moment forjoe root, thankfully unhurt. he clung on to the close but england are up against it. tomorrow will be slightly different. a day which began so promisingly for england has ended with them under huge pressure. after two days of level pegging, it's now australia with the upper hand. match of the day follows on bbc one. you can get full analysis and news from the premier league and the scottish premiership on the bbc sport website. that's it. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. from me and the team, have a very good night. hello. wherever you spent the day it was on th

briefly and tantalisingly it edged towards england, shaun marsh won a cluster of early wickets and whenthey could not shift is truly a's rock, steve smith with not just the same today but a batting masterclass. that is what it means to rescue your team. with partners running out he guided a failure into the leeds and whether innings finally ended in failure were 26 ahead. smith was 141 not out, cheered that the rafters. now for england's openers to steady the ship first up or not. they took for alastair cook and stark reeled in him. that did not get any better in a torrid final session, 70—2 as is gillian‘s paceman piled on the pressure. joe root was thankfully unhurt, and cullen to the close but england are up against that. it was such a final dramatic session, a torrid one. the paceman was steaming in, the crowd were getting on their back, good old —fashioned ashes cricket. mark stallman and joe root clung on until the close and stuart broad believes that could prove very significant. crucial. you cancel easily lose four or five wickets and that is the test match gone. for someone wic

when he and shaun marsh came together, a study were 76 — four and indeed trouble.hey can get him early and get into the long australian tail, the next batsmen in is the wicketkeeper who scored one first—class century in his entire career. it is a long struggle entail, getting steve smith out early is the key as far as england is concerned. that will give them a chance to work their way into a commanding position. they will resume shortly here at day three with the met intriguingly poised. this chilly off—spinner agrees that things are finely balanced. the game is in the balance, i think england bowled very well to take for early wickets. but i think we have fought back hard. there is a massive partnership out there now and hopefully we can build on that. aden hopefully we can build on that. arjen robben to put a number on it, i've played cricket and enough... i am not ——. hopefully get past the school. we heard in the build-up to this test just school. we heard in the build-up to this testjust how difficult it is to wind at the gabba fit any testing level in englan

for four at one stage in deep trouble but then a recovery thanks to their captain steve smith and shaun marshuided include the close at 165 for four. another day of fluctuating fortu nes four. another day of fluctuating fortunes but honours pretty much even at the end of it. these were the thoughts of jake ball. even at the end of it. these were the thoughts of jake ball. very happy, as a team we are happy we have done a lot of research and work on different plans to reach batter and we executed in world today. even towards the end. the plans that we wa nt to towards the end. the plans that we want to execute and we feel we executed them correctly and we are ina good executed them correctly and we are in a good place as a team and as a bowling unit we feel like we're hitting where we want to hit. we are a decent position. if we can come out in the morning and get a good nights sleep and a bit of rest and come out in the morning, it is a good position for us to be in. for australia, an impressive comeback before lunch triggering that england colla pse before lunch triggering that england colla

a recovery thanks to steve smith and shaun marsh. brisbane, winger valentine holmes scored six tries as australia beat fiji by 511 points to 6, to reach the final of the rugby league world cup. he broke his own record for the number of tries in a match — and took his tournament tally to 12, making him top—scorer. they'll face the winner of tomorrow's semi—final between england and tonga. i'm really pleased. the defence is going really good. scoring some points. we need to get it to homes. give it to him next week again. former england striker michael owen said he's never gone so fast on a horse, after finished second in his debut race as a jockey. owen, who's 37, was taking part in the prince's countryside fund charity race at ascot. he was the only novice in the field of ten amateurs, riding calder prince, and he finished behind tom chatfield—roberts, on golden wedding. owen said he'd got the bug, and might race again. two men could be banned for life after the russian doping scandal at the sochi games. the disqualification means th

england started the day really brightly as stuart broad bristled with intent, taking the wicket of shaun marshvery. but try as they might, england had no answer captain smith, who remained unbeaten on 141. and by the time every one of his teamates were out, australia had built themselves a lead of 26. england have just started batting again. they got to 11 runs when alastair cook was caught my mitchell starc. he made seven today after scoring two in the first innings. england are 17—1. england are on course to reach the final of the rugby league world cup for the first time in 22 years. they lead tonga 14—0 in auckland, the winners will face australia for the titl.e e final. and england made the perfect start, jermaine mc gillvary opened the scoring in front of a crowd packed out with tonga fans. and they extended their lead going into half—time, gareth widdop managed to ground this legally. they're in the early stages of the second half now. england have lost their last three world cup semi—finals, but they're on course to win this one. onto football, and wales are top of their qualifying gro

side were battling out seventy six for four in reply to england's three hundred two but smith and shaun marsh combined for an unbroken partnership eighty nine with the skipper on sixty four not out all marsh finished the day i have been on forty four so a stray one hundred and fifty seven runs behind with six wickets and hands. none won there in the world. he trying he's working i think is incredible and he ain't no use going on those. six who play in a process. that's off the aircraft sri lanka have crumbled against an attack spearheaded by spin on the first day of the second test against india they're all out for two hundred five with captain dinesh chandimal top scoring with fifty seven . taking seven of the wickets between them india have already lost a wicket in reply. or one win away from defending their rugby league world cup title they brushed aside fiji fifty four to six in their semi final embarrassment on friday just a week after becoming the first australian to score five tries in the tests valentine holmes got a world cup record six tries for the hosts they'll face either england

selection of wicketkeeper tim paine — chosen for his first test in seven years, and 34—year—old shaun marshknow my best cricket is good enough, i've played test cricket before an done ok so i can take some confidence from that. the last five or six months as well i've been batting as well as i ever have, so lucky the opportunity has come at the right time for me. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. hope you enjoy those poolside pictures! just an update on the royal anniversary. the queen has been making the appointment to the royal victorian order so the duke of edinburgh will be a night of the grand cross royal victorian order, the letters gcb oh, after his title of his royal highness the duke of edinburgh. these are personal awards made by the queen for services to the sovereign. meanwhile, the european union will decide this evening where two major eu agencies, currently based in london, will be relocated after brexit. 19 cities are bidding for the european medicines agency, while eight want to host the european banking authority. more than a thousand p

5ub5ided for a 76—a—mac at one stage, but then a recovery thanks to captain ‘5 steve smith and shaun marshguingly poised going into day three. -- match. it's a lwa y5 into day three. -- match. it's always nice to get a big wicket and i think we sort of see warner and smith as the two main australian players. for me to get one of the big players out, it's very satisfying and i think a view of the lads in the team were happy to see the back of them. i think we are any decent position. i think they can come out in the morning, get it nights sleep and, i'd hardly any morning. if we nicked a couple out at the start, that is the good position for us to be in. another big game in dresden. —— brisbane. england have reached the final of the rugby world cup. he took his turn in tally up to 12, making him the top scorer. they drew the winner of tomorrow's semifinal. that is between england and tonga. sebastian vettel picked lewis hamilton to set the fastest time in practice at the season—ending abu dhabi grand prix. he was more than a tenth of a second quicker than the mercedes of the new world champ

but then a recovery thanks to captain steve smith and shaun marsh who guided them through to 165—a athe two main australian players so for me to get one of the big players is very satisfying. i think a few of the lads in the team were happy to see the back of him. we feel we are in a decent position and if we can come out in the morning get some rest and come out hot in the morning and get a couple about and you are into detail, that is a good position to be in. in football there was another bad result for managerless everton who were thrashed 5—1 at home by ata la nta who were thrashed 5—1 at home by atalanta in the europa league. they we re atalanta in the europa league. they were already out of the competition but in front of a half empty goodison park they finished bottom of theirgroup, goodison park they finished bottom of their group, not a great entry on their cv for caretaker boss david u nsworth their cv for caretaker boss david unsworth who still wants job permanently. arsene wenger said it wasjob done after permanently. arsene wenger said it was job done after arsenal won t

and he wasn't the only surprise in the australian squad. 34—year—old shaun marsh will batter another cameron bancroft who will open the batting and win his first cap at the gabba next week, so there we re cap at the gabba next week, so there were a few eyebrows raised about england's selection for this tour, and eyebrows raised about australia's squad as well. andy swiss, thank you forjoining us. and on day three of four in their final warm—up match, england were bowled out for 515 earlier, dawid malan getting himself a century. in reply, england have taken three wickets, with two from moeen ali. england lead by 144 runs ahead of tomorrow's final day. i will be back with sport a little later, including a new sporting careerfor later, including a new sporting career for sir later, including a new sporting careerfor sir bradley later, including a new sporting career for sir bradley wiggins. we will look forward to it, thank you, hugh. robert mugabe, the man who has ruled zimbabwe with an iron fist for nearly four decades, is spending a third day under house arrest after the army seized

called up all—rounder glenn maxwell as cover for opener david warner, who has a neck problem, and shaun marshf going into the rest of it. -- a lot of momentum. now many of you will remember liverpool coming from 3—0 down to win the champions league in 2005. well, last night the football boot was very much on the other foot. victory over sevilla in spain would have seen liverpool qualify for the knock out stages of the competition for the first time in nine years. they were 3—0 up after half an hour thanks to roberto firmino and sadio mane. they collapsed in the second half and conceded an equaliser deep into injury time. a draw in theirfinal game against spartak moscow will see jurgen klopp's side through. two half—times, two different half—times, fantastic first half from us, from my side, from my team, in the second half we made a mistake and we didn't carry on playing football. it's normal that you try to control the game but a team like we are, we have to control the game with the ball and we didn't play football any more. tottenham ensured they'll finish top of their group after they cam