of the fourth ashes test in a few hours' time in the driving seat, thanks to an unbeaten 244 by alistair cook day on 491—9, a lead of 164 over australia. cook's double century was the highest score by a visiting batsman at the melbourne cricket ground. and he's now sixth in the all—time list of leading test scorers, as our correspondent patrick geary reports. for england, finally, belatedly, serenity at the mcg but those who have followed them here are always wary of a wave just around the corner. followed perhaps by unwelcome ducks. so imagine the ripples caused byjoe root‘s misplaced hook. 61, out, missed out. dawid malan‘s error was maybe even stranger, given lbw, he chose not to review. the hotspot showed he had hit it, a lifeline ignored. jonny bairstow came and went, then moeen ali, under pressure for his place, tried to be carefree and ended up careless. in contrast to the muddled minds, the continuing clarity of alastair cook. beyond 150, then fortunately just beyond steve smith, the second time he dropped him. cook took over the management of the innings, driving england into a lead,

they won the toss, chose to bat, lost alistair cook early. his struggles with that continue.hey lost captainjoe route. mark stoneman battled really well against some hostile australian building —— bowling. when he eventually went to 56 given out by the umpire caught behind, england we re the umpire caught behind, england were in some trouble. they dragged the initiative back, thanks to wonderful partnership between johnny ba i rstow wonderful partnership between johnny bairstow and david milan. david milan unbeaten on 110, his first test century in an ashes test in front of his parents who are watching. it was some day to him. england in a strong position. australia will have a few thoughts about what they can do. this third testis about what they can do. this third test is so pivotal for the series. it is, really, because england a 2— you're down in this ashes series. they know that if australia win, they will regain the ashes. it is a huge day to them. the aim is to push on towards a big score. setting up a potentially match— winning total. still a long way to go in this ma

mark stoneman, alistair cook putting on 50 for the first wicket.his batsmen in under the floodlights. england will have to bat shortly. what difference will that make? it will be very interesting. the next three hours could be key if england have any hope of winning this test match. the pink ball has a habit of swinging more under the floodlights. it makes it difficult for the batsmen. it ta kes a it difficult for the batsmen. it takes a while for the batsman's thy sight to adjust and we saw that for australia yesterday. australia will look at whatjimmy anderson did and they will be confident mitchell sta rc ca n they will be confident mitchell starc can hoop it around under the floodlights and if he can england will be in deep trouble at the end of the day and australia are in the driving seat and they should go 2—0 up driving seat and they should go 2—0 up in the ashes series. you have said it. thank you. what does he know, sally? laughter. walker thinks we are going to win. you have to stay positive. exactly. we still feel positive. just ignore

and an unbeaten 244 from alistair cook puts england in control of the fourth ashes test in melbourne.

fall of the issues surrounding this side, they will be a landmark test for one of the players, alistair cookcored almost 4000 for england. he has scored almost 40 0 0 test for england. he has scored almost 4000 test run for his country. he has struggled for form so far in this series but he says his desire is as strong as ever. you live on the edge in professional cricket and the edge in professional cricket and the results normallyjustified the means. if you are scoring lots of ru ns means. if you are scoring lots of runs all the time, you will get places guaranteed. if not, there are other very talented people who want your place. that hasn‘t changed in 12 years and it will not change in the next 20 years. people want your place and it is up to me to score some runs to get those people following me. england are likely to be unchanged from the side that lost in adelaide but they might tinker with the batting order. jonny ba i rstow with the batting order. jonny bairstow may be promoted higher up the batting order. so some issues for them to consider before this vital test match gets under w

alistair cooke and games. vince,” w, w , e e w

alistair cook completed his first ashes century in seven years.nd coming up, mark kermode looks back at 2017's big film releases — including the sequel to blade runner, that's the year in film in half an hour. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. high winds and snow have caused disruption for much of england and wales. thousands of homes and properties are without power in the midlands, the south west and parts of wales, after power lines were brought down overnight. there's been disruption for passengers at birmingham and sta nsted airports, and collisions on the mi, in the last few minutes stansted had is closed again. m25 and a number of a—roads caused by treacherous driving conditions have caused major delays. viewers have been sending in pictures from their area , georgina tweeted this photo from the departure lounge at stansted airport, which has suffered delays due to a closed runway, and reamins closed. but the weather hasn't been bad news for everyone, jason sent in this picture of his dog enjoying the snow in gartloch, just outside gl

alistair cook is 244 not out, with england on 491 for nine, a lead of 164.d to do, but for cook it was the highest total any batsman has made against australia at the mcg. it is all about trying to put in a good performance as a team. banged on about it. brisbane, it was level. three days. fourth we struggled. it was the scene with the other two test matches. we have got another opportunity tomorrow to come back with a good lead. try to put some pressure on australia. he looks exhausted. rafael nadal‘s ongoing knee injury has forced him to pull out of the brisbane international, the warm up event for the student open. he pulled out of next version event this weekend. but he still hopes to be fit in time for the australian open. the man who defeated rafael nadal in this year's australian open, roger federer, is in perth. he has been enjoying the sun, sea, sand. roger federer stealing typically grounded. expectations are higher but i try to remind myself, it is not normal and realistic to look for the same things that i have done in 2017. i am going to try to

and — a century from alistair cook puts england in the driving seat, good evening.nds of homes without power and dangerous conditions on the roads. the runway at stansted airport was closed twice during the day, with a number of flights cancelled, and there are currently yellow weather warnings for ice for parts of scotland, all of wales, the south and east of england, and the midlands — so let's go live to kenilworth in warwickshire and our correspondent phil mackie. yes, warwickshire has really had a quadruple whammy today. it has had snow, floods, and it is getting the ice and it has had power cuts. it has been a date notjust here but across the central swathe of england to do not what this brand—new bmw driver has done, but to heed the warnings... horn blasts. the motorway at a standstill. it's always busy here anyway, but throw in five centimetres of snow, and you've got chaos. on the a14, things were even worse. this lorry span out of control, leaving drivers stranded. good morning. it's just gone past ten o'clock in the morning. as you can see, we're stationa

didn't even travel after an incident outside a nightclub. other big names like stuart broad and alistair cookerned out, with good reason. i have not been surprised with what i have seen. if you look at the england tool box they have arrived with, they were missing a spanner, screwdriver, no one with real pace. not having their best player in ben stokes would always be a big issue. the challenge now for england is a grim one, to avoid the dreaded whitewash, after being outbatted, outbowled and outclassed, and it could be a long few weeks. andy swiss, bbc news, perth. time for a look at the weather. can you lift our spirits? it is beautiful at the moment. we have some very thick fog starting to form. here are some lovely weather watcher pictures, this one from the isle of wight. some folk already. from around merseyside to the west midlands into central evidence, we

even travel here, after an incident outside a nightclub. other big names like stuart broad and alistair cooke with, for me, they were missing a spanner, screwdriver. they didn't have anyone with real pace. not having their best player in ben stokes was always going to be a big issue. the challenge now for england is a grim one: to avoid the dreaded whitewash. but after being outbatted, outbowled and outclassed, it could be a long few weeks. andy swiss, bbc news, perth. we live in an ageing society, and the latest figures from the office for national statistics underline the scale of the challenge ahead. one in eight people in the uk is projected to live to at least 100. that‘s around 8.5 million people. so how should we prepare for what‘s being called a new generation of super—agers. in the first of a series of reports, our medical correspondent, fergus walsh, has been to california to see how they‘re tackling the issue. on your marks... to me, i don‘t think about age as being a handicap. set... it‘s just a process. go. you live, you die — so why not live? irene 0‘bera is 8a. she makes old ag

didn't even travel after an incident outside a nightclub. other big names like stuart broad and alistair cookith good reason. i've not been surprised with what i have seen. if you look at the england tool box they have arrived with, they were missing a spanner, screwdriver, no one with real pace. not having their best player in ben stokes would always be a big issue. let's have a look at the weather, with tomasz schafernaker. we are in for some really sick fog over the next 24 hours. this is just a great picture. it is no laughing matter, because this could be really dense fog and it could be disruptive to some of us fog and it could be disruptive to some of us tomorrow fog and it could be disruptive to some of us tomorrow morning, not just on the roads, there might be delays at the airports as well. this evening at fog will become more widespread and thicker across many parts of england, particularly central england, eastern england and the south. freezing fog is a possibility with those temperatures. further north i don't think there will be too many fog problems. it will be too many fog pr

alistair cooke and james vince with a moment they'd both rather forget.iled on the misery. australia eventually declaring an 442—8. leaving england with the cricketing mountain to climb. under floodlights, and the fiercest pressure, their openers needed a solid start. they did not get it. mark stoneman trapped by mitchell starc for just 18. australia in utter control. it was cricket at its most compelling. cooke surviving another big appeal. england were jittery, but then, in the next time, the rain arrived, ending play for the day, but still leaving the visitors facing a huge batting challenge. it is not impossible to score runs out there. a lot of their batters made starts. so, it is not impossible to score runs. there is a long time left in the game, so it will be up to one or two of our guys to go in and make a big score, and not just make 40 or 50. for england, then, a frustrating and deflating day. they now need to bat at their very best if they are to save this match, and realistically save their ashes hopes. a so—called super moon will be visible

alistair cook is 2aa not out, with england on a91 for nine, a lead of 16a.r cook it was the highest total any batsman has made against australia at the mcg. i have dated myself —— doubted myself for 12 years. but i can be proud. going to that, delivering such a performance, it was great but it isa such a performance, it was great but it is a shame it is three quarters weeks late. i am going to have to live with that. but it was nice. the cheltenham gold cup winner sizing john finished well down the field in the big race of the day, the christmas chase at leopardstown. it was won by the 8/1 shot road to respect. ridden by sean flanaghan and trained by noel meade he came home comfortably ahead of 66/1 shot balkos day flow and 0utlander. that completed a one—two—three for thejigginstown stud. sizing john finished seventh. still 0—0 still 0-0 at still 0—0 at selhurst park. more in an hour. in the last half hour, the democrat doug jones has been certified as the state senator of alabama. jones defeated republican candidate roy moore in the us senate election in a

mark stoneman, alistair cook and joe root went cheaply.all from mitchell starc saw him depart. it's a special weekend. to get root is a good one for us. we would love to stay there for another hour and maybe get that fifth wicket today. come back tomorrow for the next six. i think we've tried to put the rain to the back of our minds. today was going to be more of a wash—out than it was. i haven't seen a huge amount of rain in the time i've been in perth. two guys at the crease, spent a lot of time there in the first innings, slightly different conditions. we've got to have belief we can get over the line tomorrow. it's going to be tough, i'm sure there's going to be some good balls flying around out there. these two especially showed in the first innings they can occupy the crease for a long time. hopefully getting off to a good start in the morning. celtic‘s long unbeaten run is in danger, they are losing at hearts. harry cochrane scored his first senior goal to give his side the lead against a celtic team going for a 70th game undefeated

in reply, england crumbled, losing mark stoneman, alistair cook and joe root.a brilliant ball from mitchell starc saw him depart. rain forced an early end to play, and may be england's only chance of salvaging a draw, with more showers forecast on the final day in perth. england will resume on 132—a, 2—0 down in the series, their ashes hopes hanging by a thread. it's a special week and would love to stay there for another hour and maybe get that fifth wicket today. come back tomorrow for the next six. i think we've tried to put it to the back of our minds. today was going to be more of a wash—out than it was. i haven't seen a huge amount of rain in the time i've been in perth. two guys at the crease, spent a lot of time there in the first innings, slightly different conditions. we've got to have believe we can get over the line tomorrow. it's going to be tough, i'm sure there's going to be some good balls flying around out there. these two especially showed in the first innings they cannot do by the crease for a long time. hopefully getting off to a good start

england had been hopeful of a first win of the series, thanks to an unbeaten 244 from alistair cook,good news for england — it won't be a whitewash. patrick gearey is in melbourne for us. the day on which england will have hoped to complete a dramatic and exciting first victory of this ashes series, ended in an anti—climactic draw. the familiar obstacle of steve smith, the thrilling captain, who scored his third century in this series. he has now scored more than 600 runs in the series. he batted australia through to see at a draw. england had a glimmer of hope earlier in the day when david warner tried to slog joe root‘s bowling. it gave joe root a wicket tried to slog joe root‘s bowling. it gavejoe root a wicket on his birthday. england got rid of shaun marsh before lunch thanks to a good catch from jonny bairstow. they had hope of getting into the australia lower order, bob smith batted alongside mitchell marsh to see australia through the rest of the day. the scoring was slow. the pitch was lifeless. and the atmosphere drained out of the mcg. there will not be a 5—0 ashes win for

and an unbeaten 244 from alistair cook puts england in control of the 4th ashes test in melbourne.ing. a suicide bombing in the afghan capital, kabul, has claimed the lives of at least a0 people , and injured more than 80 others , with women and children among the casualties. the islamic state group says it carried out the attack , which targeted a cultural organisation and news agency, in the western part of the capital. in recent months so—called islamic state has attacked many shia muslim targets , in this area of kabul, where the majority of the city's shia population lives. shia muslim targets , in this area of kabul, where the majority of the city's shia population lives. our correspondent in kabul , zia shahreya , has just sent this report. the force of the explosion is clear to see. among the rubble, relatives desperately search for their loved ones. but there was little left behind. the bomb went off inside this building, a cultural centre and also home to an afghan news agency. stu d e nts also home to an afghan news agency. students had been marking the 38th anniversary

down the ground, beautiful from alistair cooke! least 40 people have been killed and 80 injured in a suicide bomb attack in afghanistan. it happened at a cultural centre in the west of the capital kabul. an interior ministry spokesman said the main explosion was followed by two other blasts. so called islamic state has said it was behind the attack. helena lee has the latest. the force of the explosion is clear to see. among the rubble, relatives desperately search for their loved ones. but there was little left behind. the bomb went off inside this building, a cultural centre and also home to an afghan news agency. students had been marking the 38th anniversary of the soviet invasion of afghanistan. translation: i saw many dead in the area. i was looking for my cousin but i couldn't find his body. not sure what happened to him. the number of dead people has increased. after the explosion, ambulances took the injured to nearby hospitals. this man, one of dozens badly hurt in the explosion, some of the wounded were taken in for surg

anotherformer captain, alistair cook, says he believes they're getting a bad press.er incident, so change after the september incident, so it is up to us to adjust to that quickly and we can't afford any m ista kes quickly and we can't afford any mistakes because we understand that they have had it with the ecb and trying to make kids play cricket, which is what we want to do. skiier lindsey vonn, who missed the 201a olympics because of injury, is having more problems in the build up to the 2018 games in pyeonchang. the former world champion fell to the ground as her back seized up during a super—g race in switzerland at the weekend. but the american believes she can be fit in time to win a second olympic gold in two months. everything that i have done has been in preparation for these olympics, so in preparation for these olympics, so right now i am trying to stay healthy going in. so far it is not going very well, but, you know, i feel i am saving all my luck for february and hopefully everything will work out the way it is supposed to. when it comes to footballers

alistair cook gave his ideas on the influence.en brought up, but the world has changed after the september incidents and it is up to us september incidents and it is up to us to adjust for that and quickly. we can't afford to any more mistakes. trying to make kids play cricket is ultimately what we want to do. a little bit earlier, i spoke to do. a little bit earlier, i spoke to anotherformer to do. a little bit earlier, i spoke to another former england captain david gower who was heavily fined along withjohn david gower who was heavily fined along with john morris david gower who was heavily fined along withjohn morris for his antics on a biplane on the 1991 ashes tour. the key thing as ever was that if you are producing the right results on the pitch, then people are very forgiving. i remember one years and years ago, one international against new zealand and we were found to be in the wine bar at one o'clock in the morning. they have headlines ready to go in the papers next day to slam us to go in the papers next day to slam u

a great day to alistair cook. he has needed a score. a century ago less.lia collapse, broad taking four for 51. with the hosts all out for 327, england needed a good session with the bat and after stoneman and vice went cheaply, captainjoe root closed in on a half—century. but batting honours went to former skipper alastair cook, who completed his century in the last over before stumps. england 192—2 at the close. harry kane has broken the record for the most premier league goals in a calendar year. he moved past alan shearer‘s mark with yet another hat—trick, in tottenham's 5—2 win over southampton. that's 56 goals for club and country — two more than lionel messi. joe lynskey has more on that and the best of the rest of the action from yesterday. they are the england strikers to set the bar. but 2017 is when harry made history. he's done it. he's had a very harry christmas. he's been unstoppable at kane knows how to traceable. it's been a fantastic year, something to be proud of. compare to those players, the messis and shearers, it is what it's all abou

as mark stoneman and alistair cooke eased them past the 50 mark, england dared to dream.is wicket away, not what the occasion called for. but under floodlights, dawid malan and joe root hung on in there. but england surviving. it was pure sporting theatre. joe root reached a half—ce ntu ry theatre. joe root reached a half—century but ten minutes from the close, a final twist. dawid malan, gone. australia are still favourites but england, 178 runs will need something very special. this has been some fight back from england, barely 24 hours ago, they looked beaten and the ashes all but gone. but they still have a chance ofa gone. but they still have a chance of a remarkable win. we are delighted to be indisposition to have any sort of chance of winning the game, which we didn't think we would have after the first couple of days. it is good for us. there is a huge amount of work left in this game, if we have any chance of winning it. but the art in with a chance, which is, you know, all we could ask for. so, an enthralling finale awaits. from the brink of defeat, a chance of

the picture, alistair cooke celebrating. £700,000 from the nhs.unity. but look a bit closer and you will find a trend here for a reliance on volunteers. every local business has a different tree and they do it and this year it‘s the star theme... you will find it illustrated in the parish church. so 30 or more trees in here? 30 or more trees, yes. dozens of local businesses have offered to decorate it. what we‘ve got here, this is wonderful with the antiques roadshow, with all the different experts, the specialities from bondgate antiques. there is more volunteering these days because of council cutbacks. as the economy has suffered and less funding has become available, somebody must make up the shortfall and we‘re looking here in helmsley to see that people have done that, taken on running several organisations in town. it‘s a really lovely community feel here. helmsley is a community which relies heavily on volunteers and it is not alone. other towns in this, england‘s largest county, have taken over bus services and even petrol stations to sto

professor alistair burns says things like struggling to cope with cooking a big meal, orforgetting namesr people to talk about things. the government is starting a 12 week consultation on which key a roads in england will benefit from new funding. roads will be eligible for money as our business correspondent jonty bloom reports. many a roads around the country are run and maintained by local councils, even when they‘re important parts of the nation‘s infrastructure. but the government is aiming to change that by providing money for improvements from a new central fund. that will be paid for with money raised from vehicle excise duty, improve thousands of miles of a roads, and provide up to £100 million for each major new scheme such as road junctions, more dual carriageways and improved safety. this is typically all about bypasses for small towns where they have got an a road going through the middle, lots of heavy lorries and gets congested, lots of pollution, everyone says there needs to be a bypass — this is about making sure those bypasses can be delivered. it is important for regio