The Ashes LIVE: Result and reaction from England vs Australia as Stuart Broad enjoys fairytale retirement

And Australia are past the halfway point of this chase as their middle order try to settle in, Travis Head tucking tidily off his toes and beating the square leg sweeper to his right.

These two were Australia’s centurions in the World Test Championship final at the Oval at the start of June, of course, sharing a partnership of 285. Head finds his favourite backward point area off the front foot as Anderson overpitches, a slightly squirted drive nonetheless struck with the requisite energy to scuttle away to the fence.

A back-foot force from Travis Head pierces point, but he’s beaten twice in succession attempting a similar shot, his eagerness to get bat on ball evident as he thrusts at it outside off.

A crunching on-drive! Decisive strokeplay from Steve Smith, who bludgeoned James Anderson a couple of times through mid-on in the first innings and frees the arms here, finding an open alleyway straight of the fielder and collecting his third boundary.

A double change for England - on their final day together in Test cricket, it’s Anderson and Broad in partnership.

A day like this would usually be one for James Anderson to come to the fore, but yesterday’s birthday boy has had to bide his time. Here he is, with a fair bit of strapping around his right elbow.

England have been eager to go at Travis Head’s chin in this series, perhaps overly so given the left-hander’s past struggles against the seaming and swinging ball, including a rather tough stint at Hove having been a much trumpeted overseas signing for Sussex a few years ago. A beauty from Stuart Broad got Head caught behind in the first innings, the seamer probing at the top of off, and that seems like it’ll be the early plan of attack here - the first ball of Mark Wood’s over comes back late to find a delicate area and leave Head adjusting his box.

More swing later in the over draws a leading edge from Steve Smith - England are right on top with Australia rather in need of the drinks break.

A dream morning for England so far, this volatile series swinging in their direction again. Speaking of swinging, that’s bold from Steve Smith, whacking Chris Woakes over extra cover for four. Smith takes out his trowel and taps at the surface, hinting that he felt that misbehaved - and the replay confirms as much, a jump out of footmark on a half-volley length outside off stump.

Scooped up at second slip!

It’s a third in the first hour for England! Mark Wood finds his line and length, his typical wide-of-the-crease angle extracting a defensive jab outside off stump from Marnus Labuschagne. The batter’s hands are reasonably soft and that leaves plenty for Zak Crawley to do on the lunge in the cordon - but as they have been all series, the Kentish man’s hands are secure.

Wahey! Mark Wood bangs in a ball that takes off, trampolining over Marnus Labuschagne and leaving Jonny Bairstow needing a step-ladder to have a hope of cutting it off. Five wides.

Woakes and Wood together for now, their injection into this series having proved a real pivot point. Woakes now has 17 in the series in just three Tests, one of which was slightly curtailed by rain, again proving himself such a reliable performer when enjoying home comforts.