Usman Khawaja hits 171 against England in Sydney

Australia’s batsmen made England toil on the third day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

Usman Khawaja extended his overnight 91 into 171, while Shaun Marsh compiled an unbeaten 98 as England managed only two wickets all day.

Steve Smith missed out on a century, falling for 83, while Mitchell Marsh had hurried to 63 not out when the home side closed on 479-4, a lead of 133.

Joe Root had Shaun Marsh given out caught behind on 22, only for the decision to be overturned, while debutant Mason Crane could have had Khawaja lbw for 132, but the review showed that the leg-spinner had narrowly overstepped for a no-ball.

Crane eventually got his man, turning the ball between Khawaja’s bat and pad for a stumping and his maiden Test wicket, but England’s luckless day with the review system continued when Mitchell Marsh successfully reversed being given out lbw to Tom Curran.

On a scorching, cloudless day, the Sydney Cricket Ground was bathed in the pink of the McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer charity founded by former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath, whose late wife Jane died of the disease.

With temperatures set to get even hotter on Sunday, Australia could well look to bat for another long period, perhaps to a position from where England would have to battle to avoid an innings defeat.

Australia have already secured the Ashes, having won three of the first four Tests.

England averted a second successive whitewash down under by drawing the fourth Test in Melbourne, but their winless record in Australia looks set to extend to 10 matches.