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Boxing Day Test day three ends early after Australia declares with a big lead over South Africa at the MCG

Alex Carey's maiden Test century has helped Australia to a lead of 386 runs over South Africa at the MCG, where Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green have battled through injury to contribute for Australia.

Starc's bleeding finger did not stop him from bowling fast and accurately in seven overs after tea, while Green scored 51 not out with a broken finger to help Australia to a declaration on 8-575.

Look back at all the action in our live blog below or check out the live scorecard.

Key events

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Live updates

Australia vs South Africa at the MCG

By Jon Healy

Pinned

Stumps: South Africa 1-15

By Simon Smale

Key Event

The umpires have called it - no more play possible today.

It's a shame for Australia, who were really on top and were riding the wave on support as Mitch Starc fought through the pain to bowl one of his most accurate opening spells that I can remember.

Dean Elgar is the only casualty so far for the Proteas, he fell for the match's first duck to Pat Cummins, who is yet to concede a run from three overs this innings.

The day belongs to Alex Carey and Cam Green who both came out and scored valuable runs today as part of a 117-run partnership and scored a century and half century respectively.

Tomorrow though, will be one for the bowlers - with Mitch Starc hoping to continue to battle through the pain to play a role for his team.

We'll be back early tomorrow, with a start time of 10:00am AEDT and 98 overs scheduled - although how many of those we'll get through, or even need, remains to be seen.

We'll be back for that though as Australia looks to wrap up this match and series without needing to bat again.

From myself and Jon Healy, we'll see you then.

Keshav Maharaj takes an unwanted honour

By Simon Smale

Tough going for South Africa's left arm spinner today.

He toiled for just shy of 42 overs for figures of 0-135, with just three maidens.

That makes him the most expensive wicketless bowler in MCG history, according to noted stato @SirSwampThing on Twitter.

Tom Latham tons up for New Zealand in Karachi

By Simon Smale

No cricket at the MCG but there is play in Karachi at the moment as New Zealand chases Pakistan's first innings score of 438.

Tom Latham has just scored his century after Devon Conway was given out LBW on review for 92. Nauman Ali the successful bowler.

Here's how the match is positioned at the moment.

What's the state of play

By Simon Smale

So the original playing conditions today were for the close of play to be at 5:45pm AEDT.

That does not include the extra half hour that can be taken to fill in some of the overs that will inevitably be missed given how slow the over rates have been all summer.

So that means a close of 6:15pm AEDT, about an hour and 15 minutes away.

Are we likely to get any more play tonight? As yet, we don't know I'm afraid.

Who does Alison Mitchell support in the Ashes?

By Simon Smale

ABC Grandstand commentator Alison Mitchell was speaking to Glenn McGrath on commentary earlier today, talking about how she deals with having a foot in each camp during the Ashes.

The big cover is going on

By Simon Smale

Hmmmm, not good news regarding a quick resumption.

The big covers are being put on the field.

We aint getting back under way any time soon folks.

Why was the umpire checking for an edge with Elgar's wicket?

By Simon Smale

If the umpire asked for the review into Carey's catch, why are they then allowed to review whether it took an edge? Shouldn't that be up to the batting team?

- Jim

The umpire wanted to check the carry of the ball to Carey's gloves and gave a "soft" signal of out, meaning they would have needed to see evidence that would have meant that it could not be out.

That means the umpire thought it was out but just wanted to check.

So, when that happens the umpire is obliged to check everything, from the front foot no ball, to whether he did hit it, and all the way through to whether the ball carried.

Covers on

By Simon Smale

Yuck

Pat Cummins is on fire

By Simon Smale

Three overs, three maidens 1-0 so far this innings for Australia's skipper.

But get this.

Not once would one of his deliveries gone on to hit the stumps.

Incredible, really.

Makes that LBW shout seem a little silly though.

Mitch Starc, bleeding for the cause

By Simon Smale

Mitch Starc has been putting it in and is paying the price in blood at the moment.

There is blood splattered all over his whites from his damaged finger.

Talk about bleeding for your nation.

Rain stops play

By Simon Smale

Key Event

Rain! Oh no!

The players are heading off for rain and the covers are being spirited on.

There's a little bit on the Bureau radar so hopefully it moves off quickly.

Terrible timing for Australia though - they were on a roll and had South Africa hopping in that brief spell.

7th over - Mitch Starc again

By Simon Smale

BIG SHOUT! Another inswinger that raps de Bruyn in the pads.

I think it's gunna do too much again and yes, impact was umpires call, so it's close but no cigar. There was a discussion, Carey saying that it did too much.

They ran a leg bye there and then Erwee takes a swift single too. I don't think Starc will mind bowling at the right hander here - he's got great shape into him so far.

That one goes across the face and de Bruyn had a swing at it but did not make contact. Starc gives him some advice.

Starc again pushes it across the right hander and de Bruyn reaches for it, makes contact and takes three down to backward point. Marnus again doing the chasing to haul the ball in short of the rope.

BEATEN! What a ball - just missing the outside edge as Erwee feels out for it. So close.

Inside edge down to fine leg for a single.

This is the best Starc has bowled for a while for me. Excellent stuff.

6th over - Pat Cummins continues

By Simon Smale

A 141kph delivery fizzes across Erwee, who leaves outside off. Cover is vacant so Cummins wants him to drive at those. He'll keep tempting him.

Straighter this time and well played back down the pitch from Erwee.

Erwee tries to fend to square leg but misses it, copping the ball on the hip. Might be sore there..

Gets another one in a similar place.

18 balls without being scored off for Cummins, three overs 1-0 so far from the skipper.

5th over - Starc belies the pain to keep going

By Simon Smale

Off the pads from Erwee for three runs.

BIG INSWING! Wow what a ball. That's a full yorker that swung BIG and hit de Bruyn on the back leg but it was doing too much - going down leg. No review taken.

They ran a leg bye.

A good single to mid on from Erwee then to keep the strike rotated.

De Bruyn leaves a couple of tight deliveries to the stumps to end the over.

4th over - Pat Cummins leading from the front

By Simon Smale

False shot from de Bruyn, who looked to drive and gets an edgy shot away to mid on.

Same again.

Cummins delivers a bouncer that de Bruyn ducks under.

DROPPED! Genuine edge to first slip and David Warner puts it down. Tough chance, should have been taken. He had it in his hands but then just popped out.

Warner says it swung a bit as it came to him, which it did - but it was in his hand. It's still a drop.

De Bruyn fends to square leg for no run to end the over.

Should have been a second wicket maiden in a row.

3rd over - Mitch Starc steams in

By Simon Smale

A single, South Africa and Sarei Erwee are off the mark.

De Bruyn gets his hands out the way and leaves well alone.

A bit of an edge there and the ball flies down to the deep backward point boundary and Labuschagne chased, dived and hauls the ball back in! "Marnus, Marnus, Marnus" is the chant from this very engaged crowd at the MCG. They ran three.

Starc is in pain - we've just seen the a replay of him grimacing but oddly, it seems as though the pain is helping him focus - almost every ball has been on the money, which you can't always say about him with the new ball.

2nd over - Pat Cummins has three at Theunis de Bruyn

By Simon Smale

He survives the first.

DOES HE SURVIVE THE SECOND! BIG SHOUT FOR LBW!

Wow there was a bit of movement there - too much really, a bit leg side and a bit too high. They won't review but the Australians are all up and about.

No swing that time and De Bruyn leaves outside off.

Out! Cummins strikes first! Dean Elgar is out

By Simon Smale

Key Event

There is a glove on it!

Did it carry! 

YES IT DID!

Pat Cummins makes the early breakthrough!

Dean Elgar goes for a three-ball duck!

That's the first duck of the match and what a time for it to happen.

A disaster for South Africa! An absolute disaster!

Just quietly, brilliant catch from Carey down low.

2nd over - Pat Cummins with three slips and a gully

By Simon Smale

Mitch Starc wraps up his finger as he walks down to fine leg - he can't have it strapped or covered when he's bowling, but can when he's fielding. There's blood on that strapping and the nail looks yucky on the TV...

Cummins sends the ball down outside off across the face of Elgar first.

Down leg side, has he got a tickle on that? Has it carried? The umpires have a discussion.

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