England were facing an embarrassing 4-0 Ashes series defeat after a day of thankless toil in the fifth Test at the SCG.

Usman Khawaja’s painstaking, five-and-a-half-hour 171 and Shaun Marsh’s unbeaten 98 helped Australia cruise into a lead of 133 on 479 for four after the third day.

Other than a maiden Test wicket for Mason Crane, there was little else to celebrate for Joe Root’s beleaguered side.

Morning session

Australia and England players present their pink caps to former fast bowler Glenn McGrath in support of his charity – the McGrath foundation – before the day’s play.

England start the day in search of some valuable early wickets – but run-machine Steve Smith registers another half-century in the series.

Shortly after, Usman Khawaja notches his first 100 against England.

Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja celebrates his maiden Ashes century (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Smith and Khawaja continue to frustrate the England bowling attack but Moeen Ali comes in and takes the vital wicket of the Australia captain, two overs before lunch.

Steve Smith
Steve Smith plays an unconventional shot (Jason O’Brien/PA)
Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali takes his first wicket since the third Test in Perth (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Mason Crane thinks he has a maiden Test wicket – trapping Khawaja in front – but the review shows he bowled a no ball.

Australia go to lunch on 277 for three.

Afternoon session

Khawaja makes the most of his reprieve and passes 150, while new partner Shaun Marsh remains at the crease with a successful review before earning the lead for Australia.

Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja acknowledges the crowd after scoring 150 (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Marsh goes past 50 for the fourth time in the series as the hosts go in front by 19 runs ahead of the final session.

Evening session

Khawaja can only add five runs to his total from tea, with Crane finally getting his first wicket.

Mason Crane
Mason Crane celebrates his maiden wicket in Test cricket for England (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was delighted for the 20-year-old.

This brought Mitchell Marsh to join older brother Shaun at the crease.

Crane thinks he gets his second wicket when bowling at Mitchell Marsh but is denied on review – and the all-rounder goes on to register a half-century.

The brothers put on a century stand together before giving Australia a sizeable lead to build on.

Crane joins an exclusive group with his near-miss for a maiden Test wicket earlier in the day.