Australia vs England, 3rd Test, The Ashes, 2025-26 - CommentaryAUS vs ENG, 3rd Test, The Ashes, 2025-26 - Commentary
Start Time
5:30 AM
12:00 AMGMT
12:00 AMLOCAL
Match starts at Dec 17, 00:00 GMT
Match Videos
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Mac: 434 seems to be an unlucky number for Australia. SA chased 434 and England well on their way to creating history.
Rahul: It's a near-perfect Sunday in Adelaide. Australia sit comfortably in command, but England's batting has added a welcome note of adventure
Sundeep: With Jamie Smith dismissed, the onus now shifts to Will Jacks to take responsibility and keep England moving forward, much as Smith had done
Tim: Australia haven't quite brought their usual intensity today
Krishna: This pitch has behaved well throughout the Test. England had opportunities to make it count with better application, and even now there's no real sign of wear, it's still a very good surface to bat on.
Zayn: Head and Lyon operating together might be the way to bridge this passage to the second new ball
Yunus: A commendable stand from Jacks and Smith under pressure
Sohan: The second new ball is around the corner, and this passage could define England's afternoon.
Harshal: Lyon is the clearest reminder of why your premier spinner is never optional, no matter the surface or conditions. He may not always be the loudest presence, but time and again he delivers in the moments that matter.
Kishan: What sets Australia apart is their collective instinct for the decisive moment. They seize it without hesitation, and they do so as a team, not leaning on one hero, but trusting the system, the standards, and whoever happens to be in the moment.
Ishaan: This is the moment for Harry Brook to pause and reflect on the choices he makes with some of these shots. His presence at the crease is vital, without him, England scarcely have even a flicker of hope. The talent is undeniable, which is what makes it all the more frustrating to see it undone by shots that do not match his ability.
Saish: Credit to Crawley. This has been an innings built on clear intent and patience, showing that progress often comes from staying calm rather than rushing. Having lost half their side, it becomes more about character and belief - about holding firm when doubt creeps in.
Krishanu: Given Harry Brook's form at present, it makes sense for Ben Stokes to move up the order. Too often, the early loss of a wicket or two leaves him arriving with the tail not far away, a position that limits his influence. For England, that is a compromise they can ill afford.
Sai: It has been an age since a fourth-innings chase was driven by sheer defiance, a team refusing to bend, regardless of the burden set before them. One can only hope England find that fire tomorrow, to pursue not merely a daunting total but the fragile thread of belief itself, and by doing so, keep the series alive for one more dawn.
Aadil: If England's batters can begin Day 5 with steady hands and calm minds, negotiating that first session without damage, the game may start leaning toward history. Do that, and this Test begins to whisper of something extraordinary, the greatest run chase the Ashes has ever known.
Aritra: With four sessions still on the board and a pitch that continues to offer value for runs, England remain alive in this contest. It will demand stubborn grit, but the door is not shut, not yet, not while there is time and not while the surface still invites belief.
Nishant: This is the moment for the likes of Crawley, Brook, Stokes and all this English side to do absolutely everything possible and take it as deep as possible.
Rash: @Sid - The Adelaide pitch usually stays true with consistent bounce and limited turn, allowing batters to trust the surface and build innings rather than simply survive.
Sid: Batting in the fourth innings at Adelaide is often more forgiving than at most other Australian venues. The surface tends to hold together deep into the match, offering far less deterioration than you'd expect by day five.
Robbin: Plenty have arrived in Australia with promise and left diminished; this Ashes threatens to add a few more names.
Aaryan: That might just be the catch we remember when this series is done.
Kartik: It feels like a matter of time before Boland enters the attack and England start falling apart
Kunal: Once Boland is unleashed, England won't hold together for long.
Nish: Bazball promised adrenaline, but it's currently on life support with monitors beeping softly in the background.
Peter: This Test has drifted into a space where cricket meets contemplation. Australia are not merely ahead, they are settled, inhabiting the game as one might inhabit certainty.
Soumith: For England, the task has moved beyond the mathematics of runs and sessions. It is now a search for meaning, for something extraordinary enough to disturb the natural order of this Test, if only for a while.
Arun: England's 2-2 home draw against a young Indian team carried a quiet warning. Little has changed since and in Australian conditions the balance was always going to tilt. The evidence is no longer subtle.
KD: South Africa chased down 434 in an ODI against Australia. Can England chase down a similar total of 434 in an Ashes Test against the Aussies?
Purav: The Ashes are slipping rapidly away from England!!
Shebby: After 12 months of Ashes hype, the series has effectively been decided inside the first three Tests. It's been largely one-way traffic. The buildup promised a classic, hard-fought contest, but the reality has been far more clinical. Unless there's a dramatic shift in execution and mindset, the remaining Tests feel more like formalities than a genuine fight for the urn.
Sam: England's selection seemed to hedge on batting depth and part-time spin, but in practice they've missed a bowler who could slow the game down and ask consistent questions.
Nadeem: Picking a specialist spinner like Shoaib Bashir may well have offered greater balance. Bashir's strength is sustained control, drift and the ability to bowl long spells, qualities that are especially valuable against Australia's left-handers and when the pitch starts to wear.
Sahil: Will Jacks hasn't had the impact England would have hoped for in this match. An economy of more than 5 in both innings has eased pressure rather than applied it. His return of just six runs in the first innings means his all-round value hasn't really materialised.
Darshil: Once the second new ball is available, England are likely to regain control with extra pace, movement and sharper carry. That makes this window crucial for Australia to bat with intent, turn dominance into damage and push the game out of England's reach.
Harsh: Australia should look to cash in and pile on as many runs as possible before England take the second new ball. With the ball still relatively old, scoring opportunities are easier to come by and this is the phase where the batting side can stretch their advantage further.
Alexio: Whether it's stabilising the innings after collapses, building crucial lower-order partnerships, or producing reliable work behind the stumps, Carey has become a pillar of Australia's Test side. He may not always grab the loud headlines, but his impact (especially under pressure) has been immense and remarkably consistent.
Mehul: I think Alex Carey is the most underrated wicketkeeper-batter of this era. His consistency in Test cricket often flies under the radar, but time and again he delivers when Australia need him most.
Peter: From here, only a marathon effort from England's top order can revive intrigue in the game. Anything short of that and this contest is likely to drift steadily away from them rather than develop into a genuine fightback.
Aadil Gulzar: Travis Head has not only propelled Australia into a commanding position but has also effectively extinguished any realistic hopes England had of winning this match. His innings has shifted the contest decisively, leaving England firmly on the back foot.
Shan: @Chethan - Khawaja has thrived on width and patience, wearing England down. Head has counterpunched brutally whenever the bowlers have missed their lengths. Carey has cashed in against tired attacks, while Starc's lower-order runs have repeatedly rubbed salt into the wounds.
Chethan: England's struggles against Australia's left-handers have become a defining theme of this Ashes series. Travis Head, Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc have repeatedly blunted England's plans - exposing a clear tactical gap in their attack.
Raj: "@Musaib Kanth 2025 has shown us that never before doesn't mean never"
Padmaraj: "Didn't Mathew Hayden hit 4 consecutive 100s in Melbourne?" He hit 3 consecutive hundreds at the MCG and achieved that feat twice.
Musaib Kanth: "Important to note Australia never lose when Head scores a hundred. Considering that, the Ashes is done and dusted for England."
Musaib: "Forget about the dropped catch on 99. Dropping Travis Head at any stage could prove to be dangerous."
Soumith: "Home boys on the go. Carey got a home hundred in first innings. Now, it's time for Head too.."
Ishan Kacker: "Surely, Stokes needs to bring in Archer from the other end. A strong 4-over burst from him might create a few chances."
sravan: "Khawaja has scored 120+ runs in this Test. It'll be interesting to see who is going to be dropped for the MCG Test when Smith returns."
Rahul: "Australia will definitely be tempted to pick Webster considering how well he has batted in the limited opportunities he has got."
Nishant: "Really rooting for England to produce a miracle to turn their fortunes around in this Test match. This series desperately needs some strong fightback from them for the next two matches to be exciting!"
Darsh: "England will need a herculean effort to win the game from here. Australia look very comfortable right now and would want this lead to swell above 350. I don't think England can chase 350+ in Australia, unless Root & Stokes play at their absolute best."
SoumithP: "I don't understand why Root is not bowling!" -- Well, you've got your wish.
Srijith: "Anyone getting Headingley 2019 vibes? Too early to say, still Archer 5 fer in first innings, Stokes leading from the front, handy lead to Aussies in the first innings and well poised for a record chase too. Similar or not, England will dearly need something like that to turn the tables."
Navneesh: "Why is Stokes not bowling?" -- Bowled 19 overs in the first innings and then batted long. He was struggling with cramps as well yesterday. Having said that, it shouldn't be too long before he comes in to bowl.
Bryce: "Do Australia have any plan to take wickets or just hoping for a rash shot? England be under a 100 behind soon." -- Well, it's a pretty good batting wicket. The Aussies could attack more with the second new ball which will be available in 3 overs.
9:30 PM ENG 213/8
Australia in a commanding position View Complete Forecast...
Darsh: Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood have led Australia's pace attack for nearly a decade now, yet England still haven't figured out how to counter them. It's especially glaring in Australian conditions, where England have barely been competitive.
Adarsh: @Karan - You can't say the same for England. There's no real sense of players waiting in the wings and pushing for places. They're stuck persisting with the same XI, despite it not delivering, because there simply aren't obvious alternatives knocking the door down. That lack of depth and competition is showing, and over a long series like the Ashes, it makes a huge difference.
Karan: Australia's bench strength is genuinely impressive. Even in Cummins' absence, the presence of players like Webster, Neser and Doggett showcased just how much depth they have to call upon. There's a system in place, and whoever comes in looks ready to slot straight into the role without a drop in intensity or quality.
Ashish: Keeping the deficit under 100 could have a significant psychological impact in England's favour and at least give them an outside chance of clawing their way back into the game. With only two wickets left, they should be pushing hard for another 70-80 runs - that could probably change the complexion of the Test and keep Australia honest going into the next innings.
Barathwaj: Starc, who was the standout performer across the first two Tests, hasn't picked up a single wicket here. It's been an unusually quiet outing by his standards. Hopefully he can break the drought with the wicket of Stokes - that would feel fitting, given the impact he's had on this series overall.
Harit: @Omesh - I think the biggest disappointment of this Ashes has been England's lack of a clear, adaptable game plan. Nowhere has that been more evident than in the first two Tests, where they lost a staggering 18 wickets to Mitchell Starc alone.
Kunal: At this point, it's hard to call the Ashes a true rivalry in competitive terms. The way England keep getting rolled over has taken much of the edge out of the contest. In contrast, India vs Australia consistently produces a far more intense and evenly matched series - with both sides pushing each other across conditions and formats. Right now, that rivalry feels sharper, more modern, and more compelling than the Ashes.
Omesh: England really have no excuses for their performance in this Ashes. Conditions haven't been extreme, opportunities have been there, and yet none of their batters have shown consistency across the five innings so far. That lack of sustained output is telling. Harry Brook, in particular, has been the biggest disappointment.
Ayush: England's batters really need to introspect their ideology. Bazball can be effective in certain scenarios, but it's the classic Test-match approach that ultimately places you in the league of the greats.
Karan: Stokes needs to be more proactive here and start playing a few shots to cut down the deficit. Simply hanging around at the crease isn't helping England's cause at this stage - they need momentum, not survival
Sujan Guragain: In an era obsessed with mystery spin and flair, Lyon remains one of the most underrated cricketers in Test history.Excelling in conditions that rarely favour finger spinners, he has built a legendary career through accuracy, patience, and acumen. Over 500 wickets without hype define true greatness.
Abhishek: Nathan Lyon, you beauty! Left out of the previous Test and he has responded in emphatic style - making a powerful statement by striking twice in his very first over of this match. A champion bowler and a true legend of the game, indeed..
Cholleti: England don't just need runs today; they need long, disciplined batting spells that keep the Australian bowlers out in the field. That's something they failed to achieve in the first two Tests. It's unfair to expect the bowlers to return late in the day or early the next morning and shoulder the workload all over again. This is where the responsibility firmly rests with the batters - they need to bat, occupy the crease, and give their attack the rest and support it deserves.
Ninja: England are off to a fairly encouraging start once again. Their openers have managed to get decent beginnings throughout this series, showing positive intent at the top, but the issue has been converting those starts into substantial and match-defining scores. They'll be hoping this Test tells a different story, with one of the openers going on to make a big contribution and lay a solid platform for the rest of the innings.
Muneeb: Alongside Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc also deserves plenty of appreciation. His impact with the ball has never been in doubt, but his contributions with the bat have been just as impressive. Throughout this series, Starc has consistently batted with confidence and purpose, often outscoring and outlasting several English batters, and providing Australia with crucial lower-order runs when they have needed them most.
Arihant: If England can weather Mitchell Starc's initial spell with the new ball, this Test could swing back into even territory. Starc's early overs often dictate the tone of an innings, and surviving that burst would allow England to settle, build partnerships, and prevent Australia from tightening their grip on the match.
Praveen: Australia's biggest strength lies in their lower-order batting. Even when reduced to six or seven wickets down, they continue to push the total beyond the 350 mark, refusing to let the opposition wrest back control. We've seen this pattern repeatedly across both Tests, where contributions from the tail have transformed competitive totals into commanding ones. That depth, resilience, and ability to keep adding runs under pressure is where Australia are miles ahead of most other teams in world cricket today.
Robin: A significant part of Australia's success can also be attributed to the depth and resilience of their lower order. Their bowlers consistently step up in clutch situations, often turning the tide when the side appears vulnerable. Time and again, the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon have chipped in with invaluable runs, stretching partnerships, frustrating opposition attacks, and adding crucial weight to Australia's totals. That ability to extract runs from the tail has repeatedly proven to be a decisive factor in their dominance.
Ruben: "Safe to say that Alex will be remembered for more than the stump-out :)"
Mihir: "Carey's always been like this, performing in critical situations. Unbelievably clutch and underrated, good to see him getting more of the limelight!"
Mihir: Carey has always thrived in high-pressure moments, repeatedly delivering in critical situations and marquee contests like the World Test Championship final. Unbelievably clutch yet often underrated, it's great to see him finally getting the limelight his performances have long deserved.
SoumithP: "I admire the way how Alex Carey has evolved into one of the MVP players in the Aussie Test side. Taking games away from opponents with the help of lower middle order."
Sahil Patil: "Khawaja's series was done and dusted (probably his career too) until Smith fell ill and now he is going strong at 60*"
Vihaan: "Now interesting to see how England capitalize. We've seen time and time again in this series how they've let themselves down from positions of strength.
Ninja: Tongue has consistently hit a lively pace throughout, constantly asking questions of the batters. One of his deliveries even touched 148 kph, showing the sharpness he has brought to the attack.
Rajesh: If England keep spilling chances like this, the Ashes could be over within the week. There'll be little incentive to set early alarms for the Boxing Day and New Year Tests if it's already 3-0 to Australia by then.
Thejus: If England lose this, the excitement of the series risks draining away quickly. This is the Ashes, it demands quality, intensity, and a genuine contest. Fans aren't setting alarms for 5 am just to watch a one-sided affair. The Ashes thrives on tension, on sessions that swing momentum, on both sides pushing each other to the limit. For the sake of the series, and everyone waking up before sunrise - England need to stay alive in this contest.
