Summary

  • Australia lead England by 356 runs after day three - what you've missed in one post

  • Head hits sublime unbeaten 142 and shares unbroken 122 with Carey (52*) for fifth wicket

  • Stokes doesn't bowl in day, despite England saying he was fit to if required

  • Tongue takes two wickets and Carse and Jacks one each

  • England all out for 286 to give Australia 85-run lead on first innings

  • Stokes (83) and Archer (51) share 106-run stand for ninth wicket

  • Third Test, day three, Adelaide

  • Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commentary at top of page

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  1. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 35.1 overs

    Khawaja c Smith b Jacks 40 (Aus 139-3)

    Caught behind on the cut!

    It's a filthy delivery from Will Jacks really - dragged short and very wide - but they all count.

    Usman Khawaja tries to give it what it deserves but manages only to nick it behind to Jamie Smith, stood up to the stumps.

  2. How's stat?!published at 04:48 GMT 19 December 2025

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    This prolonged short-ball tactic has some value if England have been successful with it. Unfortunately, across this series with deliveries shorter than 10m, England have taken only two wickets across this series at 98.5 average, while the Australian seamers on the other hand have been significantly more successful with nine wickets at 16.8 average.

  3. Aus 139-2published at 35 overs

    Lead by 224

    The short-ball theory nearly does the trick for England as Travis Head top edges a pull shot.

    "Catch it!" is the cry but the ball lands just short of the fine leg fielder and Australia take three from Josh Tongue's latest.

  4. Aus 136-2published at 34 overs

    Lead by 221

    Thumping shot from Travis Head to start the over.

    He advances to Will Jacks and hammers the ball back down the ground for four.

    Jacks comes back well and gets the last delivery to spin big with Head thinking about dancing down again.

  5. Aus 132-2published at 33 overs

    Lead by 217

    Australia's Travis Head ducks under a short delivery on day three of the third NRMA Insurance Ashes Series 2025 test at the Adelaide Oval, AustraliaImage source, PA Media

    I remember Brydon Carse doing a bit of that in Pakistan and New Zealand last winter, Charlie, but you're right. At the moment, nobody looks particularly likely to spark a fightback with the ball.

    Josh Tongue gets through an over of short stuff to Travis Head with the Australia opener scoring the one and only run from the last delivery.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:40 GMT 19 December 2025

    Click on 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    Stuart Broad - the type of player England really miss on days like this. Someone who can conjure up a magic spell out of nothing. I fear Stokes is the only one capable, and he hasn’t even bowled yet.

    Charlie, Bangkok

  7. Postpublished at 04:38 GMT 19 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Not the ideal start. England needed to come out firing.

    This score is creeping further and further away. It is putting Australia in a stronger position.

  8. Aus 131-2published at 32 overs

    Lead by 216

    Australia take 12 from the first over of the session.

    If Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum did manage to get England pumped up at tea, plenty of air has come out of the balloon already.

  9. Aus 129-2published at 31.3 overs

    Lead by 214

    Will Jacks gets things started after tea with a rank long hop.

    Usman Khawaja flaps it leg side for two then nails the sweep shot behind square for four next ball.

    And again.

    Hardly the rip-roaring start to the session England were after.

  10. Postpublished at 04:33 GMT 19 December 2025

    The players are gathering on the boundary edge.

    We're just moments away from the start of the evening session.

    It's been said before in this Ashes series but now, more than ever, it really is now or never for England...

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:31 GMT 19 December 2025

    Click on 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    Sitting here as a solo Englishman in a busy Melbourne pub. Even the Aussies are taking it easy – not much sense of a threat, again.

    Harry, Melbourne

    Really confusing performance from us again in the field, no pressure, just letting them tick the scoreboard over. Game slipping away at a casual pace.

    Chris, Adelaide

  12. How's stat?!published at 04:28 GMT 19 December 2025

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Travis Head ducks under a short ball from Josh TongueImage source, Getty Images

    England's pace bowlers in that session changed their plan after the drinks going significantly shorter compared to the first hour where they kept things quiet.

    Post drinks, England's quicks bowled 37% bouncers compared to 7% before the Labuschagne dismissal.

    The quicks have conceded at 4.2 runs per over in the second hour compared to 3.0 runs per over until the fall of the second wicket.

  13. Postpublished at 04:26 GMT 19 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I think Australia will want a lot more than 204 on the board.

    There is still so much time left in this game, but the way England have been going, they are not going to bat for two days.

    I'm not sure England are going to bat past 100 overs. Australia are in the driving seat.

  14. Postpublished at 04:23 GMT 19 December 2025

    Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    At the minute, it feels like, when do Australia feel like declaring?

  15. Postpublished at 04:21 GMT 19 December 2025

    Thanks, Mike.

    It's fair to say a comeback looks pretty unlikely at the moment.

    But if we go with Stephan Shemilt's earlier suggestion that 320 is the most England might realistically have a chance of chasing down, there is still a glimmer of hope.

    No? Not buying it? Can't say I blame you...

  16. Postpublished at 04:18 GMT 19 December 2025

    Sam Drury handed over to me at lunch with talk of an England comeback.

    There's been no real sign of one of those - but who knows, maybe something magical will happen in the evening session.

    Here's Sam to take you throw the next passage of play.

  17. Postpublished at 04:15 GMT 19 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It is a bit dusty, which means it is drying up out there. I think Nathan Lyon will get more out of this surface the more it dries.

  18. Tea - Aus 119-2published at 31 overs

    Lead by 204

    No more runs from the rest of the over, and Australia's batters head to the dressing rooms with their side firmly in control of this Test match.

    After a tidy few overs after lunch, England have laboured with Australia happy to build up their lead methodically.

    Ben Stokes hasn't bowled in this session, while Jofra Archer's pace was down in the few overs he bowled at the start of the session.

  19. Postpublished at 04:11 GMT 19 December 2025

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Travis Head pulls for sixImage source, Getty Images

    Well, as a bowler, you can't be frustrated with that as it has gone over the fielder's head.

  20. 6 runs

    Aus 119-2published at 30.2 overs

    Lead by 204

    Australia's lead goes past 200 thanks to a Travis Head six!

    He swivels to pull a Brydon Carse bounce, lifting the ball just over Zak Crawley on the ropes at backward square.

    Replays show that came right off the bottom of the bat, but Head hit it powerfully enough to clear the boundary.