Summary

  • Australia beat England by 82 runs to win third Test and secure Ashes with two games to spare

  • Starc, Cummins and Lyon take three wickets each for hosts

  • Smith adds 60 for England and Jacks 47, while Carse ends 39 not out

  • Off-spinner Lyon sustained hamstring injury on day five and is doubt for rest of series

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

Send us your views

  1. Eng 349-8published at 101 overs

    86 runs needed

    Huh, I think that was an edge.

    Alex Carey is standing up to Scott Boland, as he has tended to in this match, and the seamer's delivery seems to clip Jofra Archer's bat and slam into the wicketkeeper's arm before he has time to react.

    Carey sheds the helmet and drops back to a more conventional position for a keeper.

    Meanwhile England are now level with Australia's second innings total and will start eating into the 85-run first innings deficit.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 03:29 GMT 21 December 2025

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

    It’s been great to see the effort here, this is what all England fans have been looking for over the last 12 months. But now it's the hope that kills you, every time we think we’ve got a sniff the Aussies produce something to take it back.

    Alec, Canada

  3. Eng 347-8published at 100 overs

    88 runs needed

    Mitchell Starc storms in to the crease, England's batters survive and chip away with three more singles.

    Jofra Archer, who made 51 in the first innings, sees a 91mph bouncer scud past his face to end the over.

  4. Postpublished at 03:24 GMT 21 December 2025

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England are teetering, but they're still there. For as long as they're still there, then there's still hope.

  5. dropped catch

    Carse dropped on 29published at 99 overs

    Eng 344-8

    Cameron Green can't follow Marnus Labuschagne's example!

    Brydon Carse edges Scott Boland's penultimate delivery, and it's Green's turn to try a one-handed diving catch to his left.

    He's unable to hold onto the chance and the ball races away for four, while Carse adds a single from the over's final delivery to move to 34 from 52 balls.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 03:20 GMT 21 December 2025

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

    Mitchell Starc is just so annoyingly good at making the important breakthroughs. However, Jofra Archer can bat a bit though!

    Sam, London

  7. Eng 338-8published at 98 overs

    97 runs needed

    Another edge!

    Jofra Archer comes to the crease and, having seen his bat beaten from his first ball, gets off the mark with a single to backward point.

    Brydon Carse then nicks Mitchell Starc's last ball, but it drops short of the cordon.

  8. Postpublished at 03:17 GMT 21 December 2025

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Marnus Labuschagne is mobbed for taking a catch to dismiss Will JacksImage source, Getty Images

    Australia have not dropped them this series.

    That's another stunner. If you make your decision to go across the keeper, you better catch it.

    That has been the difference between the sides.

  9. Postpublished at 03:15 GMT 21 December 2025

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

    Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Will JacksImage source, Getty Images

    And that is probably the Ashes...

    Marnus has gone one-handed, again.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 97.2 overs

    Jacks c Labuschagne b Starc 47 (Eng 337-8)

    It's another stormer of a catch from Marnus Labuschagne - and he may well have just secured the Ashes for his country.

    Mitchell Starc returns to the attack and draws an edge from Will Jacks with his second ball.

    The first slip dives to his left, taking the catch with one hand in front of Alex Carey.

    Australia are delighted - they're just two wickets away from the urn.

  11. Postpublished at 03:14 GMT 21 December 2025

    I was in the crowd for the conclusion of that match.

    I was sat behind a very cheerful man, who happily asked me and my friends if we might indulge his passion for pugilism behind the stands.

    "I love Cardiff City and I love fighting" is a quote that will stay with me.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 03:12 GMT 21 December 2025

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    Brydon Carse plays a shotImage source, Getty Images

    This is Cardiff 2009 vibes! Singles and dots being cheered! But this time not for the draw… For the win!

    Rich, Jersey

  13. Postpublished at 03:12 GMT 21 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia has really had to work wickets here. England have been applying themselves.

    A lot of people may have thought it could be over quickly, but England are making a fight of it.

    Scott Boland bowls in a good area and if there is anything in the pitch, he will find it. He gets that extra bounce and movement sometimes.

    Another 50 partnership for England.

  14. Eng 337-7published at 97 overs

    98 runs needed

    Pat Cummins turns to Scott Boland to make the break-through, bringing the veteran seamer in to replace him.

    Boland's fourth ball beats the bat of Brydon Carse, but his last delivery is heading down the leg side and Carse sends that to the ropes.

    England's required run total drops to two figures, and that's the 50 partnership from 85 balls as well.

  15. Eng 333-7published at 96 overs

    102 runs needed

    Three singles end Travis Head's over.

    The part-time spinner now has figures of 0-61 from 15 overs.

  16. Postpublished at 03:06 GMT 21 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I think the Travis Head experiment has not paid dividends.

    Up here it is looking a little placid from Head.

  17. 6 runs

    Eng 330-7published at 95.1 overs

    Dispatched!

    Brydon Carse lays into Travis Head's first delivery, dropping to one knee and slog sweeping it over square for six.

  18. Postpublished at 03:05 GMT 21 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Pat Cummins directs his fieldersImage source, EPA

    This pitch tends to go up and down on day four and five. I think it has played well during this Test match.

    The footmarks on the pitch are not as obvious as they normally are.

  19. Eng 324-7published at 95 overs

    111 runs needed

    Pat Cummins sets about troubling this England duo, striking Brydon Carse's hand and then sending a bouncer past his head.

    The next delivery clips the thigh pad of the Durham seamer and runs away for three down to third.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 03:00 GMT 21 December 2025

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

    I have got a golf tee time at 8:50am tomorrow morning, but I'm not missing this. You just never know.

    Oliver, Cambridge