Summary

  • England close on 207-6 in chase of 435

  • Australia need four more wickets to win series and retain Ashes

  • Crawley (85) shows good appliance and top-scores with 85

  • Cummins and Lyon both take three wickets

  • Australia all out for 349 with Head making 170 and Carey 72

  • Stokes bowls seven-over spell as England take 6-38 at end of Australia innings

  • Third Test, day four, Adelaide

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

Send us your views

  1. Postpublished at 02:08 GMT 20 December 2025

    So is today the day England's Ashes dream in Australia is ended - for at least another four years?

    A world-record Test chase is required and they're already one down.

    No doubt it is a huge innings for Ollie Pope as he fights to keep his place in the side.

  2. Postpublished at 02:06 GMT 20 December 2025

    Josh Tongue, who ended with figures of 4-70, then removed Josh Inglis before Brydon Carse took two in two with the second new ball.

    It was left to Jofra Archer to finish things off as he had Scott Boland caught and bowled.

    An excellent fightback from the England bowlers and at that point anything felt possible...

  3. Postpublished at 02:00 GMT 20 December 2025

    No arguments here, Glenn.

    That early wicket has quashed the positivity and blind optimism that England could do something special to keep the Ashes dream going after what was otherwise a very good morning for the tourists.

    They took six wickets to bowl Australia out for 349. Travis Head was the first to go for a brilliant 170 with Alex Carey falling for 72 soon after...

  4. Postpublished at 01:54 GMT 20 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It would take a minor miracle to pull this off for England.

  5. How's stat?!published at 01:50 GMT 20 December 2025

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    That was the third longest English opening partnership of the series.

  6. Postpublished at 01:46 GMT 20 December 2025

    Here is that wicket of Ben Duckett. Not a moment he'll want to look back on any time soon.

    We know the left-hander does not like to leave the ball but this should have been a fairly harmless delivery from Pat Cummins, wide of off stump.

    Instead, Duckett pushed at it - a nothing shot - and edged straight to second slip.

  7. Postpublished at 01:42 GMT 20 December 2025

    Thanks, Mike.

    And thanks to Ben Duckett as well. We all know it's the hope that kills you - a phrase surely coined by an England cricket fan - so good to get that out of the way nice and early, I suppose.

    But, yes, another 430 in five session to complete a record successful Test run-chase and keep this Ashes series alive. Easy.

  8. Postpublished at 01:39 GMT 20 December 2025

    Just the 430 runs required for England to win the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.

    They've got five sessions to do it - easy, right?

    To take you through the first of those, here's Sam Drury.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:38 GMT 20 December 2025

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

    If you don't have the capacity to leave the ball, then you cannot be a Test opening batsman.

    Mark, Edinburgh

    If two balls summarised the Bazball era it was that, a glorious boundary from Duckett followed by an avoidable dismissal which could and should have been left alone. This team simply do not have the aptitude to beat the very best.

    Ryan, Sheffield

  10. Lunch - Eng 5-1published at 2 overs

    Target 435

    Ollie Pope comes to the crease early doors, as has become habitual.

    The England number three will be desperate for a big score, and he gets off the mark straight away by tapping into the covers and immediately running.

    A bit of banter between the two sides, as Pat Cummins has to tie a shoelace, making Zak Crawley wait for the last ball of the session. Crawley then backs away with the Australia captain at the end of his run-up, eliciting a big smile from the bowler.

    When the delivery does come it lifts nicely and passes the bat of Crawley - that's lunch.

  11. Postpublished at 01:28 GMT 20 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Ben Duckett walks off after being dismissedImage source, Reuters

    The first ball, a gentle half volley. Then the second ball ball had more venom from Pat Cummins. Ben Duckett could have easily left it.

  12. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 1.2 overs

    Duckett c Labuschagne b Cummins 4 (Eng 4-1)

    Four and out.

    Ben Duckett times Pat Cummins' first ball nicely through mid-wicket, but then chases the following delivery and sends a thick edge to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip.

    Hope, eh? A fragile thing.

  13. Eng 0-0published at 1 over

    A maiden to get us going.

    A strong start from Mitchell Starc, who sends his fourth ball past the outside edge of Zak Crawley's bat.

  14. Eng 0-0published at 0.1 overs

    Target 435

    Here we go then.

    Mitchell Starc steams up to the crease, Zak Crawley leaves his first delivery alone.

    We've got about nine minutes to go until lunch.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:21 GMT 20 December 2025

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

    At the start of play England were lights out. Now their task is at least within the realms of possibility, even if it's the remotest of chances. They deserve credit for fighting back at the very least.

    Theo, London

    Times like this is why we love sport, hanging onto the slightest possibility. Chance to make history.

    Ryan, Liverpool

  16. Postpublished at 01:21 GMT 20 December 2025

    England have taken six wickets this morning in 18.4 overs, while Australia added 78 to their overnight score of 271.

    Josh Tongue finishes with figures of 4-70, while those two back-to-back wickets for Brydon Carse seems him close with 3-80.

    Ben Stokes, who sent down seven overs this morning after not bowling yesterday, and Jofra Archer both took one wicket, as did spinner Will Jacks who didn't bowl today and conceded 107 runs at an economy rate of 5.63.

  17. Postpublished at 01:15 GMT 20 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Bazball. Can it make a comeback?

    There is still a long, long way. They talk about setting records and this is England's chance to prove that.

  18. Postpublished at 01:13 GMT 20 December 2025

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes celebrate the wicket of Scott BolandImage source, Getty Images

    It feels, too little, too late, but you simply never know. They will have 10 minutes of batting before the break.

    England have five sessions and 10 minutes. That is a lot of time. It has never been done before.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 84.4 overs

    Boland c & b Archer 1 (Aus 349 all out)

    That's that - England will chase 435.

    Scott Boland has to fend off a fearsome Jofra Archer delivery and the ball loops up in the air.

    Archer makes good ground and claims the catch diving forward.

    That's his first wicket of the innings, with the Sussex seamer finishing with figures of 1-20 from 12.4 overs.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:08 GMT 20 December 2025

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

    Has anyone thought of this scenario? The pressure will be off. England are not believed to have a chance, you never know what could happen!

    Russ, Belfast