Summary

  • England close on 213-8, trailing Australia by 158 runs

  • Stokes top-scores with 45 not out and Brook also makes 45

  • Pope out for three to poor shot

  • Smith given out caught behind amid more confusion over Snicko technology

  • Smith & Stokes confused by decision, while Australia players earlier said "Snicko needs to be sacked"

  • Cummins takes three wickets and Lyon and Boland two apiece

  • Australia were bowled out for 371 as Archer takes 5-53

  • England trail 2-0 in five-Test series and must win to keep Ashes alive

  • Third Test, day two, Adelaide

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

Send us your views

  1. Postpublished at 06:27 GMT 18 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    The problem I have with English cricket is we're either looking at 21-year-olds or we're retiring 34-year-olds. There is nothing in-between.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:26 GMT 18 December 2025

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

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    Stokes facing the possibility of Archer overtaking him here, he has to kick on surely?

    Matt, Adelaide

  3. Eng 194-8published at 60 overs

    Trail by 177

    Three singles from Nathan Lyon's over as England gradually try to reduce what looks like being a hefty first-innings deficit.

    Australia will want to wrap this innings up quickly but the top-order might not fancy facing a tricky spell at the end of the day.

  4. Postpublished at 06:22 GMT 18 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Mitchell Starc's rhythm throughout this series has been incredible. Every single spell he has had that flow, paces have been high.

    The bowling unit has been relentless all day.

  5. Eng 191-8published at 59 overs

    Trail by 180

    Good over for England. I've not been able to say that too often today.

    Two boundaries for Jofra Archer, the superb cover drive plus a leg glance the ball previous.

    A no-ball and three singles make it 12 from the over all told.

  6. Eng 189-8published at 58.3 overs

    Trail by 182

    Shot, Jofra!

    Gorgeous drive from the England number 10 to thump Mitchell Starc through the covers and he holds the pose for the cameras afterwards, too.

    No surprise that Starc follows up with a bouncer.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:14 GMT 18 December 2025

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

    England simply not good enough and being outplayed and outclassed by an Australian team who 'know their onions'. Time for a complete rethink on the Bazball blueprint. It isn't going to end in world domination...

    Jon, Peterborough

  8. Postpublished at 06:13 GMT 18 December 2025

    Ben Stokes has a cold towel on his head during a drinks breakImage source, Getty Images

    Drinks are behind taken, Ben Stokes has a cold towel on his head and really seems to be struggling in the heat.

    As a man with a similar complexion to the England skipper, I can't say I'm too surprised.

  9. Eng 179-8published at 58 overs

    Trail by 192

    Jofra ArcherImage source, Getty Images

    Nice drive by Jofra Archer to start Nathan Lyon's over. Not quite out of the middle, though, and the fielder flicks the ball back just before the rope to save a run.

    Archer goes for a slog sweep to end the over and gets a top edge that loops off side but lands safely.

  10. Postpublished at 06:10 GMT 18 December 2025

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I think Ben Stokes is struggling, he has got cramp. We still have 50 minutes left in the day's play.

  11. Eng 175-8published at 57 overs

    Trail by 196

    Thanks, Mike.

    Mitchell Starc is into the attack and Jofra Archer welcomes him back with a thumping shot through gully for four.

    That's the follow-on avoided at least...

  12. Eng 170-8published at 56 overs

    Trail by 201 runs

    Runs!

    Watch out Australia, the momentum has swung in England's favour!

    Ben Stokes knocks Nathan Lyon's first delivery into the off side for a single, before Jofra Archer gets a run of his own out towards fine leg.

    To see if England can carry on the spirited form from this over, here's Sam Drury.

  13. What you've missed on day twopublished at 06:01 GMT 18 December 2025

    Just waking up in the UK? Well, I dare say it's been a case of what you feared rather than hoped for in Adelaide so far on day two.

    It all started relatively well for England as, despite Mitchell Starc's half-century, Australia were bowled out for 371 with Jofra Archer taking the two remaining wickets to complete his five-for.

    England then moved to 37-0 in good time and hopes an enjoyable day watching the tourists bat in the sun were raised.

    It took 15 balls for those hopes to be dashed as Pat Cummins got Zak Crawley with a beauty before Nathan Lyon removed Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett in the same over.

    Joe Root and Harry Brook tried to rebuild but the former was caught behind off Cummins early in the afternoon session to leave England 71-4.

    There was some solid resistance from Brook and Ben Stokes for much of the afternoon session.

    Brook, one remarkable six over cover off Scott Boland aside, played with much greater restraint and was looking good.

    However, he got a good one from Cameron Green just before tea to put England right back in bother.

    Since tea, all the talk has been about Snicko.

    Firstly, the technology said a bumper from Cummins hit Jamie Smith on the helmet rather than the glove.

    Australia were dismayed by that call but replays showed the ball didn't actually carry to Usman Khawaja in any case.

    They were much happier when it said Smith had feathered behind on the pull despite replays suggesting there was a gap between bat and ball.

    That drama aside, England's slide has continued with Scott Boland removing both Will Jacks and Brydon Carse. Stokes remains but the tourists are eight down and still 200 behind.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:01 GMT 18 December 2025

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

    We can’t blame Bazball batting this time. It turns out the Aussies are simply better in all departments.

    Don, Cumbria

  15. How's stat?!published at 06:01 GMT 18 December 2025

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    Four maidens in a row. Two of them were wicket maidens.

  16. Eng 168-8published at 55 overs

    New batter Jofra Archer faces five balls from Scott Boland without scoring.

    That makes 28 deliveries without a run.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:58 GMT 18 December 2025

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

    Yes, Snicko has been awful, but don't allow it to become an excuse. Staring down the barrel of an innings defeat and series defeat, England's problem is not the technology.

    Yohan, Hove

  18. Postpublished at 05:55 GMT 18 December 2025

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of Brydon CarseImage source, Getty Images

    It is going from bad to worse.

    Brydon Carse played from the crease, he didn't go forward or back - he just stuck the bat out.

    Straight through the defence and clattered into the stumps.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 54.1 overs

    Carse b Boland 0 (Eng 168-8)

    As has been the case for most of his innings in this series, Brydon Carse is here for a bad time not for a long time.

    Scott Boland wipes out his stumps for a second wicket, angling the ball in and leaving Carse nowhere to go.

    Ben Stokes has been watching in despair at the other end as his side have lost three wickets for nine runs.

  20. Eng 168-7published at 54 overs

    And that's consecutive maidens for Nathan Lyon, as Ben Stokes waits out another over.

    England haven't scored a run for 22 balls.