Tag: Ashes 2025

A dominant Australia collected the last four wickets they needed Sunday to win the third Test and retain the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket, crushing the dreams of an England side who finally showed some fight.

England’s dogged resistance on day five at Adelaide Oval lasted into the second session before Scott Boland removed Josh Tongue for an 82-run victory to ensure the famous urn remains in Australian hands.

The tourists needed a win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane, with two more Tests still to play at Melbourne and Sydney.

But despite showing more grit, they were again outplayed by an Australian team who suffered a setback with spin wizard Nathan Lyon hurting his hamstring and hobbling off.

Chasing 435 was always going to be a huge challenge, with no side ever reeling in more than 418 to win in Test history, but England at least gave it a crack as they scored 352 all out.

Their demise in just 11 days is the joint-second quickest in more than a century since the 1921 series was completed in eight days, with their “Bazball” style of ultra-attacking cricket exposed.

England’s capitulation over three Tests is a far cry from the pre-Ashes hype where they were touted as having their best chance in a generation to win a series in Australia.

And it made a mockery of former fast bowler Stuart Broad’s claim that the hosts had their weakest side in 15 years, written off by others as a “Dad’s Army”.

The reality for Ben Stokes’s men is that England have now gone 18 Tests since winning in Australia, dating back to their last series victory there in 2010-11.

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Their last three trips yielded one-sided scorelines of 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0, with more of the same on the cards unless there is a dramatic shift in their fortunes.

They resumed on 207-6 with Will Jacks on 11 and Jamie Smith two.

Smith showed early intent by slog-sweeping Lyon over deep midwicket for six, then banged another off Cameron Green as the Barmy Army fans broke into Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”.

After four days of searing heat and sunshine, the lights were on with dark clouds looming, and after 40 minutes, the players went off as fine rain returned.

It was a passing shower, and they were back out 40 minutes later with lunch pushed back by half an hour.

Lyon limped off soon after the restart after pulling a hamstring in sliding to save a boundary.

He was sent for scans and ruled out of the rest of the Test, later seen on crutches with rest of the series for him in peril.

When Mitchell Starc took the new ball, Smith began hitting out, crunching two fours in a row, and it proved his downfall when he skied to Pat Cummins at midwicket.

Will Jacks produced his highest Test score of 47 and steered England’s chase below 100.

But he fell to another spectacular catch from Marnus Labuschagne, diving to his left in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey after an edge off Starc.

Starc struck again to send Jofra Archer packing before Boland took out Tongue, sparking huge celebrations.

England took six wickets before lunch on Saturday to wrap up Australia’s second innings for 349 with Travis Head slamming 170.

They then survived for two sessions, but the wheels came off courtesy of Lyon.

He bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes before tempting Zak Crawley down the wicket to be stumped by Alex Carey for 85, with Cummins accounting for danger man Joe Root on 39.

It was left to Smith and Jacks to ensure it would go to a fifth day.

READ: Ashes 2025: England ‘flat’ as Zak Crawley admits Australia ‘a better side’

ADELAIDE: Opener Zak Crawley said the mood in the England dressing room was “flat” on Saturday as they stared down the barrel of losing the Ashes 2025 within three Tests, admitting Australia were the better side.

England are still 228 runs adrift from the mammoth 435 the hosts set them to win in Adelaide, with just four wickets left and a daunting task ahead on day five.

Should they lose, the five-match series will be decided with Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, still to come, after Australia won the opening two clashes in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets.

“They’re just flat,” said Crawley, who hit a composed 85, of his teammates. “We came here to win the Ashes, we’re always an optimistic team, an upbeat team, and we’ll try and put up as much fight as we can.”

“Obviously very disappointing,” he added. “It’s an uphill battle from here, but the boys are going to give it a good crack tomorrow.”

Zak Crawley at least found form with the grittiest of knocks, adding 78 with Joe Root, then 68 with Harry Brook, defending well and attacking loose balls.

He was undone when spin wizard Nathan Lyon tempted him down the wicket to be stumped by Alex Carey.

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Crawley said while he was at the crease, he always believed England had a chance.

“When you’re at the crease, you never consider that the game’s over, you always think like that as long as you’re there,” he said.

“When you get out, obviously, those feelings change. But when I was out there, I felt like we had great players at the crease and coming in.”

England headed to Australia with high hopes, but it has been mostly one-way traffic despite the series being hyped beforehand as having the hallmarks of being a classic.

Crawley admitted England had been outplayed by a better side.

“They’re a very, very good side. I feel like it was always going to be tough coming here, against them,” he said. “They were the favourites going into it, and they’ve proven why.”

“Obviously, we’ve been slightly short of our best, but a lot of credit has to go to them. They’ve not allowed us to be our best.”

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ADELAIDE: An unrelenting Australia were four wickets from retaining the Ashes at the close of play in the third Test on Saturday as England clung to a dying hope that they could chase a record 435 to save the series.

England had clawed their way to 207-6 at the end of play in Adelaide with Will Jacks on 11 and Jamie Smith two, still 228 runs from their target.

They lost big guns Zak Crawley (85), Joe Root (39), Harry Brook (30), and Ben Stokes (5) in the final session, with Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins doing the damage.

England must win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane. Australia, as holders, only need a draw to retain the urn.

With attendance over the first four days swelling to more than 200,000, a record for the Adelaide Oval, which has been hosting Tests since 1884, they faced a daunting task.

No team has ever chased down more than 316 at the venue, while the biggest successful run chase in Test history was 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St. Johns in 2003.

England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia’s second innings for 349, with Travis Head slamming 170 and Alex Carey 72.

It left them with 10 minutes to bat before the break, but disaster struck in the second over when Ben Duckett, on four, edged Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip.

Number three, Ollie Pope, has struggled all series and was widely seen as on his last chance with Jacob Bethell waiting in the wings.

He failed to deliver again, gone for 17 with Labuschagne taking a stunning one-handed catch at full stretch in the slips, again off Cummins.

Watchful opener Crawley built a 78-run stand with Root, who needed a big score to save his side but had no answer to Cummins again.

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The Australian skipper removed him for a 13th time in Tests, more than any other bowler, with a furious Root berating himself after prodding at a full delivery and feathering to Carey.

Crawley brought up a well-deserved 50, and with an uncharacteristically subdued Brook began a rebuild before his partner badly mistimed a reverse sweep and was bowled by a classic Lyon off-break.

With the pitch deteriorating, Lyon unleashed another trademark delivery to bowl Stokes, then tempted Crawley down the wicket to be stumped by Carey, leaving England’s Ashes campaign in tatters.

Australia resumed at 271-4 with Head on 142 and Carey 52, and they feasted early on some mediocre bowling.

Stokes didn’t turn over his arm on Friday, with assistant coach Jeetan Patel saying he was “knackered” after a stoic 83 with the bat.

The England captain opened the attack on Saturday, but Head quickly got to work and reached his 150 with a boundary through backward point, earning a standing ovation from his home fans.

Targeting a maiden double-century, Head pulled a short ball from Josh Tongue with Crawley in the deep, doing well to get underneath it in glaring sun.

Carey added 20 as he set his sights on back-to-back centuries after an emotional first innings 106.

But he was taken at slip by Brook off Stokes, with Josh Inglis (10) following soon after, caught behind by Smith off Tongue.

With the new ball taken, Brook collected another slip catch to remove Cummins (6), this time off Brydon Carse, who trapped Lyon lbw next ball.

Scott Boland was the last man out, caught and bowled by Jofra Archer with Tongue taking 4-70.

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England assistant coach Jeetan Patel has provided an update regarding captain Ben Stokes, stating that the all-rounder is fit to bowl for the remainder of third Ashes Test, though he remains visibly tired after a grueling day.

Stoked did not bowl an over in Australia’s second innings as the home side reached 271 for 4 at the end of the third day’s play.

The hosts had built a daunting 356-run lead, putting them firmly on course to retain the Ashes after winning the first two Tests.

Travis Head and Alex Carey finished the day with 142* and 52* runs respectively.

Ben Stokes, meanwhile, battled out five hours with 83 in England’s first innings. During his stay at the crease, he seemed to hobble and struggle with cramps under the scorching sun.

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Following this, he also spent time off the field after hitting his head on the ground while fielding.

Speaking after the day’s play, Patel turned down any concerns regarding the Three Lions skipper.

“He is fit to bowl, he’s just pretty knackered,” he told reporters at the Adelaide Oval.

“From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl. I think he’s just pretty knackered and he’s taken a lot out of himself to get through to this point in the game,” Patel added.

Patel added that Stokes always operates at full intensity and would not bowl if he felt he could not perform at 100%.

“All I know is he goes at 100%. If he thinks he can’t do it at 100%, I don’t think he’s going to do it,” he concluded.

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ADELAIDE: Australia batter Travis Head etched his name alongside Sir Donald Bradman in elite Test history after striking an unbeaten century at his home ground during the third Ashes Test against England at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Head’s commanding knock marked his fourth century in as many Tests at the venue, a feat achieved by only three other Australians in the history of the game.

Bradman managed it twice, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and at Leeds, while Michael Clarke accomplished the milestone in Adelaide and Steve Smith at the MCG.

The 31-year-old’s unbeaten 142, his second hundred of the ongoing Ashes series and 11th overall in Test cricket, pushed Australia into a commanding position.

By stumps on day two, the hosts had built a daunting 356-run lead, putting them firmly on course to retain the Ashes after winning the first two Tests.

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“Didn’t think I’d get one, so to get four it’s not too bad,” Travis Head said after the day’s play.

He found valuable support from fellow South Australian Alex Carey, who remained unbeaten on 52 as the pair safely steered Australia to stumps.

Head praised Carey’s presence at the crease, saying his energy helped him push through a tiring final session.

“He’s playing well and probably kept me going there late in the day,” Head said. “It was a long day, so it was nice to walk off with him at the end.”

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ADELAIDE: Danger man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at Adelaide Oval on Friday as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.

The hosts were 271-4 at stumps on day three of the third Test with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey not out 52, taking the five-match series out of England’s reach.

England must win after crashing inside two days at the first Test in Perth and inside four in Brisbane, both by eight wickets.

But it appears to be an impossible task with the highest run chase at the ground, 316 by Australia against England in 1902.

Head’s crucial ton, his 11th, came off a composed 146 balls, although he almost didn’t get there, dropped on 99 by Harry Brook as impatience got the better of him.

He has now scored a century in four consecutive Tests on his home ground, following 140 against India last year and 119 and 175 against the West Indies.

Australia suffered an early setback in a tense 20 minutes before lunch after England were all out for 286 on the back of Ben Stokes’ gritty 83 in response to Australia’s first innings 371.

Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one, and he walked without reviewing after the umpire lifted his finger, although replays showed the ball was pitching outside leg stump.

It gave England a glimmer of hope, but after the break, Travis Head slammed the door shut, cutting and chopping boundaries to all corners of the ground.

Marnus Labuschagne went for 13 when he edged Josh Tongue to Harry Brook at slip, with reviews showing it carried.

Usman Khawaja, who hit a defiant 82 in the first innings after his last-minute call-up for the ill Steve Smith, was a perfect foil for the more aggressive Head.

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But on 40, he was undone by the spin of Will Jacks, caught behind, and Cameron Green followed soon after for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.

After getting through the nervous 90s, Head finally brought up his century with a four off Joe Root, taking off his helmet and kissing the turf before pumping his fists.

While not in the same vein as his match-winning 69-ball century in Perth, it was a critical knock, supported by Carey and aided by Stokes not bowling after his exploits with the bat.

After a woeful batting display on Thursday, Stokes and Jofra Archer kept England’s dreams alive with a stirring 106-run ninth-wicket stand. They resumed at 213-8 in muggy conditions with Stokes not out 45 and Archer on 30.

Stokes, who suffered leg cramps and dehydration during his gutsy rearguard action in sweltering 40 Celsius heat on Thursday, brought up his slowest ever 50 in Tests, off 159 balls.

He kept plugging away but finally fell when Mitchell Starc took the new ball and bowled him, with Stokes one of the few players who showed the fight he had demanded before the game.

Archer was another, ably helping his captain. The fast bowler was the last man out when caught by Labuschagne off Scott Boland for 51, his highest Test score and a maiden half-century

Boland ended with 3-45 while Pat Cummins took 3-69 in his first Test since July.

England’s woes began when openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, along with the under-performing Ollie Pope, departed in a 15-ball blitz on Thursday at the hands of Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

Harry Brook showed some resistance with 45, but the Australian attack was relentless.

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ADELAIDE: Australia’s legendary pacer Glenn McGrath reaction went viral after ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon surpassed his Test wicket tally during the third Ashes Test against England here on Thursday.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

After Lyon surpassed his record, McGrath mimicked slamming his chair on the floor.

 

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Nonetheless, McGrath praised Lyon and shared his thoughts on the achievement.

“What a bowler. Nathan Lyon deserves to get that.”

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“You wondered what impact Nathan Lyon was going to have in this game. First over, and that was a gem of a ball,” he added.

Speaking after the day’s play, Lyon talked about his ideals and expressed pride in the achievement.

“I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and these guys in my childhood were my heroes,” he said.

“And to think of being able to overtake Glenn … it’s pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it’s something that I’ll look back on at the end of my career, or even tonight,” Nathan Lyon added.

The 38-year-old thanked teammates for standing by his side, noting that he would take time to reflect on what he described as an ‘extremely special’ moment in his long career.

“I’ll sit back and try and have a moment because it is an extremely special moment for myself. “But I haven’t been able to do that without the guys at the other end, my teammates.”

“I’ve been around this group long enough to understand my role inside, and it’s an amazing group to be a part of,” he explained.

“I’ll continue to enjoy that while I can, it’s a pretty special group, and just extremely grateful for that opportunity, I guess. “Same emotions as usual, nervous, but that’s me,” the veteran spinner concluded.

READ: Lyon ‘humbled’ after moving past childhood hero McGrath

ADELAIDE: Australia’s ace spinner Nathan Lyon opened up after surpassing his childhood hero Glenn McGrath during the third Ashes Test against England here on Thursday.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

Speaking after the day’s play, Lyon talked about his ideals and expressed pride in the achievement.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“I grew up idolising Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and these guys in my childhood were my heroes,” he said.

“And to think of being able to overtake Glenn … it’s pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it’s something that I’ll look back on at the end of my career, or even tonight,” Nathan Lyon added.

The 38-year-old thanked teammates for standing by his side, noting that he would take time to reflect on what he described as an ‘extremely special’ moment in his long career.

“I’ll sit back and try and have a moment because it is an extremely special moment for myself. “But I haven’t been able to do that without the guys at the other end, my teammates.”

“I’ve been around this group long enough to understand my role inside, and it’s an amazing group to be a part of,” he explained.

“I’ll continue to enjoy that while I can, it’s a pretty special group, and just extremely grateful for that opportunity, I guess. “Same emotions as usual, nervous, but that’s me,” the veteran spinner concluded.

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ADELAIDE: A pumped-up Australia ripped through England’s fragile batting Thursday to leave the tourists staring down the barrel of a third Test defeat with their Ashes campaign on the brink, barring a miracle.

At stumps on a sweltering day two, England had ground to 213-8, trailing by 158 after Australia added 45 to their overnight 326-8 as temperatures soared to 40 Celsius.

A gutsy Ben Stokes was a weary not out 45 after facing a marathon 151 balls in searing heat with Jofra Archer on 30 in a Test England must win, and on a pitch ideal for batting.

The captain’s mood was not helped by another suspect decision by the Snicko technology, but at least his brave knock, including a blow to the helmet off Mitchell Starc, helped his side avoid the follow-on.

Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 and will retain the urn if they win or draw after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.

Opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley saw off the early overs from Starc and Pat Cummins.

However, it was a mirage, as England lost three wickets for five runs in a 15-ball blitz, the latest chapter in a familiar tale.

Cummins first tempted an edge from Crawley, on nine, to wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the Australian skipper’s first Test since July after lower back issues.

Then, in a stroke of genius, he brought on spin king Nathan Lyon, who was controversially left out for the pink-ball second Test at the Gabba.

Lyon grabbed two wickets in a sensational opening over, with a hapless Ollie Pope (3) flicking to Josh Inglis at midwicket before he bowled Duckett for 29.

Joe Root edged Scott Boland to Carey, but a review showed it did not carry.

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England’s most experienced player failed to capitalise and was gone in the third over after lunch to Cummins, with Carey collecting another edge.

It was the 12th time Cummins has dismissed Root, more than any other bowler.

With the Ashes on the line, Stokes showed what he called “a bit of dog”, and he barely flinched when a Starc bouncer thudded into the back of his helmet.

But he lost a succession of partners, the first when Cameron Green removed Harry Brook, again caught by Carey.

Jamie Smith departed for 22 when Carey took what Australia claimed was a faint bottom edge off Cummins.

Snicko showed a small spike despite a gap between bat and ball, with Stokes shaking his head in disbelief as Smith trudged off.

Carey’s day one century on his home ground had been shrouded in controversy over a Snicko error when he was on 72 and given not out.

England failed to have the decision overturned on review, with replays showing a noise spike well before the ball reached his bat.

Carey later conceded he likely edged the delivery from Josh Tongue, and the technology operator admitted to an error.

Scott Boland quickly removed Will Jacks (6) and Brydon Carse (0) before Archer dug in with Stokes to see out the day.

Earlier, Starc plundered five quick fours before being bowled by Archer for 54. Lyon and Boland then piled on the pain in a 23-run last-wicket stand before Lyon was trapped lbw for nine by Archer, who ended with 5-53 as Australia posted 371.

READ: Nathan Lyon overtakes Glenn McGrath’s record in third Ashes Test

ADELAIDE: Australia’s veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon etched his name deeper into cricketing history during the third Ashes Test against England, overtaking Glenn McGrath to become the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format.

Lyon claimed his 564th Test wicket on Thursday, moving past McGrath and sitting behind only Shane Warne among Australian bowlers.

The landmark came in memorable fashion as the 38-year-old struck twice in his very first over after returning to the Test side, removing Ollie Pope before clean-bowling Ben Duckett to reach the milestone.

The achievement came on day two of Lyon’s 141st Test and underlined his enduring value to Australia’s red-ball setup.

Renowned for his classical off-spin and ability to extract bounce and drift, Lyon has now climbed to sixth place on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.

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Ahead of him on the overall charts are England’s Stuart Broad (604) and India great Anil Kumble (619), with Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan leading the list with 800 wickets.

Shane Warne (708) and James Anderson (704) complete the top three.

Lyon, affectionately known as “Garry”, has previously said he feels he is in some of the best form of his career and has no immediate plans to step away from the game.

His longevity has been aided by a singular focus on Test cricket, having not played international white-ball cricket since 2019.

The off-spinner has also spoken openly about his desire to continue until at least the 2027 Ashes in England, with Australia set to enter a heavy Test schedule from August next year onwards.

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