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- AUS vs ENG Highlights, 3rd Ashes Test Day 5: Australia win by 82 runs to retain the Ashes
AUS vs ENG Highlights, 3rd Ashes Test Day 5: Australia win by 82 runs to retain the Ashes
Chasing an imposing 435, England were always up against history. No side in Test cricket has ever successfully chased more than 418 in the fourth innings. Despite their aggressive “Bazball” style, England could only reach 352, highlighting the challenges of sustaining high-risk, high-reward cricket against a disciplined Australian attack. Their collapse over three Tests is the joint second-quickest in more than a century, underlining the hosts’ dominance.
Australia captain Pat Cummins praised his team’s effort, describing the win as the product of a grind and a resilient approach over the past two months. Even with Nathan Lyon hobbling off with a hamstring injury and ruled out for the remainder of the series, the Australian bowlers, particularly Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, ensured the final wickets fell decisively.
For England, Ben Stokes described the result as deeply disappointing but recognised the positives in the team’s fight and intent. Will Jacks top-scored with 47, while Jamie Smith’s 60 included audacious shots, earning cheers from Barmy Army fans singing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Nevertheless, Starc’s pace and Labuschagne’s spectacular catch ended England’s challenge.
The result continues England’s struggles Down Under, extending their winless streak to 18 Tests since 2010-11, with past series yielding lopsided results of 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0. With two Tests still to play in Melbourne and Sydney, the visitors face the challenge of regrouping after a humbling Adelaide defeat. Australia, by contrast, maintain control of the Ashes and will look to consolidate their dominance in the remaining matches, showcasing depth, resilience, and strategic precision throughout the series.
Jofra Archer comes out to the middle now. All the recognised batters are gone now. Archer scored his maiden Test fifty in the first innings, and he has to do something similar to get his side over the line here.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Midas touch? Nope. It's the Marnus touch once again. A top-shelf stuff from him and it is Starc once again with a breakthrough. Pitched fuller and just around the off pole, with a bit of nibble away after kissing the deck. Will Jacks goes on the drive with hard hands, has a waft at it, only to nick it behind. Now, the ball is going flat and low, between the keeper and Marnus at first slip. Carey dives to his right, Marnus to his left, a bit ahead of the keeper and sticks out his left hand to take a stunner one-handed. Will Jacks is very disappointed with himself and walks back on 47 (137). England are 337/8, needing 98 runs to win. 2 wickets in hand.
Mitchell Starc to Will Jacks, From around the stumps, this is full and angling in and around off. Will Jacks strides forward and blocks it to point.
The landing area needs flattening up again, and the ground staff comes in with the hammer. Mitchell Starc is having a close look and seems like he is happy to go. He replaces Travis Head. England have brought down the target within double-digits, and it is going to be edge-of-the-seat stuff here in Adelaide.
- Brydon Carse 29 (48)
- Will Jacks 47 (135)
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, FOUR! That's a real loosener! Down leg, on a fullish length. Brydon Carse gets inside the line, uses the pace, and just helps it behind to deep fine leg for a boundary. England keep fighting hard as they need 98 runs now. This brings up the 50-run partnership as well.
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, Just outside off, on a slightly shorter length. Kept out to the off side.
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, BEATEN! Tight line and length from him. In the channel of off, goes away off the pitch, drawing Carse for a front foot defence. Beats the outside edge by a whisker. Carey collects the ball behind the stumps and whips the bails off in a flash, with Carse's feet grounded inside the crease.
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, Short of a good length, around off. Brydon Carse hangs back and punches it to short cover.
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, Kicks up on a good length, on off, Brydon Carse steers it off the splice toward backward point.
Three overs and done for Pat Cummins for now. He brings Scott Boland (14-5-23-0) back into the attack. Also, Alex Carey is standing up to the stumps.
Scott Boland to Brydon Carse, Squares him up! Hard length, zips off the deck and nips away from off. Brydon Carse is beaten all ends p on the back foot. Carey collects it well as he is up to the wickets.
- Brydon Carse 25 (42)
- Will Jacks 47 (135)
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Leans on the fuller ball and drills that down to long off for a single.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Outside off, full in length. Will Jacks drives it to deep cover for a single.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Overpitched around off, Carse carves it to long off for a single.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, On a length, on the leg stump, nudged off the back foot to short leg.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Full outside off, pushed to cover.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, SIX! Sails all the way! Flat and full from Head, on middle and leg. Brydon Carse sits across and sweeps it aerially and clears deep square leg for a six.
- Will Jacks 46 (134)
- Brydon Carse 17 (37)
Pat Cummins to Will Jacks, Brings the angle back into the batter, on a hard length. Will Jacks tucks it to the leg side.
Pat Cummins to Will Jacks, Full and around off. A lovely looking front foot drive from Jacks, towards the left of mid off. A slight fumble in the field there, but no run taken.
Pat Cummins to Will Jacks, Length-delivery, on off, Jacks blocks off the back foot.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, On a good length, jagging back in a long way, on middle and leg. Brydon Carse is rushed on the back foot and tries to keep it out, but plays over it. Gets pinged on the back thigh pad and Carey gets a bit wrong-footed. Then dives to his right, but the ball evades him and runs behind to the deep third region. Three leg byes.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Nasty from the skipper! Straightaway, Cummins says that he wants someone under the lids. Well-directed short ball, on top of the stumps. Brydon Carse arches back as the ball zips through to the keeper.
STAT - This is now the fourth-highest fourth innings total in Tests at the Adelaide Oval.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Spits up from a good length, on top of off. Brydon Carse is taken by a bit of surprise. Bottom hand comes off the handle, and it is blocked off the splice.
- Brydon Carse 17 (34)
- Will Jacks 46 (131)
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Turns in on the leg stump line, on a length. Brydon Carse goes back and across and nudges it wide of mid on for a single. Four singles off the over. England need 114 runs to win.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Slower through the air, short and around off. Will Jacks hangs deep inside the crease and knocks it down to long off for another single.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Seeing Carse dancing down the track, Head darts one on a fuller length, on middle. This is drilled down to long on for one.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Flatter and fuller, on off. Brydon Carse takes a giant stride forward and defends.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Overpitched on middle, Jacks plays with the spin to long on for a single.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, On a length, on off, blocked off.
- Brydon Carse 15 (31)
- Will Jacks 44 (128)
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Safely negotiated. Full and outside off, defended well to the off side.
It is very windy out there. A couple of balls ago, it took out umpire Nitin Menon's hat. Maybe that's why he lost a bit of focus, as the previous LBW call was clearly missing the leg stump.
England resumed Day 5 on 207 for six, chasing a towering target of 435. What looked impossible on paper slowly turned into a test of patience and belief. The visitors added 102 runs in a disrupted morning session, losing only Jamie Smith.
Rain delays broke the rhythm, and the session was later extended by half an hour. Through it all, Will Jacks held firm, batting with care and courage. With two sessions remaining, tension filled the ground as the Barmy Army sang, clapped and willed England forward.
Jacks settled into a defensive rhythm, absorbing pressure from Australia’s attack. By lunch, he was unbeaten on 38 from 120 balls, anchoring England at 309 for seven. Brydon Carse stayed with him, offering support and calm.
With every leave and block, Jacks stretched the game further. His presence kept England’s hopes alive and ensured Australia had to fight for every wicket on a final day that refused to be straightforward.
Smith reached his seventh Test half-century and added 91 runs for the seventh wicket with Will Jacks. The partnership dragged England from 207 for six to 285 for seven and cut the required runs sharply.
Eventually, impatience crept in. Smith attempted to loft Starc and found Cummins at wide mid-on. He walked back for 60 from 83 balls, having done his part. His dismissal tilted momentum back towards Australia, but not before he had given England genuine belief.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Smart review from Carse! Cummins shoots in a fuller-length delivery, attacking the pads. Brydon Carse tries to flick but plays all over it and gets rapped on the front pad. A massive appeal from Cummins as he goes down on his knee, pleading to the umpire, and Nitin Menon obliges. Brydon Carse has taken a review straightaway. No bat involved, says the third umpire. But hang on, the Ball Tracking shows the ball is projected to miss the leg stump, by a big margin. The on-field decision is overturned. That brings about a huge cheer from the Barmy Army.
Australia were also hit by injury. Nathan Lyon, who had taken three wickets the previous day to swing momentum, hurt his right hamstring while diving in the outfield. He was ruled out of the remainder of the match, leaving Australia without their senior spinner.
As play continued, the atmosphere intensified. England fans packed the stands, singing and chanting as every run and every ball carried weight. With two sessions left, nothing felt settled.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Fires it in, full and on off, Brydon Carse responds with a solid front foot block to the off side.
After losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane, only a win in Adelaide could keep the series alive. Australia, by contrast, needed just a draw to retain the Ashes and move closer to another dominant home series.
By lunch on Day 5, England were still standing at 309 for seven. Three wickets remained for Australia. One final push remained for England. The Ashes hung in the balance, shaped by pressure, patience and the stubborn refusal of a Test match to end quietly.
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Nips in from a length, on the leg stump line. Safely negotiated by Carse as he nudges it to the mid-wicket region.
Pat Cummins to Will Jacks, Honing in on the pads, full in length. Will Jacks tries to flick and gets a thick inside edge onto the front pad. The ball deflects away to deep square leg for a single.
Pat Cummins to Will Jacks, Fuller ball, on the fourth stump. Will Jacks solidly blocks it to point.
- Brydon Carse 15 (27)
- Will Jacks 43 (126)
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Dished wide outside off, on a length. Brydon Carse covers the stumps by shuffling and offers no shot.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Shortish delivery, on leg, Jacks stands tall and punches it down to long on for a single.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Overpitched delivery, on off, Brydon Carse carves it to sweeper cover for a single.
Travis Head to Brydon Carse, Spins in from off, on a tad fuller length. Defended straight off the front foot.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Flat and full, outside off, pushed gently through cover for a single. This is Jacks' highest Test score now.
Travis Head to Will Jacks, Fuller and outside off, Jacks strides across and defends it out.
Travis Head to bowl some offies from the other end.
- Brydon Carse 14 (24)
- Will Jacks 41 (123)
Pat Cummins to Brydon Carse, Hammers it short and angling down leg. Brydon Carse safely ducks underneath it.
England’s fight on Day 5 lasted into the second session before Scott Boland claimed the final wicket, completing the Australian victory. Chasing a daunting 435, England fell short at 352, with no team in Test history having chased more than 418 in the fourth innings. Their collapse in just 11 days marked the joint second-quickest series defeat in over a century, exposing the limits of England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach.
Australia captain Pat Cummins lauded his team’s effort, highlighting the grind and resilience that characterised the series. Despite losing Nathan Lyon to a hamstring injury during the match, the hosts remained dominant, with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland taking key wickets to seal the win.
England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the disappointment but found positives in the team’s improved fight and intent. Will Jacks top-scored with 47, while Jamie Smith made 60 before falling to Starc. The defeat extended England’s winless run in Australia to 18 Tests, a stretch dating back to 2010-11.
The match also showcased moments of crowd fervour, with Barmy Army fans singing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” as England tried to mount a comeback. Despite these flashes of resistance, Australia’s superior bowling and disciplined approach ensured the urn remained Down Under, leaving England to regroup for the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
Match Statistics
Venue
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
