The Ashes 2025 LIVE: Stokes, England bat on day three as Australia chase early wickets after more ‘Snicko’ dramas – The Age

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We’ve a smattering of fans here as play’s about to begin – it’s a half-full Adelaide Oval at best.
And it’s surprisingly muggy after the raw heat of the past two days. No real relief for the bowlers.
Still, swing king Damien Fleming has already pointed out how the ball can hoop when Adelaide conditions suit, the plodding medium pace bowler in me is intrigued.
New ball is due in 12 overs, should England make it of course.
Pat Cummins of Australia is seen during warm up.Credit: Getty Images
Ben Stokes is on strike, Jofra Archer is at the other end.
They have pumped fists. It could turn this whole series on its head if they can conjure a huge partnership today but, gee, it will be hard to survive that long.
Boland has the ball for Australia. It’s game on.
Pat Cummins declared three months ago he was never one to need a preparation to get himself right for a Test match.
On Thursday he proved it, running through England’s top order to help put Australia on course for victory in Adelaide and another retention of the Ashes.
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates taking the wicket of Joe Root of England.Credit: Getty Images
With victory enough to wrap up the series in Adelaide, Cummins claimed 3-54 for Australia as the English slumped to 8-213 in reply to the hosts’ 371.
Cummins’ lumbar bone stress in his lower back has been the most talked-about injury in Australia for the past three months.
First the injury was considered a minor one. Then the captain was in doubt for the first Test. At one stage, the whole summer looked gone.
As is often the case, the reality was somewhere in the middle. Cummins probably could have played in Brisbane a fortnight ago, but was clearly right for Adelaide.
At the height of the speculation, Cummins made one thing clear. He wouldn’t need long once he started bowling again, and there wouldn’t have to be a warm-up game.
“I had no doubts,” Nathan Lyon said.
“When I saw Pat working his backside off at Cricket Central, a good distance from his home (I knew).
“The amount of effort that he’s been putting in on the rehab, recovery, then the overs, the training, the gym.
“I’m extremely proud of the way he’s gone about it. And that’s why he’s a pretty inspirational leader, to be honest.”
And it all happened in conditions Lyon rated as some of the most oppressive he has played in.
“Pat has trained extremely hard to get to the position that he’s at now,” Lyon said.
“Every bowler is different as well. I know for me, I like bowling a lot of overs before a Test series.
“But Pat’s that world-class that he could have an extensive break off, train his backside off, but then come and be extremely effective and be a world-class bowler.
“That’s what he is.”
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Almost six months ago to the day, half a world away in balmy Barbados, it was put to Nathan Lyon that he needed roughly 15 wickets to move past Glenn McGrath on the list of the most prolific wicket takers in Australian Test history.
“It’s 10,” Lyon deadpanned.
In contrast to the standard insistence in professional sport that player X doesn’t play to accomplish milestone Y, Lyon is always refreshingly frank when it comes to talking about his place in the game.
Nathan Lyon celebrates with teammates including Marnus Labuschagne (No.33).Credit: Getty Images
Earlier this week, he could appreciate the fairytale unfolding before him after being recalled on the Adelaide Oval wicket he once diligently prepared. Back in the side after being omitted from two of Australia’s past three Tests – and bowling only two overs in the game he did play – it was as if Lyon had never left.
Three balls into his first over, Ollie Pope obliged with a lazy clip to mid-wicket that could well cost him his place at No.3. Having started Australia’s tour of the West Indies on 553 wickets, Pope’s scalp brought Lyon level with McGrath on 563 Test wickets.
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Morning cricket fans. Another big day ahead, with Australia looking to wrap things up and pile on the runs.
There are a few wounded cricket fans roaming the streets of Adelaide after that scorcher yesterday.
If Archer gets out early, Stokes could go the tonk.
Getting within 100 runs of Australia keeps England in the game but even then, it’ll be a mountain to climb.
Today will be the best batting conditions of the match. Jake Weatherald maiden Test ton is my hot tip.
Adelaide: Forget about the DRS dramas. Forget all the arguments about Ashes preparation, too.
Definitely forget “Bazball”, a term that currently looks as though it will have a similar lifespan to that of disco. And forget about the notion that a 40-degree day and the flattest pitch of the series would offer the way back to a miracle.
All that needs to be remembered about day two at a scorching Adelaide Oval is how it provided definitive evidence that this England team are simply not good enough to properly compete with an Australian side of bona fide Test match quality.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins is back, and how.Credit: Getty Images
There had been plenty of big statements from England in the build-up. After defeat at the Gabba, Ben Stokes put the blowtorch on his troops for the first time in four years, saying that neither Australia nor his dressing room were places for “weak men”.
Brendon McCullum followed up in Adelaide by backing in his players and their approach as providing a “massive chance” if they played their best. Stokes rounded off the rhetorical assault by saying his men could win if they showed sufficient “dog” in the looming fight. It was a storm of strong words, but it has proven to count for next to nothing.
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The BOM has forecast another hot day in Adelaide and the mercury has already hit 26 before play has even begun.
Unlike yesterday’s 40 degree melting pot, the max today is tipped to hit 30 and remain there and sunny until just before dusk.
The Australian fielders would love to get two quick wickets and head back inside to the air-conditioning.
The Barmy Army sing during day two.Credit: Getty Images
We are back for day three of the third Test. Play is about half an hour away.
We will be blogging away throughout the day in what could prove a pivotal day in winning the Ashes.
Play is set to start at 10.30am AEDT.
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