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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.
When there's a will, there's a way. England embodied that old adage in the session with a good little fightback after being reduced to 31/2 in their pursuit. Still a long way to go for them, but they did manage to strike off 101 runs in the session, losing just one wicket in 24 overs. So, the scoring rate has been decent as well. Credit goes to Root and Crawley for hanging in there and coasting their side till the end of the session.
- Joe Root 37 (53)
- Zak Crawley 36 (80)
Cameron Green to Joe Root, A big shout for LBW, but turned down! Good length and on middle, angling in a bit. Joe Root looks to flick it away but his head falls and he misses it to get hit on the pads. It rolls away towards short fine, and the batters cross for a leg bye. Pat Cummins has a chat with Cameron Green but does not take the review. It looked like going down the leg side anyway. THAT WILL ALSO BE TEA FOR DAY 4!
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Pitched up and on middle, Zak Crawley clips it through square leg for a run.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Back of a length and on off, straightens a bit, Zak Crawley leaves it alone.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Top shot! Goes full again and just around off. Zak Crawley frees his arms to reach out for it and caresses it through covers for a boundary.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Fuller and on off, Zak Crawley drives it to mid off.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, Short of a length and around off, Joe Root steers it through point for a single. 100 UP FOR ENGLAND!
- Joe Root 36 (51)
- Zak Crawley 31 (76)
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Darts this one full and on middle, Joe Root works it through mid-wicket for a run.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Drags his length back, on off, Joe Root keeps it out to the off side.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Flighted, full and on middle, Joe Root clips it away wide of the bowler, where Nathan Lyon quickly moves to his right to make a fine diving stop.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Short again and on middle, Zak Crawley forces it towards long on for another run.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Flatter, short and on off, Joe Root stays back and punches it to cover for a run.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Floated, full and on middle, Zak Crawley reverse sweeps it to deep point for a single.
- Zak Crawley 29 (74)
- Joe Root 34 (47)
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Pitched up and on middle, Zak Crawley drives it past the bowler and to the left of mid on for a quick one.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Touch fuller and around off, Zak Crawley pushes it to short cover.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Good length and on middle, Zak Crawley nudges it to short mid-wicket.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, Short of a length and on middle, Joe Root pulls it to deep square leg for a run.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, In the blockhole, on middle, Joe Root jams it out to mid on.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Fuller and around leg, Zak Crawley flicks it to deep square leg for a single.
- Joe Root 33 (45)
- Zak Crawley 27 (70)
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Quicker one, shortish and on middle, Joe Root keeps it out well.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Drags his length back, on middle, Joe Root defends it on the back foot.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, FOUR! Nicely done! Floated, full and just around off. Joe Root goes down and gently paddles it away. He gets it past short third, and the rest is done by the quick outfield as it races to the fence for a boundary.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Flighted, full and on off, Zak Crawley strides out and taps it to cover for a run.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Tossed up, full and on off, Zak Crawley prods forward and blocks it out.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Shorter in length and on off, Joe Root moves back and pats it towards cover for a single.
- Joe Root 28 (41)
- Zak Crawley 26 (68)
Cameron Green to Joe Root, Hard length and outside off, Joe Root cuts it to deep point for one.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, FOUR! Deft touch! Bangs this into the pitch, on off, nips back in a bit. Joe Root sways away a bit and lets it come to him. He uses the pace on the ball to steer it between first slip and gully for a boundary.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, Fuller and on middle, angling in, Joe Root clips it straight to short mid-wicket.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, Back of a length and around middle, Zak Crawley pulls it to deep square leg for a run. That brings up the 50-run partnership between these two batters.
Cameron Green to Zak Crawley, There's that extra bounce! Cameron Green lands this on a hard length and on off, takes off and shapes away a bit too. Zak Crawley looks to push at it from the crease but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Cameron Green to Joe Root, Short of a length and around off, Joe Root steers it through point for a single.
- Zak Crawley 25 (66)
- Joe Root 22 (37)
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Loops it up, full and on midddle, Zak Crawley defends it on the front foot.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Slows it up, full and on off, Joe Root goes for the reverse paddle but miscues it off the toe-end to the right of the keeper for one.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Flatter, full and on off, Zak Crawley reverse sweeps it to deep point for for a single.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Lovely shot! Floated, full and around off. Zak Crawley gets a big stride out, plays it with a still head, and creams it through covers for a boundary.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Flighted, full and on middle, Zak Crawley blocks it out.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, A big appeal for LBW, but turned down! Tossed up, full and on off, turns in a bit. Zak Crawley presses forward to clip it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads. Pat Cummins has a chat with Lyon but does not take the review. It turns out to be the right call as Ball Tracking shows that the impact is umpire's call and the ball is also spinning away past the leg stump.
- Joe Root 21 (36)
- Zak Crawley 20 (61)
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Pitched up and on middle and off, Joe Root is solid in his defense. MAIDEN OVER!
Scott Boland to Joe Root, On a length and on off, Joe Root pats it towards short cover.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, A bit fuller and on off, Joe Root gets forward and pushes it to cover-point.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Back of a length and on middle, angling in, Joe Root stays back and blocks it back to the bowler.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Good length and on off, nips back in a bit, Joe Root watches it through and leaves it alone.
Scott Boland to Joe Root, Short of a length and on off, Joe Root dabs it down to gully.
- Zak Crawley 20 (61)
- Joe Root 21 (30)
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Shortish and on middle, turns in, Zak Crawley clips it towards square leg and wants the run, but is sent back and rightly so.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Drags his length back, on middle, Zak Crawley pats it down to short leg.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Gets it away! Tossed up, full and around off. Zak Crawley goes down and drags his sweep beautifully in front of square on the leg side for a boundary. These two are trying to put Lyon under a bit of pressure here.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Goes short and on off, Zak Crawley moves back and blocks it out well.
Nathan Lyon to Zak Crawley, Flighted, full and on off, turns in, Zak Crawley goes down for the reverse sweep but fails to connect and gets hit on the pads.
Nathan Lyon to Joe Root, Floated, short and on middle, turns in, Joe Root flicks it off the back foot through square leg for a single.
- Zak Crawley 16 (56)
- Joe Root 20 (29)
Scott Boland to Zak Crawley, Fuller one and on off, Zak Crawley pushes it to short cover.
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
