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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.
Pat Cummins to Joe Root, At 134.7 kph, full and on that fourth-fifth stump line. Root draws the front foot out and steers it past point for a single.
Pat Cummins to Joe Root, Hard length, on off, blocked off the back foot.
Pat Cummins to Joe Root, Good channel! A tempter from Cummins, just outside off, nipping away a shade. Root just withdraws his bat inside the line to leave.
- Joe Root 5 (6)
- Zak Crawley 6 (30)
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Thunders in on a length, outside off, Root plays it deliberately late between point and gully for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Outside off, on a length, Root ignores.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, FOUR! Root is off the mark! Very full, on the leg stump line. Joe Root gets a bit across and flicks it to deep backward square leg for a boundary. Starc isn't too pleased with the landing area just yet.
Mitchell Starc to Joe Root, Shoots it full and wide on off, Root offers no shot.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Short of a good length, on middle and leg, nudged off the back foot to mid-wicket for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, FOUR! That's just pinged off his blade! Too full from Starc, outside off, Zak Crawley presses forward and creams it through extra cover for a cracking boundary.
- Joe Root 0 (2)
- Zak Crawley 1 (28)
Pat Cummins to Joe Root, Pumps it on a good length, on top of middle. Root gets behind the line and defends it across.
Pat Cummins to Joe Root, Seams away, outside off, on a length. Root leaves it alone.
Joe Root comes out to the middle now
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, OUT! NICKED BEHIND! A screamer of a catch from Marnus Labuschagne. Consistent bowling in the channel brings the reward for the Aussie skipper. It is fractionally full, slightly outside off, Pope cannot resist from poking at it on the front foot. Ekes out a thick outside edge as the ball straightens a touch. Dips low and left to the second slip. Marnus Labuschagne shows great flexibility as he dives and stretches out his left hand to scoop the ball one-handed. And he is off in celebration like a happy little kid, with his teammates joining him for that stunner. Ollie Pope departs for 17 (29) and England are 31/2, needing 404 runs.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Short at 139.3 kph, outside off. Pope is rushed on the back foot and tries to pull it, but cops a blow on the elbow before the ball brushes the helmet grille.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Length ball, on off, Pope bunts it straight.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, BEATEN! Lovely bowling! Angles in and then seams away from a fuller length, on the fourth stump. A tempter to which Pope draws the front foot forward to block, and gets beaten by the zipper.
- Zak Crawley 1 (28)
- Ollie Pope 17 (25)
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Starc keeps causing trouble! He lands it on a good length, and gets it to nip back in on off. Zak Crawley tentatively tries to block, but gets an inside edge and the ball caves behind the flap of the back pad.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Length-delivery, on the leg stump. Pope nudges behind square on the leg side for a single.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, At 144.1 kph, this one jags back in a long way, on a good length. Ollie Pope is off-balanced while trying to negotiate that and gets slammed on the back thigh pad.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, outside off, Pope opens the bat's face at the point of contact and guides it between gully and backward point. Lyon from backward point chases it with a slide. Two taken.
We can see Nathan Lyon warming up and doing some stretches. Probably, we will see him soon with the ball.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Slammed on a hard length, around off. Pope ignores.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Slides across off, full, Pope leaves on the front foot.
- Zak Crawley 1 (27)
- Ollie Pope 14 (20)
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, A teaser from Cummins at 135 kph, just outside off, Crawley leaves it on a length.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, On top of off, Crawley hangs back and taps it to cover. Uh, oh! Cummins has overstepped. Umpire Ahsan Raza signals No Ball.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Closer to the stumps, on a fuller length. Crawley dinks it to mid on.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Feeds on a good length, on off, Crawley defends with a forward press.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Speared in full, on the fourth stump. Crawley leans on and defends it to point.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Tap and run! Full and on off, Pope presses forward and eases it towards extra cover for a single.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Outside off, a length ball, left alone by Pope.
- Zak Crawley 1 (22)
- Ollie Pope 13 (18)
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, At 144 kph, miles outside off, full in length. Crawley is happy to see that off.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, The length is dragged back on a length, outside leg. Pope shuffles across and glances it towards deep backward square leg for one more.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, FOUR! That will make him feel confident! A bit too full and outside off. Ollie Pope gets his hands through the line and drives it to the right of point for a boundary.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Straighter this time, outside off and full. Ollie Pope gets on the front foot and drives it off the toe end towards mid off.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Lovely delivery! Boomerangs back in and around the off pole, full in length. Pope strides across and offers no shot.
Mitchell Starc to Ollie Pope, Touch full, on off, blocked off the front foot to short extra cover.
- Zak Crawley 1 (21)
- Ollie Pope 8 (13)
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, Good-length delivery, outside off, Zak steps forward and steers it to backward point.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, On a nagging length, outside off, Zak leaves.
Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley, PEACH! In-between length, straightens up a bit from off, Zak Crawley stands tall, plays inside the line and the ball flirts past his blade on the way to the keeper.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Nip-backer on a good length, Pope gets across and tucks it between square leg and mid-wicket for a single.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, Straighter and fuller, on middle. Ollie Pope leans on and blocks it under his eyes.
Pat Cummins to Ollie Pope, POPE IS BEATEN! Seams away from the good length, just outside off. Ollie Pope is squared up on the back foot defence and gets beaten past the outside edge.
- Zak Crawley 1 (18)
- Ollie Pope 7 (10)
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Nips away from off, on a length. Well left by Crawley.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Length ball at the pads, flicked off the back foot to mid-wicket.
Mitchell Starc is not happy with his landing area. One of the ground staff members comes out and puts some sawdust there. We are good to go...
A couple of balls ago, Mitchell Starc was given a warning for running into the danger area.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Just outside off, good length, Crawley leaves as the ball keeps nibbling away.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Hits the deck hard around middle and leg. Crawley hangs back and solidly knocks it down the strip.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, Slanting outside off, on a hard length. Zak leaves it alone.
Mitchell Starc to Zak Crawley, FOUR LEG BYES! Back of length, outside leg. Zak gets inside to nudge it around the corner, but misses. The ball deflects of the thigh pad and races away to the deep fine leg fence.
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
