AUS vs ENG Highlights, 3rd Ashes Test Day 5: Australia win by 82 runs to retain the Ashes

All set to get underway, folks. Overcast skies welcome the umpire and the players out to the middle. Australians have spring in their steps right now and are 4 scalps away from retaining the Ashes. They spread out and take their spots on the field. Will Jacks and Jamie Smith showed decent resistance to coast England to Stumps on Day 4. They walk to the crease as the overnight batters. And who has the ball? Nathan Lyon (18-3-64-3), it shall be. Smith to face. Surrounded by a leg gully, a forward short leg, and a slip in place. Here we go...

How's the weather in Adelaide? Umm... there was an early morning shower, but the weather has cleared up for now. It remains to be overcast though. The good thing is that the covers are off, so the ground staff and the local weather reports might be certain that there won't be any rain interruption. The radar also looks promising for the rest of the day. But that's nature, and you cannot predict anything. Let's hope it stays clear overhead. It's a huge day ahead.

England, meanwhile, face a monumental challenge that will require grit, clarity of thought, and a touch of magic. With the big guns back in the hut, the responsibility now rests heavily on the shoulders of the lower order, led by the unbeaten Jamie Smith and Will Jacks. Smith, in particular, has not had the best of Ashes so far, but England know what he is capable of, having seen him produce some extraordinary knocks in the past, most notably that unbeaten 184 against India at Edgbaston. To keep the Ashes alive, England need something of similar substance and courage, a performance built on belief, bravery, and defiance, on a final day that promises drama from the very first ball.

For Australia, Day 5 is all about finishing the job with discipline and patience. Nathan Lyon has once again been the key man, striking crucial blows late on Day 4 to remove Harry Brook, Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes, swinging the momentum firmly back in Australia's favour. Pat Cummins has led superbly, chipping in with important wickets and keeping the pressure relentless with sharp, attacking fields. With Alex Carey standing tall behind the stumps and the likes of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Lyon ready to exploit the footmarks, Australia will back their bowlers to ask constant questions and force England into mistakes as the tension rises.

Another gripping day awaits in this enthralling Ashes battle as we welcome you to our coverage of Day 5 of the third Test, with the series hanging delicately in the balance. Australia remain firmly in control, but England are still alive, heading into the final day at 207/6, needing 228 more runs in 90 overs to pull off a remarkable chase. The pitch has shown signs of wear, the pressure is mounting, and history looms large, making this a day that could define not just the Test, but the fate of the Ashes itself.

... DAY 5, SESSION 1 ...

England had a reasonable day, but the damage was already done. Australia might be confident that they have batted England out of contention, being just four wickets away. With the tourists still 228 runs adrift, the task indeed looks really big. The question is, can the English lower order sustain the pressure and mount another fightback? The likes of Starc and Cummins will come afresh the next morning, so negotiating their pace and bounce will be very tough. We go into the fifth and final day then. We will be back on Sunday, 21st December, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 11.30 pm GMT (Previous Day). Till then, you can follow all the action from the Big Bash League 2025/26, as the Sydney Smash is about to get underway in a short while between Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in Game 7 of the season. But from here, we sign off. See you on Sunday. Take care, cheers!

Australia's ALEX CAREY is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He says they don't want to look too much ahead. Adds that they will reflect on their performance and come up with plans to win the game. Mentions that Lyon was bowling really well, and with a lot of energy and he wanted him to continue that and he finally got his wickets towards the end. Says that he always wants to contribute and win games of cricket. Tells that he will hit the pool with his kids tonight and then come back for the final day. Ends by saying that the bowlers have been hitting the right areas and hopefully they continue to do that and make it hard work for the remaining English batters.

Australia relentlessly hammered their line and length in the first innings. The aging pitch eased up for the quicks, offering less assistance than before. But the spinners extracted good grip and turn from the wearing surface. Though the Head experiment didn't quite give them the results, Lyon smelled blood upon his return and struck immediately. He trapped Brook with an uninspiring shot as impatience got the better of him. Then came the big hammer blows. Lyon outfoxed Stokes before producing an absolute ripper to dismiss the well-set Crawley on 85. From a comfortable 177 for 3, England nosedived to 194 for 6. Jamie Smith and Will Jacks showed good resilience against the spin in tandem and batted till the end.

Australia were hunting for wickets, and Cummins delivered shortly after the restart. He dismissed the well-settled Root for the 13th time in Tests to break that crucial 78-run stand and wrestle back control. Crawley, though, slightly tinkered his game and looked in much control, forming a 68-run stand with Brook, being impatient at times. For a chase this big, perseverance is absolutely non-negotiable. You have to keep doing the right things over and over for extended periods, which is far easier said than done. One brain-fade moment is all it takes to flip the script entirely, and that's what happened as the shadows lengthened.

England stumbled to 4/1 before Pope's familiar flaws resurfaced, edging one to Labuschagne, who pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at second slip. Cummins bowled a marathon spell, consistently threading deliveries in that corridor and beating the edge repeatedly. However, Crawley and Root dug in with discipline, absorbing pressure from the seamers before shifting gears against Lyon, sweeping and reverse sweeping to deny him any rhythm in his first spell. With the frontline attack out of the picture, the pair added 78 runs at a fair clip, mounting a spirited fightback through Root and Crawley from 31 for 2, striking off 101 runs in 24 overs while losing just one wicket at Tea.

It was an action-packed day in the City of Churches, so let's take a quick recap. The overnight pair of Travis Head and Alex Carey pushed Australia's lead with a 162-run partnership, before Head fell to a short-ball trap from Josh Tongue and Carey departed on 72. The tail couldn't wag this time and crumbled quickly as Tongue, Carse, and Archer cleaned up effectively from 311/4 to bowling Australia out on 349. England needed to survive a tricky 10-minute passage before Lunch, but pressure struck again. Ben Duckett whipped his first ball through mid-wicket for four, only for Pat Cummins to find his edge the very next delivery, giving Australia first blood and the final word of the session.

It's going into the fifth day, folks. What an absorbing day of cricket in Adelaide. To England's credit, they scrapped hard and made Australia earn every breakthrough. They did not lose wickets in clumps, won the first two sessions, but then Lyon's brilliance exploded the resistance, dragging them right back to square one. Australia, just as they've done throughout the series, seized the crucial moments and capitalized ruthlessly. They've now inched closer to retaining the Ashes.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, MAIDEN OVER! Travis Head slows it up, full and on off. Will Jacks safely negotiates it. THAT WILL BE STUMPS ON DAY 4!

Travis Head to Will Jacks, A loopy yorker, on off, Will Jacks jams it out to the off side.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Flatter, full and on middle, Will Jacks keeps it out.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Flighted, full and on middle, Will Jacks defends it on the front foot.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Almost a wicket! Goes short and on off, turns in a bit. Will Jacks steps across to play but misses as the ball lobs up off his pads. Marnus Labuschagne at first slip grabs it and appeals but it is turned down.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Floated, full and on middle, Will Jacks tucks it to mid-wicket.

Okay then, last over of the day coming up. Travis Head (9-2-34-0) to bowl. Jacks to face with a slip and forward short leg in place.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Loops it up, full and on middle, Jamie Smith knocks it back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon to Will Jacks, Short again, on leg, Will Jacks works it through square leg for one.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Short and on middle, Jamie Smith flicks it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Flighted, full and around middle, Jamie Smith is solid in his defense.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Floated, full and on off, Jamie Smith gets forward to defend it.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Tossed up, full and on middle, Jamie Smith blocks it out.

3 minutes left on the clock. Last 2 overs left, maybe? Jamie Smith is under extreme pressure, on 1 (25) and is now ambushed by silly point, short leg and leg slip. 

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Flatter, short and on middle, turns in, Will Jacks flicks it away to mid-wicket.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Darts one full and on middle, Will Jacks defends it.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Slows it up, full and on off, turns in, Will Jacks has to wait for it a bit and fends it on the pitch.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, A loopy low full toss around off, Will Jacks drills it to extra cover.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Floated, full and on off kept out.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Tossed up, full and on off, Will Jacks blocks it out solidly.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Short again, on middle, Jamie Smith nudges it to mid-wicket.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Oh, close! Flatter, shortish and on off, turns in a bit but keeps low. Jamie Smith moves back to defend but gets an outside edge that deflects off Alex Carey's pads and rolls to point. It would be really harsh to call it a chance.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Slower through the air, full and on off, turns in, Jamie Smith is solid in his defense.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Floated, full and on off, Jamie Smith fends it down the pitch.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Tossed up, full and on off, Jamie Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Flighted, full and on middle, Jamie Smith looks to push it away but gets an inside edge towards mid on.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Shortish and on off, Will Jacks keeps it out to the off side.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Massive shout for caught behind, but turned down! However, Alex Carey does not look that confident, but Pat Cummins takes the review anyway. Slows it up, full and on off, does not turn much. Will Jacks presses forward to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge. Head looked the most interested, but Snicko confirms no bat involved. Carey also broke the stumps, but Jacks has his back foot grounded at all times. Australia lose a review.

Travis Head to Jamie Smith, Flighted, full and on off, Jamie Smith pushes it through covers for a run.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Short and on middle, Will Jacks pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, FOUR! 200 UP FOR ENGLAND! Floated, full and around off. Will Jacks strides out, extends his arms to get under it and thumps it to the long off fence for a boundary.

Travis Head to Will Jacks, Tossed up, full and on off, Will Jacks gets forward to block it out.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Drags his length back, on middle, Jamie Smith keeps it out to the leg side.

Nathan Lyon to Jamie Smith, Slower through the air, full and on off, Jake Weatherald knocks it back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon to Will Jacks, Flighted, full and on middle, Will Jacks sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Nathan Lyon to Will Jacks, Floated, full and on off, Will Jacks prods forward and fends it away.

Nathan Lyon to Will Jacks, Goes short and on middle, Will Jacks moves back to block it out.