Ashes 2025 live score: Australia lead passes 300 as Head notches century

England are once again facing an uphill battle to win the third Ashes Test in Adelaide after a century from Travis Head gave Australia a lead of 292 runs in the final session of day three.

Captain Ben Stokes and key bowler Jofra Archer produced a partnership of 106 runs to steady the tourists in the morning as England ended the first innings 286 all out, with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland finding the final wickets.

That gave the hosts an 85-run lead going into their second innings, but while Brydon Carse removed Jake Weatherald for one early on for a promising start, the tourists’ bowlers struggled at the Adelaide Oval, with Head quickly racking up a half-century.

And though Josh Tongue later removed Marnus Labuschagne for 13, Usman Khawaja took 27 off 41 before tea to steady Australia again, with Head completing another century to leave England with plenty to do through the rest of day three.

Follow updates from day three of the third Ashes Test below:

Third Ashes Test, day three - live updates

England resume day three of the third Ashes Test on 213-8, trailing Australia by 158 runs | Live on TNT Sports
Travis Head makes 11th Test century
WICKET! Green caught off Tongue delivery to give England hope
WICKET! Khawaja nicks to Smith to fall on 40
WICKET! Labuschagne edges to Brook to leave Australia 53-2
WICKET! Carse removes Weatherald early on

Australia 218-4

06:20 , Chris Wilson

Carse is back on the attack for the tourists. He bowls another five dot balls but can’t find the maiden, with Head managing a single on the final ball.

Head goes big on Jacks’ first delivery, charging down and hooking it for four, before adding two more to Carey’s single.

The lead is now 303.

Australia 210-4

06:13 , Chris Wilson

Another good over from Carse yields just one run, before Jacks returns and concedes just a single too.

Lower run rates but it’s not enough for England, and all hope of a comeback seems to be fading.

Australia 208-4

06:06 , Chris Wilson

Aside from that century from home favourite Head, Australia’s lead is getting closer to 300 now too. Not good news for the visitors, whose hopes are fading fast.

Carse is up next to try and test the hosts.

HEAD SECURES CENTURY

06:02 , Chris Wilson

Australia 206-4

Root back in, Carey finds one, England bring in the field once more. Same again!

This time though, Head charges down the wicket and fires Root’s delivery back where it came from to make his century!

103 not out for the South Australian.

Australia 202-4

06:00 , Chris Wilson

Archer up next to try and deny Carey and Head, but the former finds a single to put Head back on strike with three balls left.

England bring the field in again and Head makes firm contact but Brooks stops it at gully. He actually dropped a catch but that was a very difficult one.

Four more dot balls follow and Head stays at 99 once more.

Australia 201-4

05:55 , Chris Wilson

Two more for Head as he fires down mid-wicket. Four dot balls follow from Root...

And a fifth as the Australian stays on 99!

Australia 199-4

05:49 , Chris Wilson

Just the two runs allowed by Archer in that over, one of which goes to Head, taking him to 97 as the teams break for drinks.

Australia 197-4

05:45 , Chris Wilson

Head pinches three runs off Root in the next over, with Carey lucky not to have clipped one to Stokes.

Stokes actually heads down the tunnel a few moments later, though we’re not sure why.

Those runs leave Head on 96, closing in on that century, though he’s up against Archer next so he might have to wait.

Australia 193-4

05:40 , Chris Wilson

Another Root over passes without testing Head or Carey. Five from the over as the two batsmen look comfortable, with their partnership already up to 44.

Archer follows with a maiden over but it does feel like hope is starting to fade for England.

Australia 188-4

05:32 , Chris Wilson

It’s once again feeling like England don't have many ideas here, with Root hit for five singles in the next over.

Australia’s lead is now 272, with Head having scored 92 today.

Archer comes up once more to try and make something happen – it’s better, with five dot balls before a single on the final delivery.

Australia 182-4

05:25 , Chris Wilson

The tourists have opted for Archer to return to the attack.

Not a great start though, as his first delivery gives Australia four leg-byes.

Only one run conceded off his other deliveries though.

Australia 177-4

05:20 , Chris Wilson

Root to bowl once more, and Head is up to 90 with a single from a good cut shot.

Two more singles follow and the hosts’ lead is now 262.

Australia 174-4

05:19 , Chris Wilson

It’s five for Carey off Tongue’s next over, moving him to 13. He’s perhaps a little lucky too, as his drive stays airborne for a little longer than he’d have liked and isn’t too far from being taken by a diving Root.

Australia 169-4

05:13 , Chris Wilson

Three singles in the next over take Australia into a 250-run lead,

Two more singles follow before Head tries to clip a four through point, but Duckett is there to prevent it well right at the boundary. Head settles for two, taking him to 89.

Australia 162-4

05:09 , Chris Wilson

First boundary of the day for Carey as he finds four when firing through deep point. Head is now on 85 as he finds a single.

Ben Stokes is still yet to bowl this afternoon, though nobody seems to know why exactly.

Australia 156-4

05:06 , Chris Wilson

A superb shot from Head to take some of the pressure of Carey, with the opener advancing down the wicket to hammer a six back down where it came from.

WICKET! Green c Brook b Tongue 7

05:01 , Chris Wilson

Australia 149-4

WICKET! England have more hope in Adelaide!Green has fallen for just seven.

Tongue bowls a full delivery and Green edges it to Brook, who makes a good catch at slip.

Australia 147-3

04:55 , Chris Wilson

Cameron Green is next in and he settles well with a four off his first ball, firing through the covers for the boundary.

He takes three more and Head adds a single off the final ball.

WICKET! Khawaja c Smith b Jacks 40

04:52 , Chris Wilson

Australia 139-3

WICKET! It could be a big one too.

Khawaja goes to fire away a short and wide delivery but he only manages to nick it to Smith!

Australia 139-2

04:50 , Chris Wilson

A couple of singles off the next over and now Head has moved to 75. He’s looking good value for a century, while Khawaja is now up to 40 himself too.

The Australia lead is 224 runs as the 36th over begins, with Jacks delivering again...

Australia 136-2

04:45 , Chris Wilson

Only one off the next over, with Tongue threatening a bit but Head still looking happy out there.

He certainly is happy when facing Jacks, driving back down the wicket to find a four off the first ball of the next over.

To be fair to Jacks, he follows with five dot balls to keep Head thinking in the crease.

Australia 131-2

04:38 , Chris Wilson

Not a great start from Jacks, who concedes 10 runs in the first three balls as Khawaja sweeps behind square for four.

Two singles follow and the Australia lead is now 216.

Australia 119-2 at tea

04:34 , Chris Wilson

England are coming back out onto the pitch, closely followed by Head and Khawaja.

We’ll be back underway very soon in Adelaide.

Australia 119-2 at tea

04:30 , Chris Wilson

Australia 119-2 at tea

04:23 , Chris Wilson

So what has happened in that second session?

Well, not a lot. There was only one wicket, with Marnus Labuschagne caught by Brook off a Tongue delivery, but really it’s been the Travis Head show once again, with the opener now sitting on 68 not out.

Usman Khawaja has scored fairly quickly too, and England are struggling to create chances with the ball in hand.

There’s a lot to do for the tourists at the moment if they want a manageable run chase.

Australia 119-2

04:14 , Chris Wilson

Four off Root’s second over of the innings, and Australia are edging towards a 200-run lead.

Carse takes the final over before tea, delivering a high teaser to Head before he replies by firing a short delivery for six to take Australia 204 ahead.

Those are the last runs before tea and England head in with the Ashes once again slipping away from them.

31 overs in and the players are off for tea.

Australia 109-2

04:07 , Chris Wilson

Carse bowls two dot balls before fizzing a high delivery past Head.

Only two runs conceded from Carse there, but England need wickets quickly and they don’t look like getting them at present.

Australia 107-2

04:00 , Chris Wilson

Slightly better from Carse, who concedes a single but follows it with five dot balls.

Joe Root is next to take the ball as England look to change things up and land a potentially pivotal breakthrough.

The 34-year-old concedes three runs from his first over of the day.

Australia 103-2

03:52 , Chris Wilson

An expensive over from Jacks as Khawaja finds three before Head edges behind and over Brook for a four.

Three more singles are conceded and Australia move past 100 on day three.

Australia 93-2

03:48 , Chris Wilson

Jacks concedes three from his over to put Australia into a lead of 173.

Head moves to 50 on the next over, firing it through long-on for another boundary. It’s his 21st Test 50, and it comes from 74 balls.

Still no maiden overs from England in the second session.

Australia 85-2

03:40 , Chris Wilson

England make the change as Carse re-joins the attack.

Khawaja managed a few clean shots but the England field is well-placed to limit him the over to two runs.

Australia 81-2

03:35 , Chris Wilson

Head finds a brave four as he hammers it through the covers to find the boundary.

He’s denied another boundary though as his drive back down the wicket crashes against the stumps!

England have lost that bit of momentum at the moment.

Australia 76-2

03:29 , Chris Wilson

Four runs for the hosts off Jacks’ next over, though there were some very good deliveries from the all-rounder.

Head has moved to 40, with Khawaja scoring 12 off 10 balls.

Australia 72-2

03:25 , Chris Wilson

Jacks is’t offering a lot of threat and Khawaja sweeps him out for four early on.

Tongue doesn’t fare much better than his teammate though, conceding four before a no-ball two and two singles.

Could we see Archer or Carse return to bowl soon?

Australia 57-2

03:17 , Chris Wilson

Usman Khawaja comes to the crease and starts fairly well, driving to the point boundary for his first runs of the second innings.

Will Jacks up to bowl next.

WICKET! Labuschagne c Brook b Tongue 13

03:12 , Chris Wilson

Australia 53-2

WICKET! Tongue’S delivery finds the shoulder of Labuschagne's bat and Harry Brook takes it cleanly to remove the second Aussie batsman of the day!

Australia 53-1

03:08 , Chris Wilson

More decent deliveries from Tongue – bar a wide – but the tourists aren’t really threatening wickets at the moment.

The field is maybe not placed to put pressure on the batsmen either.

Head is starting to rack up the runs and we know this could get away from England if he stays out there for a while.

He does edge a mid-stump delivery from Jacks, but it lands a foot in front of Brook!

Australia 47-1

03:00 , Chris Wilson

Stokes has responded to that lack of progress from England by introducing Will Jacks to the bowling attack.

It’s tidy stuff from the spinner too, getting plenty of movement and conceding just two runs of his first over.

Australia 45-1

02:55 , Chris Wilson

Four conceded by Tongue across his net three deliveries, before three dot balls to put Australia 130 ahead.

England just aren’t making a lot happen with the ball at the moment.

Australia 41-1

02:52 , Chris Wilson

Two dot balls to begin with before a no-ball three from Carse, and they’re followed by a nice four from Head, who half-volleys through mid-wicket.

Australia 33-1

02:45 , Chris Wilson

Josh Tongue is the next bowler to enter the fray with his first spell of the innings.

He starts with two dot balls before Head finds four, hitting through backward point to the boundary.

A trio of singles follow to end a fairly expensive over.

Australia 26-1

02:40 , Chris Wilson

Just one run allowed by Archer on the next over, with Australia moving into a lead of 110.

And another great over from Carse, conceding just one from his over too – and with some close calls for Labuschagne too.

Australia 24-1

02:30 , Chris Wilson

Carse continues to hit good areas as Head swings wildly at his second delivery of the eighth over.

It’s followed by more good fielding from England, this time by Duckett as he prevents a four and the hosts settle for a single.

And there’s another appeal here after Carse thinks Labuschange has nicked it to Smith, and England review with a second left on the timer...

Not out, he didn’t nick it after all.

Australia 23-1

02:26 , Chris Wilson

A good leave from Labuschagne on the first ball of Archer’s over, before he drives through point for two. Two singles follow.

Australia 18-1

02:19 , Chris Wilson

Head to face Carse first up then! Here we go in the second session of the day.

The opener finds his first run of the afternoon on the second ball, before an appeal as Labuschagne nicks it and Smith thinks he might have caught it...he looked unconvinced and it took a bounce centimetres before landing in his gloves!

Australia 17-1

02:13 , Chris Wilson

England are back out onto the pitch in Adelaide now, going through mini warm-ups and the like while getting a team talk from Stokes.

Australia 17-1

02:12 , Chris Wilson

And this was the final wicket of the first England innings...

England trail by 85 at the end of their first innings in Adelaide. pic.twitter.com/jDtM9xgcx5
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 19, 2025

Australia 17-1

02:09 , Chris Wilson

Here’s that first wicket of the day for England as Carse removed Weatherald somewhat fortunately...

Jake Weatherald falls to Brydon Carse as England look to restrict Australia in their second innings! pic.twitter.com/MYlOiTccZK
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 19, 2025

Australia 17-1

02:02 , Chris Wilson

So, what can the tourists produce with the ball in this next session? We’ll find out fairly soon.

Labuschagne: 'You take it day by day'

01:54 , Chris Wilson

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne spoke to TNT Sports before the start of day three, so here’s what he had to say:

"You take it day by day. We had a good day yesterday, taking eight wickets and keeping the runs down. For us, it is rinse and repeat.

"I think there is certain individuals who play their way. Their top order plays with a high tempo; Duckett, Crawley and Pope. Even Root and Brook score quickly and obviously Stokes locked it down yesterday and played it that way.

"It seems like there has been a shift at different times from their method. For us, it is trying to be adaptable and read how they're trying to play."

On his banter towards England's batters: "Usually Smudge [Steve Smith] is fielding at first slip, and I'm far enough away from the cameras that when I talk dribble that nobody hears, and it is just for the boys.

"All I'm trying to do is create some energy out there. It can be tricky with the crowd there. I try to create a little banter for the boys,” he added.

Third day so far

01:48 , Chris Wilson

Here's the story of the day so far then.

England were in a worrying position to start with but Stokes’ 83 and a half-century for Jofra Archer – his first in Test cricket – brought up a partnership of 106 to steady the tourists.

England finished 286 all out after Archer was the last to fall, with Australia opening with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald.

However, the latter was soon the first Aussie wicket to fall as Carse trapped him lbw, with the hosts deciding not to review despite the ball pitching outside leg!

Australia sit at 17-1 at lunch on day three.

Australia 1-17

01:41 , Chris Wilson

Australia 1-17

01:35 , Chris Wilson

A single for Head and five dot balls to end the first session of day three.

Australia 17-1 and the hosts lead by 102 as we head into lunch.

Australia 1-16

01:31 , Chris Wilson

Head starts with three before Labuschagne has his first runs of the day as he clips away a four off his feet.

Three dot balls follow and we’ve got one more over to go before lunch.

Australia 1-9

01:26 , Chris Wilson

Carse’s final delivery also gets appeals but it had drifted and was definitely going wide. A good over though, and plenty of early pressure for England!

What can Archer produce to pile the pressure on?

Three dot balls to begin with before some superb fielding from Pope prevents a potential four.

Two more dot balls from Archer to make it a maiden and we come back to Carse.

WICKET! Australia 1-8

01:20 , Chris Wilson

WICKET!

There’s the early wicket they wanted!Jake Weatherald has gone.

Carse strikes in his first over of the day as he delivers over the wicket to the left-hander and he’s trapped in front.

He has a quick chat with Travis Head and decides not to review, but that looks like an error – it pitched outside leg!

Australia 8-0

01:16 , Chris Wilson

A no-ball follows from Archer to take Australia to two, before a wayward delivery goes well wide for four.

And then another no-ball. Not a great start for Archer, and he’ll have an eight-ball over to begin with.

Weatherald finds a single to end an expensive over.

Australia 1-0

01:12 , Chris Wilson

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to begin the hosts’ second innings, with Archer to bowl.

Head starts with a single.

England all out for 286

01:08 , Chris Wilson

Australia preparing to bat for the second time now then, with England players having a chat and warming up.

The Aussie openers will have around 15 or 20 minutes to bat in their first session.

WICKET! England all out for 286

01:00 , Chris Wilson

WICKET! That is that for now then!

Boland’s delivery is edged straight into the hands of Labuschagne at slip and England trail by 85 at the end of the first innings.

England 286-9

00:57 , Chris Wilson

A couple of doubles from Tongue get plenty of cheers as the 11th batter looks to settle in Adelaide.

Starc comes back into the attack looking to finish things, but Archer edges a leg bye past Carey for four!

He goes big on the next one, charging down the wicket, though his wild swipe his outside edge and he can’t find a run.

He finds a single off the next ball and Tongue finds two more on the final ball, with England now trailing by 85.

England 275-9

00:47 , Chris Wilson

Stokes out for 83 then as Josh Tongue comes in to bat.

Not a convincing start either, with a big shout for lbw denied by the umpire – it’s reviewed instantly...

It would have been in line but it goes to umpire’s call, so we move on.

Tongue clips away a single for his first run of the day, before ending with a dot ball to leave England trailing by 96.

WICKET! England 274-9

00:42 , Chris Wilson

WICKET! It’s not to be for Stokes, and the reaction tells you everything.

Starc delivers a wobble-seam ball that turns back in and beats Stokes’ attempted drive.

It’s the end of a great innings but Stokes is clearly very irritated with himself.

England 273-8

00:37 , Chris Wilson

It’s Cummins to deliver to Archer as he looks for his 50 – and he finds it!

He drives through point to take himself to a half-century off 97 balls.

This is also only the sixth time England have posted a 100+ partnership for the ninth wicket in Ashes history.

England 272-8

00:35 , Chris Wilson

Starc to Stokes as we resume.

Two dot balls before the England captain finds a single to put Archer on strike.

A couple of close calls before Archer finds a single off the last ball, and he moves to 49!

England 270-8

00:28 , Chris Wilson

Stokes goes straight on the attack against Cummins, pulling it for four off the Aussie’s first ball.

And it’s followed by a good delivery that Stokes somehow edges past Carey for another four! 80 for the England captain.

He comes across the penultimate delivery and there are brief shouts, but the umpire isn’t interested.

Stokes closes the over with a single, tucking away off his legs to take England to drinks.

England 261-8

00:23 , Chris Wilson

Starc is up next with the first delivery of the new ball, with Stokes firing down square leg for a single.

Not so calm from Archer, with the delivery going clean through the gap between the pace bowler’s bat and leg. Starc looks like he can't believe how that’s not hit the stumps.

He clips the next delivery but gets lucky there’s nobody there for the catch, before Starc sends the next one out of reach.

A defensive shot for the penultimate ball, before a swing and near-miss on the final ball – a testing over for Archer.

England 260-8

00:18 , Chris Wilson

A single early on next over from Stokes and now Archer has to decide what to do with the new ball just around the corner.

Play safe or go for it? He certainly chooses the former option early on, batting away the first two balls before a lovely double as he cuts a shot through

He defends the final ball of the over and there’s a partnership of 92 out there now!

Unsurprisingly, Australia take the new ball immediately .

England 257-8

00:15 , Chris Wilson

Three singles there off Green – one of which was an overthrow, which brought plenty of cheers – before Archer glances it through fine leg for four. He’s within range of the half-century!

England 250-8

00:10 , Chris Wilson

Strong running from Stokes to push for three off Lyon’s first ball.

The captain follows with a single, before Archer tries to cut and thankfully sees the ball narrowly slip past the edge.

England 246-8

00:05 , Chris Wilson

Well bowled from Green here, tempting Archer into the swing and miss. The first near-miss from Archer this morning.

Two singles for the tourists as Stokes goes defensive and leaves the final delivery.

The new ball is available in three overs, with England now trailing by 125 runs.

England 244-8

00:02 , Chris Wilson

Just a single off the rest of Green’s over and Lyon moves back onto the attack.

He starts with a dot ball before Stokes plays a beautiful reverse sweep over backward point for four.

Lyon only conceded three boundaries in 22 overs yesterday, but he’s already been hit for two this morning!

England 238-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:55 , Chris Wilson

Three singles off the next Lyon over and Stokes moves to 60.

Cameron Green is next to take the ball, with Archer hitting a wayward single behind himself to move to 40. That’s his highest ever Test score, beating the 38 he scored in Brisbane!

England 234-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:51 , Chris Wilson

Six off the next over for the tourists, with Starc doing brilliantly to prevent a second four for Stokes.

It’s another shot through covers for a second four for the captain.

England 226-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:46 , Chris Wilson

It looked like Lyon was heading for another good over but Archer digs out a huge six over long on on the penultimate ball to add to his single.

England 219-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:42 , Chris Wilson

Three dot balls to begin with for Boland, before Stokes brings up the 50 as he knocks to backward point.

That’s the only run of the over and England move to 219.

England 218-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:38 , Chris Wilson

Lyon up next to deliver something different, with quite a lot of movement as Archer drives away for six dot balls. A solid start from the spinner.

England 218-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:36 , Chris Wilson

First boundary of day three and it’s a lovely shot from Stokes as the captain finds four with a drive through extra cover, walking to meet Boland’s delivery. It’s the final runs of the over and the tourists move to 218.

England 213-8

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:33 , Chris Wilson

Simple enough defence for Archer to start with, before he slips a single through on the second ball of the day to put Stokes on strike.

England getting ready to resume

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:30 , Chris Wilson

Here we go then! Archer first to face, Boland with the ball.

England getting ready to resume

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:22 , Luke Baker

We’re not far away from play on day three getting underway now. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will return to the crease trying to narrow the current deficit of 158 runs.

England are 213-8 with Stokes unbeaten on 45 and Archer 30 not out – having put on 45 together.

Can England somehow limit the gap to sub-100 runs heading into the second Australian innings?

England’s sad batting collapse leaves Ben Stokes ‘broken’ and Ashes dreams in tatters

Thursday 18 December 2025 23:10 , Luke Baker

Here’s a reminder of what happened yesterday - far from England’s finest day on a disheartening tour.

Read Cameron Ponsonby’s full day two report from Adelaide:

England’s sad batting collapse leaves Ben Stokes ‘broken’ and Ashes dreams in tatters

Ben Stokes is 'pretty broken' after day two

Thursday 18 December 2025 22:52 , Luke Baker

England batting coach Marcus Trescothick, speaking to TNT Sports in the aftermath of day two, admitted captain Ben Stokes was struggling.

“He’s worn out,” said Trescothick. “He’s cramping often and trying to get fluids in. He was really struggling to get the carbohydrates in, he said he felt like he was going to be sick every time.

“He’s pretty broken in there. The medical team will work on him tonight and get him back in the frame of mind for tomorrow.”

WATCH: 'We're still fighting', says Trescothick

Thursday 18 December 2025 22:23 , Luke Baker

Coach Marcus Trescothick was adamant England were still fighting despite a dismal day two in the third Ashes Test

Dubious Jamie Smith dismissal reignites DRS technology controversy: ‘Snicko needs to be sacked’

Thursday 18 December 2025 21:53 , Luke Baker

Another day, another Snicko controversy in the Ashes...

Jamie Smith was at the centre of the latest controversy when he looked to hook a short ball from Pat Cummins and seemingly missed the ball which flew through to Alex Carey behind the stumps.

Carey, Cummins and co all appealed believing Smith to have made contact with the ball but the England batter was ready to review the umpire’s decision.

But, the umpire decided to send for a review to see if the ball had cleanly landed in Carey’s hands before making a decision on the field. As part of that process a replay of the incident was shown with Snicko showing a spike after the ball had passed Smith’s bat. At the same time there seemed to be a gap between the bat and ball but the third umpire ruled that Smith had hit the ball and was out.

England captain Ben Stokes, who was batting at the time, dropped his head in disbelief when the decision was shown on the big screen.

The controversy was just one of several incidents on day two in which the technology process was questioned.

Dubious Jamie Smith dismissal reignites DRS controversy: ‘Snicko needs to be sacked’

Can Stokes and Archer salvage something for England?

Thursday 18 December 2025 21:28 , Luke Baker

England ended day two on 213-8, a mammoth 158 runs behind Australia on a friendly batting track.

Captain Ben Stokes (45*) and Jofra Archer (30*) ended the day with a gutsy unbeaten partnership of 45 in a rare show of England grit.

Can they continue that on day three and maybe salvage something from this disastrous first innings?

Trescothick defends England batters: 'Stokes was not let down'

Thursday 18 December 2025 21:05 , Luke Baker

Ben Stokes watched his England side crumble in the face of Ashes pressure yet again in Adelaide but assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted the team had not let their captain down.

“I’m not sure ‘letting him down’ is the right terminology to use to be honest,” said Trescothick. “Everybody is trying 100 per cent and working as hard as they can.

“It’s not like anybody is going in to any game and not working as hard as anybody else. They just haven't had the success they wanted at this stage. But success comes and goes, it's not guaranteed or given that you'll succeed in every series.

“Ben has chosen to play in that fashion today and gone about it in a way he thought was right. Everybody has the opportunity to try and read the situation and judge what they're going to try and do; the players will play in certain ways and we trust them to do that.”

WATCH: Ollie Pope's 'awful' dismissal

Thursday 18 December 2025 20:47 , Luke Baker

Here’s the moment Ollie Pope was out for just three, which Graeme Swann described as ‘awful’

England's footwork causing issues.

Thursday 18 December 2025 20:30 , Luke Baker

"The lack of foot movement would be something that really worries me."

Justin Langer, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann discuss England's attitude and lack of footwork with the bat

The end for Ollie Pope at No 3 after 'awful dismissal'?

Thursday 18 December 2025 20:19 , Luke Baker

Nathan Lyon dismissed Ollie Pope for three runs as the England batter’s woes continued in Australia.

And he was slated by pundit Graeme Swann for his ‘awful dismissal’ as questions continue about his continued place in the side

Graeme Swann rips into Ollie Pope after ‘awful dismissal’ as England toil in Adelaide

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer in heated exchange

Thursday 18 December 2025 20:10 , Luke Baker

England captain Ben Stokes and star bowler Jofra Archer shared strong words as England tried to finish off Australia’s tail on day two in Adelaide.

It was symptomatic of rising tensions within camp

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer involved in heated exchange as England wilt in Ashes heat

England’s sad batting collapse leaves Ben Stokes ‘broken’ and Ashes dreams in tatters

Thursday 18 December 2025 20:04 , Cameron Ponsonby in Adelaide

A reminder of the day two debacle that surely put a nail in England’s Ashes coffin

Blind rank these 2025 England Ashes collapses.

Is Perth day one your poison of choice? 160-5 to 172 all out. Or maybe Perth day two, where England went from 65-1 to 104-7. Brisbane day one was good. Starting the day by falling immediately to 5-two. But Brisbane day three was better. 90-1, to 128-6.

Or, was it today? Day two at Adelaide. Where, on England’s fifth opportunity with the bat, they failed for a fifth time.

If it wasn’t the worst, it was the saddest. Fortune has favoured England throughout this tour, a fact that makes the scale of the implosion all the more unbearable. In the first two Tests they won the toss, and even on this occasion when they didn’t, an under par batting display from Australia presented the perfect route to victory. Alas...

Read Cameron Ponsonby’s full day two report from Adelaide:

England’s sad batting collapse leaves Ben Stokes ‘broken’ and Ashes dreams in tatters

England v Australia - third Ashes Test

Thursday 18 December 2025 19:58 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s continuing coverage of the Ashes, as the third Test reaches day three.

Could this be the day where England’s Ashes dream truly dies?