the third Ash Test between Australia and England He set Adelaide Oval on fire from 17 to 21 December 2025, with hosts Australia chasing a daunting 435 runs after posting 371 and 349 in their innings. England replied with 286 in the first over, after 85, slumping to 194/6 on Day 4, needing 241 more on a worn pitch. Head of TravisEngland’s captain left Australia with 170 shots in the second innings Ben Stokes‘ side are on the brink of this crucial series clash
Nathan Lyon’s peach breaks Ben Stokes on day 4
Nathan Lyon He had a match-defining moment on Day 4, bowling out Stokes for 51.6 overs to leave England on 189. Departed on 189 at the wicket, Lyon drifted to mid-stump before making a ferocious correction, spinning past Stokes’ hand-to-hand bat to cut the top. Stokes departed for 5/18 balls (1×4, SR 27.77), his frustration palpable as Australia tasted victory. The veteran spinner’s figures were 13-1-57-2, his third knock underscoring Adelaide’s spin situation. Before that, Lyon was sent off Zach Crawley (85, stumbled) and Harry Brooke (30, bowled), using the turn to disrupt England’s middle order. This “special delivery” mirrored Lyon’s Adelaide mastery, which has historically tormented England.
We present the video:
Ball from Nathan Lyon to Ben Stokes. Definitely peachy 🍑 #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/QhUe1fkkXN
— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) December 20, 2025
Australia are cruising towards an Ashes series win against England
Australia edged closer to a decisive victory in the 2025-26 Ashes as England reached 194/6 after 53.5 overs and fell deeper into trouble under lights. Still needing 241 runs and only a minimum of 14.1 overs remaining, England were stifling under relentless pressure, which was reflected in a modest score rate of 3.60. Pat Cummins Led from the front with an excellent spell of 3 for 24 from 10, he reached the top order with a sweep. Ben Duckett for 4, Ollie Pope 17 and prize gate Joe Root for 39. The last over before stumps summed up England’s woes as they managed just 43 runs in the last 10 overs for the loss of three wickets.
The match went according to Australia’s script from the start. On Day 1, the hosts piled up 326 for 8, built around a fluent century Alex Carey (106) and consists of 82 Osman Khawaja. England replied with 213 for 8 on Day 2 Ben Stokes‘ gritty 83 and Jofra Archerprovides 51 resistance. Australia then tightened their grip on Day 3 and climbed to 271 for 4 on the back of dominant Head batting. Head then hit 16 fours and two sixes to take him to 170, while Carey added 72 as Australia were bowled out for 349. Archer’s five-wicket haul in the first innings raised England’s hopes briefly, but Cummins’ fine captaincy and bowling kept Australia out of just four seamer wickets.
