Australia have decided not to recall veteran batter Usman Khawaja for the crucial third Ashes Test in Adelaide, a match England captain Ben Stokes has described as the most important of his leadership career. With England trailing 2–0 in the five-match series, defeat would effectively end their hopes of reclaiming the Ashes on Australian soil.

The decision means Khawaja, who missed the second Test with back spasms and turns 39 this week, may have already played the final match of his 85-Test career. Australia will instead continue with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as their opening partnership.

High Stakes for England in Adelaide

England enter the third Test under intense pressure after losses in the opening matches. Another defeat would seal a fourth consecutive Ashes series loss in Australia, extend England’s Ashes drought to at least 12 years, and place heavy scrutiny on the leadership group of Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director Rob Key.

“This is the most important game I’ve been involved in as England captain,” Stokes told BBC Sport. “I’ve enjoyed the build-up and the pressure of what this game means. I deal with big moments by facing them head on and doing my job when it matters.”

Stokes emphasized mental resilience, determination, and grit as England attempt to keep the series alive. The tourists must win three of the remaining Tests to regain the urn.

Cummins Returns as Australia Strengthen Line-Up

Australia receive a major boost with Pat Cummins returning as captain, having missed the first two Tests due to a back injury. Cummins replaces Michael Neser, while veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon comes back in place of Brendan Doggett.

Cummins insisted he is fully fit despite not playing since July’s West Indies tour. “I had 16 weeks completely off bowling to let the bone heal,” he said. “We took an aggressive approach to get ready for the Ashes, and I feel great.”

With high temperatures forecast for Adelaide, Cummins’ match fitness and workload management could be a decisive factor.

Australia and England Team Selections

Australia XI:
Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

England XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue

England have made one change, bringing in Josh Tongue for Gus Atkinson. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has again been overlooked, with all-rounder Will Jacks preferred to strengthen batting depth.

Pressure Mounts on England Leadership

Since taking over as captain in 2022, Stokes and McCullum enjoyed an explosive start, winning 10 of their first 11 matches. However, England’s record since then has been mixed, with 16 wins and 15 losses in their last 33 Tests and no series victories against Australia or India.

Stokes acknowledged that some players are struggling with the intensity of touring Australia. “I’ve probably used my voice more than at any time in the last three and a half years,” he said. “We’ve spoken a lot about fight, determination, and grit. Given the situation, I expect to see a very different response this week.”

Defeat in Adelaide could trigger significant changes within the England setup and raise serious questions about the futures of several players.

Ashes Turning Point

Australia were also 2–0 ahead during the 2023 Ashes in England, only to be pegged back to a 2–2 draw. Cummins said his side have learned valuable lessons from that experience and are determined to avoid complacency.

As temperatures rise and pressure intensifies, the third Test is shaping up as a defining moment in the Ashes series—and potentially in Ben Stokes’ captaincy.