Australia have retained the Ashes after defeating England by 82 runs in the third Test at Adelaide Oval, sealing an unassailable 3–0 series lead with two matches still to play. The victory continues Australia’s dominance on home soil and extends England’s miserable record in the country.
Set a daunting world-record target of 435 runs to win on the final day, England showed resistance on day five but were eventually dismissed for 352, falling well short of an improbable chase. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc led the charge with three crucial wickets, while Scott Boland took the final dismissal shortly before tea to spark celebrations among the home crowd.
Australia’s Authority on Home Turf
Australia’s win in Adelaide follows commanding performances in Perth and Brisbane, where England suffered heavy defeats. The result means England have now lost the Ashes within three Tests for the fourth consecutive tour of Australia, underlining the gulf between the two sides in familiar conditions.
Australian captain Pat Cummins, returning from a back injury, played a pivotal role by claiming six wickets across the match. He dismissed suggestions that the series would be closely fought, despite pre-series predictions of a balanced contest.
“A 3–0 lead is hugely satisfying, especially considering the talk before the series about how evenly matched it was supposed to be,” Cummins said after the match. “This group is very good at blocking out the noise and just getting on with the job.”
Experience Proves Decisive
Much of the pre-Ashes discussion focused on Australia’s ageing squad, but senior players once again delivered when it mattered most. Starc, now 35, dismissed criticism aimed at the team’s experience.
“We do laugh at some of the comments about how old we are,” Starc said. “Experience matters when you’ve been through the highs and lows of Test cricket. It plays a big role in moments like these.”
Australia’s bowlers applied relentless pressure throughout England’s second innings, exploiting both the pitch and the psychological weight of the chase.
England’s Hopes Fade on Day Five
Resuming the final day on 207 for six, England still required 228 runs and pinned their hopes on Will Jacks and Jamie Smith. The pair showed composure and briefly threatened to stretch the contest, putting together a steady partnership against the old ball.
Jacks battled through an ankle injury sustained early in the session, while Smith counterattacked with confidence, striking consecutive boundaries off Cummins and Starc once the second new ball was taken.
However, Smith’s aggressive approach proved his undoing. On 60, he attempted another attacking stroke against Starc but was caught by Cummins at mid-on, swinging momentum decisively back Australia’s way.
Jacks and Brydon Carse continued to frustrate the home side, reducing the target to under 100 runs, but Starc returned to break the stand. Jacks edged a seaming delivery to Marnus Labuschagne, who completed a superb diving catch in the slips, adding to another highlight-reel dismissal from the previous day.
From there, England’s resistance crumbled. Jofra Archer was caught in the deep attempting a slog, and Boland sealed the victory when Josh Tongue edged to Labuschagne, triggering loud celebrations at Adelaide Oval.
Travis Head: The King of Adelaide
Australia’s victory was built on commanding batting performances earlier in the match, particularly from Travis Head, who scored a majestic 170 in the third innings. It marked his fourth consecutive Test century at Adelaide Oval, cementing his reputation as one of Australia’s most reliable big-match players.
“If he wasn’t already, he’s the king of Adelaide,” Starc said of Head. “I don’t know how he keeps doing it, but it’s unbelievable to watch.”
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey was named Man of the Match after scoring 106 in the first innings and backing it up with a valuable 72 in the second, providing Australia with decisive lower-order runs.
England Left Searching for Answers
For England, the defeat represents another painful chapter in a long history of Ashes struggles in Australia. Despite bold pre-series statements from captain Ben Stokes and hopes that the aggressive “Bazball” approach could deliver success, England abandoned their attacking style in Adelaide and still fell short.
“We came here with a clear goal, and we haven’t achieved it,” Stokes admitted. “It hurts. They’ve simply outplayed us at a much higher level.”
England have now lost 16 of their last 18 Test matches in Australia, a statistic that highlights the scale of the challenge facing the touring side as the series continues.
What’s Next in the Ashes?
Although two Tests remain, the Ashes urn will stay with Australia. The hosts will now look to complete a dominant series victory, while England must regroup quickly to salvage pride and avoid a whitewash.
With momentum firmly on their side, Australia appear poised to further underline their supremacy in cricket’s oldest and most storied rivalry.
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