Australia v The Three Lions: Final Ashes Test, The Third Day Gets Underway

The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an extended first session that will last two and a half hours. Should Travis Head remain at the crease by the lunch break, Australia will be strapped into the box seat.

A Sea of Pink for a Cause

It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with spectators adorned in pink in support of the McGrath Foundation. The day honors the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support.

A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening

It was hard to know whether it was a signal sent to the Australians or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a annoying day's end in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to continue the exchange.

As the umpires moved in, the England skipper departed after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. Under ICC regulations, the England captain could be reprimanded for “inappropriate physical contact”.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his record in life was loud and clear in backing his guild. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his frequent argument.

Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie had the same view observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had three specialist fast bowlers, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384.

It would have been helpful to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three at the SCG. A crucial morning session awaits, yet one cannot ignore the end-of-term feeling that has pervaded this Test so far.

We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, particularly when England play in Australia. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two inconsequential matches? It’s not what we thought when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes.

The stakes are further reduced of a potential whitewash; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. An underwhelming display with the ball from England let Australia race to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser was struck nastily on the elbow near the end of play, highlighting that the surface – though generally batsman-friendly – is on the capricious side. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they can force their way back into the game.

In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.