The players are about to take the field for an lengthy 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 Pink Outpouring of Support
It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support.
A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground.
On-Field Tensions Bubble Over
It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Seemingly reacting to something said by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He subsequently approached 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. As per the ICC code of conduct, the England captain could be reprimanded for making improper physical contact.
Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics
When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his record in life was loud and clear in supporting fellow spinners. 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 watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he stated during commentary.
Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had three specialist fast bowlers, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with significant stands while Joe Root went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384.
It could have been advantageous to introduce a specialist spinner when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It might have eased the burden to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell.
Setting the Scene for Day Three
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third day's play in Sydney. There’s a big first session coming, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere 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, mainly because there was such expectation. Two dead rubbers? It’s not what we thought when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes.
The stakes are further reduced of a possible series sweep; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. A poor bowling performance from England let Australia race to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is 91 not out from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has scored a single from fifteen deliveries.
Neser received a painful blow to the elbow just before the close, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they can force their way back into the game.
Regarding this specific game, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.
