England’s hopes of keeping the 2025 Ashes alive are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a dramatic late collapse on day four of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. With Australia needing just four wickets to seal the series and retain the urn, Ben Stokes’ side faces the daunting task of chasing down a Test-record 435 runs after closing the day on 207-6. As the fifth and final day looms, the prospect of an Ashes defeat inside just 11 days of cricket—something not seen in over a century—has become all too real for the visitors.
After heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane, where England folded in two and four days respectively, the embattled touring side arrived in Adelaide desperate to avoid the ignominy of surrendering the Ashes in the fewest days since 1921. That year, Australia clinched the series in just eight days—a feat that has stood as a benchmark of dominance for over a hundred years. Now, with Australia closing in on a 3-0 lead and the urn almost in their grasp, history threatens to repeat itself in emphatic fashion.
For much of day four, England showed a resilience that had been sorely lacking earlier in the series. Captain Ben Stokes, having not bowled on day three due to fitness concerns, returned to the attack with a spirited seven-over spell that helped restrict Australia’s second-innings total. The tourists took the last six Australian wickets for just 38 runs, dismissing the hosts for 349. Travis Head, the standout batsman of the series, continued his rich vein of form with a masterful 170, while Alex Carey contributed a brisk 72. Josh Tongue (4-70) and Brydon Carse (3-80) spearheaded England’s bowling fightback, ably supported by Jofra Archer’s sharp caught-and-bowled to end the innings.
Set an improbable 435 to win, England’s reply began inauspiciously. Ben Duckett, whose struggles at the top of the order have become a recurring theme, was dismissed for just four runs in the first over by Pat Cummins. Duckett’s highest score this series remains a modest 29, and his average of 16.16 has left his place in the side under serious threat. Ollie Pope, himself under mounting pressure after a string of low scores, managed only 17 before falling to a stunning one-handed catch by Marnus Labuschagne. Pope’s Ashes average now sits at 17.62 across 16 innings—worse than any other English top-six batsman since 1900, save for Dennis Amiss.
Despite the early setbacks, Zak Crawley emerged as the unlikely hero of the day for England. The Kent opener, often criticized for inconsistency, produced the grittiest knock of his 62-Test career, compiling a patient 85. Crawley’s 102-ball half-century was the second slowest of his career, but it was exactly what England needed as he built partnerships of 78 with Joe Root and 68 with Harry Brook. Root himself contributed a hard-fought 39 before falling to Cummins for the 13th time in Test cricket—a record for any bowler against the Yorkshireman.
For a brief period, England’s “Bazball” ethos gave way to a more measured, orthodox approach. The tourists appeared to have recognized the need for patience and discipline against a relentless Australian attack. But just as hope began to flicker, Nathan Lyon intervened with a devastating spell in the final hour. The off-spinner, toiling away on a turning pitch, first dismissed Harry Brook for 30 with a delivery that bowled the right-hander as he attempted a risky reverse-sweep. Lyon then accounted for Stokes, bowling the England captain for just five runs, before luring Crawley out of his crease for a stumping by Carey. In the space of six overs, England lost three wickets for just 17 runs—an all-too-familiar collapse that left their Ashes dreams in tatters.
"It’s disappointing," Crawley admitted after play. "We came here to win the Ashes and we’re staring down the barrel now. There will still be plenty to play for and we’ll definitely view it like that. It’s been tough. They’re a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it and they’ve proven why."
At stumps, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks were unbeaten, having survived a tense final half hour to at least force a fifth day. But with 228 runs still required and only four wickets in hand, the writing appears to be on the wall for England. Australia’s bowlers—led by Lyon’s 3-64 and Cummins’ 3-24—have consistently found ways to break through at crucial moments, underlining their dominance throughout the series.
Australia’s likely victory would mark the third time since 2000 that they have clinched an Ashes series in just 11 days, further extending England’s winless run Down Under to 18 Tests and condemning them to a fourth consecutive away Ashes series defeat. The sense of inevitability was palpable in the Adelaide stands, where a record crowd of over 200,000 has witnessed a near-flawless display from the home side.
For England, the focus may soon shift to damage control and avoiding a 5-0 whitewash. With the fourth Test set for Boxing Day in Melbourne, questions abound regarding the futures of several players. Duckett and Pope, in particular, face uncertain prospects, while there is speculation that Pope could take over wicketkeeping duties in a bid to revive his batting confidence—his average as a keeper, 45.60, is the best by an Englishman in 132 years. The coaching duo of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will be under intense scrutiny as they consider potential lineup changes and attempt to salvage pride from a series that has rapidly slipped away.
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, reflecting on the day’s play, was quick to praise Lyon’s efforts while cautioning against complacency. "I just thought Nathan [Lyon] was bowling really well and kept putting lots of energy on the ball. He toiled away all day and finally got some reward. I always want to contribute to help this team win games of cricket. I understand there’s still a lot of work to do tomorrow morning. So far so good, but personally I don’t like to look too far ahead, maybe reflect, jump in the pool tonight, get home to the kids and then come back tomorrow and really look forward to it. The boys are bowling really great areas, we know it’ll be hard work again."
As the Ashes edge towards a historic conclusion, England’s resilience will be put to the ultimate test. Can they conjure a miracle on the final day, or will Australia complete a ruthless sweep and etch their names into the record books once more? The cricketing world waits with bated breath as the drama unfolds in Adelaide.
