The fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground has delivered yet another day of high drama and world-class cricket, with Australia surging ahead of England by 51 runs at stumps on day three. The hosts, already leading the series 3-1 and having retained the Ashes, showcased their batting depth and resilience, fueled by a majestic 163 from Travis Head and a captain’s knock from Steve Smith, who finished the day unbeaten in the nervous nineties.
With the Sydney crowd in full voice and the sun beating down, the day began with Australia resuming at 166 for 2, trailing England’s first-innings total of 384. The stakes were clear: England, desperate for a win to salvage pride, needed early wickets, while Australia eyed a commanding lead to close out the series in style.
Travis Head, in the form of his life, picked up where he left off, driving and pulling with authority. His third century of the series—following 123 in Perth and 170 in Adelaide—came up in just 105 balls, greeted by a standing ovation as he windmilled his bat in celebration. According to AFP, “Head clattered an early midwicket boundary off Ben Stokes and reached three figures with his 17th four, crunched through the covers from Tongue.” Head’s innings was a blend of aggression and grit, peppered with 24 boundaries and a towering six, and he looked set for a double ton until a moment of brilliance from England’s Jacob Bethell turned the tide.
Bethell, bowling for the first time in the series, trapped Head LBW while attempting a sweep, ending a marathon knock that has further cemented Head’s reputation as one of cricket’s most versatile batsmen. The dismissal, coming in the third over after lunch, was reviewed by Head but to no avail—ball tracking showed it crashing into middle and leg. The SCG crowd stood as one to applaud the 32-year-old, whose 163 had put Australia firmly in the driver’s seat.
England’s fielding woes continued to haunt them, with Will Jacks dropping a sitter at the boundary when Head was on 121—a moment that could have dramatically altered the course of the match. Zak Crawley also shelled a chance off Steve Smith at leg gully, allowing the Australian captain to settle in and anchor the innings. These missed opportunities left England’s bowlers, led by Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue, to toil for breakthroughs on a pitch offering little assistance.
Usman Khawaja, playing his 88th and final Test after announcing his retirement, received a hero’s sendoff from the Sydney faithful. He added a steady 17 before falling LBW to Brydon Carse, a full toss that dipped late and caught Khawaja plumb in front. The review confirmed the worst for the veteran opener, who walked off to a standing ovation, his place in Australian cricket history secure.
Michael Neser, promoted as nightwatchman, provided stubborn resistance, sticking around for 90 balls and frustrating England’s attack. He survived two wasted reviews and played several crisp boundaries before edging Carse to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for 24. Neser’s partnership with Head in the morning session ensured Australia reached the drinks break unscathed, setting the platform for the middle order to capitalize.
Alex Carey, coming in after Khawaja’s departure, played a typically fluent cameo, striking three boundaries in quick succession. However, he fell for 16 just before tea, flicking Tongue to a well-placed leg slip where Bethell made no mistake. It was a carbon copy of his dismissals in previous Tests, highlighting a vulnerability England had clearly targeted.
Amidst the wickets and milestones, the day was not without its share of controversy and quirky moments. A bizarre exchange between Steve Smith and Brydon Carse left former England captain Michael Vaughan “baffled,” as reported by Daily Mail Sport. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with Marnus Labuschagne, the England skipper’s frustration boiling over after a failed DRS review. The umpires and match referees may yet have words with Stokes, who was seen taking painkillers to get through a taxing session.
As the shadows lengthened, the spotlight turned to Steve Smith, who has relished his role as stand-in captain in Pat Cummins’ absence. Smith rode his luck early, surviving the aforementioned drop and several hostile spells from England’s quicks. He brought up his 45th Test half-century with a trademark drive down the ground, and by stumps had moved serenely into the 90s, his eyes set on a 32nd Test hundred at his beloved SCG.
Alongside Smith, Cameron Green provided crucial support, batting confidently for 35 off 61 balls. The pair’s partnership blunted the second new ball and steadily increased Australia’s lead, with Green launching a massive six off Stokes and threading the field with well-timed boundaries. The English attack, visibly weary, relied on part-time spin from Bethell as their pacers began to tire.
By the end of day three, Australia had reached 435 for 6, a lead of 51 runs with Smith unbeaten in the 90s and Green solid at the other end. England’s bowlers, particularly Carse and Bethell, showed flashes of brilliance but were let down by inconsistent lengths and costly fielding lapses. With four wickets in hand and two days to play, Australia are poised to push for a commanding first-innings lead and potentially a 4-1 series victory.
The Ashes may already be retained, but the intensity and drama on display in Sydney show just how much this storied rivalry still means. With Smith closing in on another SCG century and England searching for inspiration, all eyes will be on the action as day four unfolds. Will Australia bat England out of the contest, or can Stokes’ men conjure a late fightback? The stage is set for another memorable chapter in Ashes history.
As the players left the field to a raucous ovation, the sense of anticipation was palpable. The fifth Test remains finely balanced, but momentum is firmly with the Australians as they look to cap a dominant series with one final flourish in front of their home fans.
