England's hopes of retaining the Ashes are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a calamitous batting collapse on the second day of the Adelaide Test. Following defeats in Perth and Brisbane, the tourists now stare down the barrel of an irretrievable 3-0 series deficit after their top-order wilted under the Australian sun on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Familiar Frailties Exposed in Scorching Heat
The day had begun with a flicker of promise for England. Jofra Archer mopped up the Australian tail to finish with impressive figures of five for 53, restricting the hosts to 371. On a benign pitch and with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees, conditions seemed set for England's under-fire batsmen to build a substantial reply. Instead, they produced a performance of painful familiarity, stumbling to 132 for five at tea.
The rot set in before lunch, with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Ben Duckett falling in the space of just 15 balls. Pope's dismissal was particularly meek, a limp flick to midwicket ending a torturous 10-ball stay for three runs. His struggles against Australia continue, with his average now a dismal 17.66 from 15 innings.
Returning Aussie Stars Apply the Pressure
Australia's attack, led by returning captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, exploited England's technical and mental frailties with ruthless efficiency. Cummins removed Crawley and the key wicket of Joe Root, while Lyon's classic off-break bowled Duckett. That wicket took Lyon past the legendary Glenn McGrath's tally of 563 Test wickets, moving him into sixth on the all-time list.
There was a brief fightback as Harry Brook made a brisk 45, sharing a half-century stand with a dogged Ben Stokes. However, just before tea, all-rounder Cameron Green produced a fine delivery to have Brook caught behind, snuffing out England's resistance. Captain Stokes remained dug in, unbeaten on 19 from 76 deliveries, but with the tail exposed, his task appears monumental.
Controversy and Missed Opportunities
The day was not without its drama. England's premier batter, Joe Root, survived a huge scare on just one run when a caught behind decision off Scott Boland was overturned on DRS. The review was extremely tight, coming a day after a separate Snickometer controversy had wrongly reprieved Australia's Alex Carey.
Ultimately, that let-off proved fruitless as Root edged Cummins to Carey for 19 soon after lunch. The sequence of events encapsulated England's tour: moments of potential fortune swiftly followed by self-inflicted wounds. With the series on the line, England's batting unit has once again failed to deliver, leaving their Ashes campaign in a state of profound crisis.
