England's hopes of retaining the Ashes are hanging by a thread after a disastrous batting display on the second day of the third Test in Adelaide.
Scorecard Tells a Grim Story
After bowling Australia out for a seemingly manageable total of 371, England's reply faltered catastrophically. They staggered to the close of play on Thursday, 18 December 2025, at a precarious 213 for eight. This leaves them 158 runs behind with just two wickets remaining, staring down the barrel of another defeat which would likely seal the series for Australia.
Stokes Stands Alone in the Heat
The sole beacon of resistance was captain Ben Stokes, who played an uncharacteristically patient and gritty innings. Battling severe cramps and dehydration in the intense Adelaide heat, Stokes laboured for 151 deliveries to remain 45 not out. His defiant knock stood in stark contrast to the failures of the specialist batsmen above him.
The top order offered little resistance, with the top three batsmen all back in the pavilion within the first 10 overs of the innings. The scale of England's batting woes is underscored by the fact that most of the line-up are averaging below 30 for the series, a statistic that highlights a collective failure.
Coach Defends Team's Effort
In the aftermath of the collapse, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick leapt to the defence of the players. He insisted the squad had not let down their battling skipper and were giving their absolute best in challenging conditions.
"The lads are trying their hardest out there," Trescothick stated. "It's a tough pitch and Australia bowled well. To suggest they've let Ben down isn't fair—they're fighting for the badge."
Despite this defence, the scoreboard presents a bleak picture. With only the tailenders left to support Stokes, England require a miraculous turnaround on day three to avoid conceding a potentially decisive lead in this Ashes series.
