England's grip on the Ashes urn is loosening rapidly after a punishing second day of the Third Test in Adelaide left them staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat. At the close of play on Thursday, 18th December 2025, the tourists trail Australia by a daunting 158 runs with only two wickets remaining, their survival dependent on captain Ben Stokes and bowler Jofra Archer.
A Day of Struggle and Controversy
The day began with England needing a monumental effort to recover from a first day dominated by a controversial failure of the Snicko technology. That momentum never arrived. The gamble on Jofra Archer's bowling tactics was expertly countered by the Australian batsmen, and England's reply with the bat swiftly turned into a near-total collapse.
Key wickets fell in quick succession. Ben Duckett was bowled for 29 by Nathan Lyon, reducing England to a precarious 42 for 3. Joe Root, who had survived an incredibly close DRS call on just one run, was later caught behind by Alex Carey off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was also involved in two more contentious Snicko-related decisions, walking off visibly frustrated after being given out caught behind for 22.
Stokes and Archer: From Fire to Fightback
The tension on the field was palpable, culminating in a heated exchange between captain Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer after Stokes appeared frustrated with the bowler's plans. However, the pair managed to channel that fire into a crucial rearguard action with the bat. Stokes, battling exhaustion in 39°C Adelaide heat that left him "broken" according to coach Marcus Trescothick, dug in for a stubborn 45 not out from 151 balls.
He found an unlikely ally in Archer, who had earlier taken 5/53 with the ball. Together, they forged an unbeaten 45-run partnership for the ninth wicket to ensure England live to fight another day. They will resume their stand on day three, the last flickering hope of saving the Test.
A Mountain to Climb
The reality for England, however, is bleak. The damage inflicted by the batting collapse and the continued shadow of DRS controversy leaves them with a Herculean task. To have any chance of salvaging this match and keeping the series alive, the Stokes-Archer partnership must not only survive but flourish for a prolonged period. With the Ashes gradually slipping away, day three in Adelaide promises to be a tense, nail-biting affair where England's resilience will be tested to its absolute limit.
