England's hopes of retaining the Ashes urn have been left in tatters after a brutal fourth day of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. The tourists, set a mammoth target of 435 to win, stumbled to 207 for six at stumps, leaving them requiring a further 228 runs with only four wickets in hand on the final day.
Australia Bat England Out of Contention
The day began with Australia resuming their second innings on 271 for six, already holding a commanding position. Travis Head added just five runs to his overnight score before being dismissed for a magnificent 170, but a crucial 72 from wicketkeeper Alex Carey allowed the hosts to stretch their total to 349 all out. This set England a record-breaking chase of 435, a target never before successfully achieved in a Test match at the Adelaide Oval.
England's Top Order Falters Under Pressure
England's pursuit started disastrously. The new ball pairing of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins struck early, removing the dangerous Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope with the scoreboard reading a precarious 31. Zak Crawley offered a glimmer of resistance, batting with commendable discipline to reach a half-century, but wickets continued to fall at the other end.
The key moment arrived when Australian captain Pat Cummins produced a superb delivery to have his opposite number, Joe Root, caught behind for 39. It was the 13th time Cummins has dismissed Root in Test cricket, a statistic that underscores his dominance over England's premier batter.
Lyon Turns the Screw as Hope Fades
A brief counter-attack from Harry Brook, who smashed 30 runs including several audacious reverse sweeps, threatened to ignite England's 'Bazball' spirit. However, his aggression proved his undoing as he was bowled by Nathan Lyon attempting another reverse sweep. The veteran off-spinner found significant turn and bounce from the worn Day Four pitch, tightening Australia's grip on the match.
By the close of play, the situation was dire for England. With the inexperienced pairing of Jamie Smith and Will Jacks at the crease, the team requires nothing short of a miraculous partnership to salvage an unlikely draw, let alone a win. The prospect of Australia taking a 2-0 series lead, with only two Tests remaining, now looks overwhelmingly likely.
What Happens Next?
Day Five promises to be a short but tense affair. England's only realistic goal is to bat out the three sessions for a draw, but with Nathan Lyon poised to exploit the deteriorating surface and Australia's pace attack fresh, survival seems a monumental task. The fate of the Ashes could be decided within the first hour in Adelaide.
