Ashes done and dusted: England fail despite low-order feats, Australia win third Test | Cricket News

Australia retained the Ashes with two matches remaining after Mitchell Starc claimed three of the last four wickets to halt England’s valiant fightback on the fifth day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval. The hosts cruised to an 82-run victory, leaving England unable to reach the ambitious target of 435, a total that would have required a world record fourth-innings chase. Australia began day five with just four wickets to confirm their hold on the urn, with England resuming at 6-207 and still 228 runs short. Captain Pat Cummins called the victory “pretty impressive,” praising the team’s efforts in a tough and drawn-out competition. Cummins, returning from a back injury that sidelined him for the first two Tests, noted that Test cricket in Australia is often a chore and praised his teammates for their perseverance. Steve Smith had led Australia to eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane, but missed the Adelaide Test due to dizziness, ruling him out just before the toss.

The day began with England fighting back, adding 102 runs in the morning session before Jamie Smith fell to Cummins for 60. England briefly reduced the Ashes equation at lunch, leaving Australia needing three wickets to secure the series while the visitors needed 126 runs to stay alive. No team in Test history has chased more than West Indies’ 418 in 2003 to win in the fourth innings. England skipper Ben Stokes admitted he thought his side could achieve a record, but Australia’s attack, led by Starc, proved decisive despite Nathan Lyon’s departure from the field with a hamstring injury. Starc removed Will Jacks (47), Jofra Archer (3) and set up Scott Boland to finish off Josh Tongue (1), leaving Brydon Carse stranded on 39 as England were all out for 352. Alex Carey was named player of the match for his crucial contributions: a century in the first innings, a half-century in the second alongside Travis Head’s 170 and seven dismissals behind the stumps. Stokes admitted his disappointment but praised his team’s resilience and urged them to focus on the remaining two Tests. Lyon’s injury, suffered while diving to stop a boundary, ruled him out for the rest of the match. England’s woes in Australia continue, with the team going 5,462 days without a Test victory in Australia, extending a winless streak thanks to series results of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 and now 3-0. Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test on December 26, followed by the New Year’s Test in Sydney.