Australia vs England 3rd Test Day 3 – The Ashes 2025-26

The third Ashes Test of 2025-26 between Australia and England at the famous Adelaide Oval is at a fever pitch! Day 3 just wrapped up, and it looks good for Australia. The game kicked off on December 17, 2025, and it’s a big deal since it counts toward the ICC World Test Championship. Australia chose to bat first and have been strong with both their batting and bowling, putting them way ahead of England.

Australia’s First Innings: Way Ahead

The Aussie innings started with clear skies, but England’s fast bowlers came out hard. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald opened, but didn’t last long. Head got 10, and Weatherald made 18 before getting out. Marnus Labuschagne tried to steady things with 19 runs. The guys in the middle really showed what they were made of, with Usman Khawaja hitting 82 off 126 balls, knocking some good shots and keeping the score moving.

Alex Carey, the guy behind the stumps, was awesome, smashing a century with 106 off 143 balls. He hit eight 4s and a 6, being careful but also going for it when he could. Josh Inglis got 32, Pat Cummins added 13, and Mitchell Starc’s 54 helped push Australia to 371 all out in 91.2 overs. Nathan Lyon was still in at 9, and Scott Boland chipped in with 14. Smart teamwork and some big hits, especially from Khawaja and Carey, really set Australia up.

England’s First Innings: Trying to Catch Up

England had to chase a big score, and they had trouble with Australia’s tough bowlers—Cummins, Starc, and Boland. Zak Crawley went out early for 9, and Ollie Pope only got 3. Joe Root got 19, and Harry Brook tried to hold the line with 45. Ben Stokes, the captain, did well with 83 off 198 balls, though the other guys didn’t help much.

Jamie Smith got 22, Will Jacks 6, and Jofra Archer fought hard for 51. Despite Archer and Stokes doing all they could, England got bowled out for 286 in 87.2 overs, putting Australia in the lead by 85 runs after the first innings. The Aussie bowlers did their job, with Cummins and Boland each snagging three wickets, Lyon getting two, and Green picking up one. England couldn’t score easily with the bowling and fielding being so tight.

Australia’s Second Innings: Day 3 Highlights

Australia started their second innings on Day 3 wanting to build their lead and make it impossible to catch them. Travis Head was amazing, hitting 142* off 196 balls, with thirteen 4s and two 6s. His partnership with Alex Carey, who got 52*, has been key in making Australia even stronger. Usman Khawaja scored 40 before getting out, Marnus Labuschagne had 13, and Cameron Green added 7.

By the end of Day 3, Australia was at 271 for 4 in 66 overs, which means they’re ahead of England by 356 runs. They’ve been batting carefully but still attacking, making sure not to lose wickets while keeping the runs coming. Head and Carey have been super calm, working together and keeping the score moving, which is putting a lot of stress on England.

Key Moments

Travis Head’s century in the second innings was huge, and showed how good he is and how patient he can be. He can bat for a long time while still hitting the ball hard, which has kept Australia on top. Alex Carey did a great job too, with his half-century making Australia’s second innings strong and steady when it mattered.

For the bowlers, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Will Jacks bowled well, but Australia’s batting was just too strong. In the first innings, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc got some important wickets that stopped England from teaming up. Scott Boland also bowled really well, so England couldn’t score much from the lower order.

How The Game Went

The game has shifted back and forth with some big things happening. Day 1 ended with Australia at 326/8, and Day 2 saw England struggling at 213/8 by the time stumps were called. The Ashes is all about these changes in momentum, and Australia has taken advantage of getting early wickets and having strong batting in the middle. They’ve been smart, mixing strong hits with playing cautiously.

England struggled because they lost early wickets and didn’t have solid partnerships. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer fought hard, but the other guys didn’t help much, which led to their first-innings being so short. Australia’s plan for the second innings seems to be to build a big lead and set a score that England won’t be able to chase in the last two days.

The Umpires

The match officials are doing a great job. Ahsan Raza and Nitin Menon are the on-field umpires. Chris Gaffaney is the TV umpire, and Shawn Craig is the reserve umpire. Jeff Crowe is the match referee. They’re keeping things fair and making sure everyone follows the rules.

Who’s Playing Well

Australia has a very good team with experienced batters like Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja making the team strong. Alex Carey and Josh Inglis add power in the middle. The bowlers, like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, have been fast and consistent, plus Nathan Lyon is spinning the ball well and Cameron Green is helping out when needed.

England has talent too, with Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Jofra Archer, but they haven’t been as steady as Australia. Their middle and lower order need to do better to fight back against the Aussie bowlers in the second innings and keep from losing badly.

Crowd Vibes

Adelaide Oval had 53,696 fans on Day 3, who are super into The Ashes. The vibes have been amazing! The fans are seeing great cricket and historic performances. The crowd’s energy has really pushed the Aussie players and put pressure on the English team.

What’s Next

As Australia bats in the second innings on Day 3, they’re in a great spot, ahead by 356 runs with only four wickets down. Travis Head and Alex Carey have been key in making Australia so dominant. England needs to regroup and work on building partnerships in the second innings to take on Australia. The next days of this Ashes Test should be exciting as both teams battle hard in one of the sport’s most famous series.

Australia’s plan of mixing hard hitting with patient play, and having a strong bowling attack, has put them close to winning. This match shows the competition, skill, and smart tactics that make The Ashes and the ICC World Test Championship so special, and worth watching for all cricket fans.