England Suffers Crushing Ashes Setback as Australia Dominates Third Test in Adelaide with Near-Impossible Target Secured

It’s been a grim day for England fans in Adelaide, as their already fragile Ashes hopes took another serious hit.

From the moment they retreated into their shells on the second day of this third Test, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

Chasing an almost impossible target of 435 to keep Australia from sealing a 3–0 lead, England limped to 207 for six by stumps, leaving any dream of an unlikely comeback firmly in the past.

Nathan Lyon Turns the Tide

Australia’s Nathan Lyon proved the ultimate nightmare for England late in the day.

From a relatively solid position of 177 for three, England lost three key wickets in quick succession.

Harry Brook, after a risky reverse sweep, was bowled for 30.

Ben Stokes succumbed to a beauty from Lyon, leaving him stranded on five, while Zak Crawley’s patient 85 ended with a neat stumping by Alex Carey.

That left England on 194 for six with half an hour remaining, tantalizingly close to a potential extra 30 minutes of play if one more wicket fell.

Yet Jamie Smith and Will Jacks held firm until stumps, offering a glimmer of resistance.

Cummins Sets the Tone Early

Even before Lyon wreaked havoc, Pat Cummins had already made his mark.

Returning from back soreness that kept him out of the first two Tests, Cummins bowled like a true champion.

He dismissed Crawley, Joe Root, and Jamie Smith in the first innings, and then struck early in England’s second innings by removing Ben Duckett for just four.

Duckett’s disappointing series total of 97 runs at an average of 16 highlighted his struggles against top-class pace.

Ollie Pope, jittery at the crease from the start, was eventually undone by a spectacular low catch from Labuschagne, possibly marking the end of his Test career if Jacob Bethell replaces him at the MCG.

England’s Middle Order Crumbles

Cummins struck again to break a promising third-wicket partnership of 78, dismissing Root for 39 in near-identical fashion to his first-innings dismissal.

England’s resistance briefly flickered through Crawley and Brook, who tried to disrupt Lyon and Cummins with sweeps and reverse sweeps.

But Brook’s misjudged shot led to his dismissal, and the quick wickets of Stokes and Crawley soon followed, giving Australia a clear edge.

Australia’s Early Lead Sets the Stage

Australia’s own second innings had ended surprisingly quickly, thanks to a commanding 162-run partnership between Travis Head and Alex Carey.

But with Stokes and Josh Tongue bowling longer, fuller deliveries than earlier, England initially looked a threat.

Head finally fell for a brilliant 170, caught by Crawley attempting a lofted shot.

Once the partnership was broken, the Australian tail surged, with wickets tumbling as Cummins, Tongue, and Carse inflicted further damage.

England Faces a Whitewash

Despite individual moments of resistance, England’s efforts can’t mask the reality: the Ashes are all but gone.

Tongue finished with four wickets for 70, Carse three for 80, and England’s batting line-up faces a daunting task just to avoid the humiliation of a whitewash.

With Australia poised to wrap up the series in only 11 days of cricket—matching England’s quickest Ashes surrender since 1921—fans will be left reflecting on what might have been.

What Lies Ahead

With only two Tests remaining, England’s objective now is survival rather than triumph.

Australia has the momentum firmly in their favor, and unless something extraordinary happens, the urn will remain in their hands, continuing a dominant run since 2017-18.