Australia is on the verge of retaining the Ashes after Nathan Lyon’s pivotal spell on the fourth day of the third Test in Adelaide, leaving England struggling at 207-6 while chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
The match at Adelaide Oval entered its decisive phase as Australia, having set a massive total, tightened their grip on the series with Lyon’s brilliance. Off-spinner Lyon broke England’s resistance by removing key batsmen Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley in a late surge, turning the tide irrevocably in the hosts’ favor. England, who had shown flickers of fight earlier, now face near-certain defeat with only four wickets remaining and a huge deficit to overcome.
England’s innings began poorly with Ben Duckett falling in the first over, and Ollie Pope’s dismissal for 17 continued his dismal Ashes record, piling pressure on the tourists. However, Crawley provided a glimmer of hope with a patient and gritty 85, his slowest half-century in Tests, as he built partnerships with Joe Root and Brook to steady the ship. Lyon’s intervention proved decisive, though, as he deceived Crawley with flight to have him stumped, a dismissal that crushed England’s morale and ignited celebrations among the Australian supporters.
Earlier in the day, Australia had been bowled out for 349 in their second innings, thanks to a commanding 170 from Travis Head and a supportive 72 from Alex Carey. England’s bowlers, led by Josh Tongue’s 4-70 and Brydon Carse’s 3-80, showed resilience to dismiss the last six Australian wickets for just 38 runs, giving their batsmen a fighting chance. Captain Ben Stokes, returning to bowl after fitness concerns, contributed with tight spells, and Jofra Archer held a sharp catch to wrap up the innings.
Despite England’s efforts with the ball, their batting vulnerabilities resurfaced, with only Crawley offering sustained resistance against Australia’s relentless attack. Lyon, who initially struggled on a turning pitch, found his rhythm to finish with 3-24, supported by Pat Cummins who dismissed Root for the 13th time in Tests, highlighting Australia’s tactical prowess. Brook’s dismissal while attempting a reverse-sweep was particularly costly, opening the door for Lyon’s late dominance and shifting momentum decisively.
With Jamie Smith and Will Jacks surviving until stumps, England will resume on the final day at 207-6, still needing 228 runs, but the task appears insurmountable against a confident Australian bowling unit. A victory here would secure an unassailable 3-0 lead for Australia in the five-match series, ensuring they retain the Ashes after just 11 days of cricket and extend their home dominance over England.
The implications are stark: Australia can celebrate another series triumph and Lyon’s rising stature among Test wicket-takers, while England must confront a period of introspection, with players like Pope and Duckett facing scrutiny over their futures. The final day’s play is likely a formality, but cricket’s unpredictability means England will hope for a miracle, though odds heavily favor Australia clinching the urn in front of their jubilant home crowd.
