The Baggy Greens v The Three Lions: Final Ashes Test, The Third Day Unfolds

The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an lengthy first session that will last two and a half hours. Should Travis Head remain at the crease by the lunch break, Australia will be firmly in the commanding position.

A Pink Outpouring of Support

It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the charity's dedication to offering support for cancer patients.

A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening

The intent was unclear whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. England's captain concluded a frustrating second evening in Sydney by exchanging remarks out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Seemingly reacting to something said by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to prolong the conversation.

With the officials intervening, Stokes walked away after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, the England captain could be reprimanded for “inappropriate physical contact”.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in backing his guild. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his frequent argument.

Loyalty to a bowling type isn't the sole consideration. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had three specialist fast bowlers, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root compiled his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384.

It could have been advantageous to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three at the SCG. A crucial morning session awaits, yet one cannot ignore the series finale atmosphere that has characterized this Test so far.

We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, particularly when England play in Australia. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two dead rubbers? It defies our predictions when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes.

There isn’t even the jeopardy of a possible series sweep; the series will end either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. An underwhelming display with the ball from England let Australia race to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is 91 not out from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser received a painful blow to the elbow near the end of play, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right length this morning they can force their way back into the game.

In the context of the match, the morning's play is vital. It's simply that the fixture lacks the significance we anticipated.