ADELAIDE — England’s hopes of retaining the Ashes are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a late, devastating spell from Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon on the fourth day of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. Lyon’s three-wicket burst in the final session shattered England’s stubborn resistance, leaving them reeling at 82 for 4 in their second innings, still requiring a mammoth 386 runs to win with just six wickets in hand.
The day had begun with Australia resuming their second innings on 45 for 1, holding a commanding lead of 282. Under overcast skies, England’s bowlers toiled with discipline, but the Australian batting lineup, led by a composed half-century from Marnus Labuschagne (51) and valuable contributions down the order, methodically extended their advantage. The declaration finally came at 230 for 9, setting England an improbable, record-breaking target of 468 to win.
A Glimmer of Hope Extinguished
England’s openers, Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, navigated a tense 17 overs before tea, showing a resolve that had been absent for much of the series. They reached the interval at 34 without loss, a small foundation upon which the most optimistic of England fans could dare to dream. However, the dream was short-lived. Soon after the resumption, Pat Cummins produced a brute of a delivery to have Hameed caught behind for 9, and the slide had begun.
The key moment, however, belonged to Lyon. Introduced into the attack as the shadows lengthened, he immediately found purchase and discomfort on a day-five pitch. He trapped Dawid Malan lbw for 20 with a classic off-spinner’s delivery that skidded on, a decision Malan reviewed in vain. The very next over, he produced a beauty to dismiss the rock of England’s first innings, Joe Root, for a duck. The ball gripped, turned, and took the edge, presenting Steve Smith with a simple slip catch. "That was the knockout punch," remarked former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in commentary. "Lyon has turned this Test, and potentially the series, on its head."
Lyon's Masterclass Under Pressure
Lyon’s intervention was a testament to his experience and skill. On a surface not offering extravagant turn, he relied on subtle variations in pace, flight, and his relentless accuracy to build pressure. His figures of 3 for 36 from 15 overs do not fully capture the control he exerted. He exploited the rough created by the footmarks of Australia’s right-arm quakes, creating a persistent threat to England’s left-handers and right-handers alike.
Speaking after the day’s play, a visibly emotional Lyon dedicated his performance to his team and the home crowd. "It's why you play the game, for moments like that in front of a packed Adelaide Oval," he said. "I knew I had a big job to do tonight, and I'm just proud I could contribute."
England captain Joe Root was left to rue the collapse, acknowledging the quality of Lyon’s spell but also his own side’s missed opportunities earlier in the match. "It's bitterly disappointing. We showed great character to get through that period before tea, but Nathan bowled exceptionally well. We have to be better at seizing key moments. We had chances in their first innings that we didn't take, and at this level, you get punished."
The Mountain England Must Climb
England now face a task of monumental proportions on the final day. With Ben Stokes (3*) and Ollie Pope (5*) at the crease, survival is the only objective, but history is overwhelmingly against them. The highest successful run chase at the Adelaide Oval is 315, achieved by Australia against England in 1902. The highest fourth-innings total ever made to win a Test in Australia is 418, by the West Indies in 2003. England’s required 386 would shatter the Adelaide record and stand as the second-highest successful chase ever in Test cricket.
The equation is stark. England must bat out 98 overs on a wearing pitch against an Australian attack brimming with confidence. The challenges are multifaceted:
- Nathan Lyon: Now operating with a ball that is 40 overs old, he will be a constant threat, especially from the rough.
- The Second New Ball: Due in 10 overs, it will rejuvenate the world-class pace duo of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
- Scoreboard Pressure: The sheer size of the target means batsmen cannot simply block; they must score, which creates risk.
A Series on the Brink
With Australia leading the five-match series 1-0 after a draw in Brisbane and a comprehensive victory in Perth, the implications of an Adelaide win are colossal. A 2-0 lead with two Tests to play would mean England must win both in Melbourne and Sydney to retain the Ashes, a feat they have not accomplished in Australia since the 1986-87 tour. For Australia, victory tomorrow would put them within touching distance of reclaiming the urn they lost in 2019.
The final day promises high drama. All eyes will be on Ben Stokes, the hero of Headingley 2019, who possesses the unique ability to defy logic and history. However, the Australian camp is buzzing. Captain Pat Cummins was bullish about his team’s prospects: "We’ve put ourselves in a fantastic position. We’ve got a world-class spinner who’s just bowled a brilliant spell, a new ball around the corner, and a pitch that’s doing a bit. We’ll come out tomorrow full of energy and leave nothing out there."
As the sun sets on Adelaide, the Ashes landscape has shifted decisively. Nathan Lyon’s late strikes have not just broken England’s resistance; they have placed Australia on the precipice of a series-defining victory. England’s batters must now produce the innings of their lives to prevent the urn from slipping irrevocably towards Australian hands. The stage is set for a tense, thrilling, and potentially historic final day of Test cricket.