ADELAIDE — The dust has settled on a pulsating third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, a match that swung violently before Australia ultimately held their nerve to secure a tense 43-run victory. The result leaves the hosts 2-1 up with two to play, but the narrative is now dominated by a single, seismic question: is one storied Test career over for good? Chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt delivers his marks for both sides after a contest that asked profound questions of veterans and rookies alike.
Australia: Cummins Leads, Headlines Follow
Pat Cummins’s side showed the resilience of champions. After being outplayed for large parts of the first three days, they seized the moment with a ferocious second-innings batting display and relentless bowling under pressure. The victory, however, was overshadowed by the ongoing struggles of a modern great. The collective effort was strong, but individual futures are now under the microscope.
Top Order: Head Stands Tall
David Warner (5/10): A typically pugnacious 38 in the first innings gave Australia a start, but his second-innings dismissal, caught behind chasing a wide one, was a familiar frustration. He looks good for a score, but the big one continues to elude him. The debate about his place rumbles on, but his experience in a tense series may yet see him through.
Usman Khawaja (6/10): The rock of the first two Tests was slightly less immovable here. A patient 47 in the first dig was crucial in a shaky innings, but he’ll be disappointed with his second-innings shot, chipping to mid-on. His class and calm remain invaluable assets at the top.
Marnus Labuschagne (7/10): Played the innings of the match under immense pressure. His second-innings 73 was a masterclass in game-awareness, shifting momentum decisively back to Australia. A first-innings failure keeps his rating from being higher, but this was a return to his influential best.
The Middle & The Question
Steve Smith (3/10): The numbers are stark and concerning. Scores of 12 and 6 continue a lean patch that is now a pronounced slump. More worrying than the runs was the manner: uncharacteristically loose outside off stump in the first innings, then bowled through the gate by a beauty from Mark Wood. The whispers are growing louder.
Travis Head (9/10): The Player of the Match and the series’ standout batsman. His counter-attacking 59 in the first innings rescued Australia from 98-4. In the second, his blistering 78 from 89 balls broke England’s spirit. He is playing with breathtaking clarity and confidence, the definitive match-winner.
Cameron Green (7/10): A quietly excellent all-round game. His first-innings 48 was vital support for Head, and he bowled tight, wicketless spells that built pressure. His towering catch to dismiss Ben Stokes was a game-changing moment of athleticism.
The Bowlers: Cummins Supreme
Alex Carey (6/10): Neat with the gloves and a useful 28 in the first innings. His keeping to Nathan Lyon on the final day was particularly sharp, though he will rue missing a stumping chance off Harry Brook early in his innings.
Pat Cummins (8/10): The captain led from the front. His six-wicket haul across the match doesn’t tell the full story. His spell with the old ball on day four, removing Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession, was pure captain’s gold. "That's why he's the best in the world," said Travis Head afterwards.
Mitchell Starc (7/10): Expensive at times but a constant wicket-taking threat. His first-innings burst removed both England openers and he returned to clean up the tail on the final morning. His yorker to castle Ollie Robinson was a highlight of fast bowling.
Nathan Lyon (7/10): The GOAT worked his magic on the final day, extracting sharp turn and bounce to claim 4-80. His dismissal of Joe Root, caught at slip, was the wicket Australia desperately needed. He remains the series' leading wicket-taker.
England: So Close, Yet So Far Again
For England, this was a crushing defeat that will feel like a missed opportunity. They were magnificent for three days, but their old failings – a brittle top order and a costly dropped catch – resurfaced at the worst possible moment. The ‘Bazball’ philosophy is producing thrilling cricket, but the results column remains stubbornly empty in this series.
Batting: Brook Breaks Out
Zak Crawley (5/10): A glorious 44 in the first innings, all flowing drives, promised much. But, as has been the case, he failed to convert. His second-innings duck, edging Starc, highlighted his frustrating inconsistency. The talent is undeniable; the output is not.
Ben Duckett (6/10): Played his role perfectly in the first innings with a busy 41 at the top. Was a victim of a stunning catch by Green in the second. Provides a vital left-right combination and has been one of England’s more reliable performers.
Harry Brook (8/10): Announced himself on the Ashes stage with a magnificent, mature 85 in the first innings. He handled the short-ball barrage well and played with stunning power. His second-innings 67, nearly steering England home, confirmed his world-class potential.
Joe Root (5/10): A mixed bag. His first-innings 46 was a classic Root knock, full of deft touches. But his second-innings dismissal, pushing hard at Lyon with the game in the balance, was a critical error. England need their premier batsman to be a match-winner, not a contributor.
Ben Stokes (6/10): His first-innings 55 was a brutal, momentum-shifting assault. His captaincy was imaginative and aggressive for most of the match. However, his dropped catch off Labuschagne on day three – a sitter at slip – was arguably the turning point of the entire Test. "I should have caught it. It cost us," Stokes admitted bluntly.
Jonny Bairstow (4/10): Struggled with the bat, making 16 and 17, and looked uncomfortable against Cummins’ pace. His keeping was improved but the missed stumping of Carey on day one proved costly. The balance of the side depends on him firing.
Chris Woakes (6/10): Bowled with heart and skill, claiming key wickets including Smith and Head in the first innings. His batting, however, faltered under pressure in both innings. He remains a reliable workhorse but didn't provide the lower-order runs England needed.
Bowling: Wood the Weapon
Mark Wood (9/10): A sensational return to Test cricket. His raw pace, consistently over 95mph, electrified the contest. He claimed seven wickets, including the prize scalp of Smith, and his blistering 33 with the bat gave England hope on the final day. A monumental effort.
Ollie Robinson (5/10): A quiet game by his high standards. He bowled with decent control but lacked the incision of the first two Tests. His batting has tailed off dramatically after his Nottingham heroics.
Stuart Broad (7/10): The evergreen warrior. His spell on the first evening, removing Warner and Khawaja, was a masterpiece of seam bowling. He toiled manfully throughout, providing control and constant menace. His competitive fire remains undimmed.
Moeen Ali (4/10): Struggled for impact. Expensive with the ball and dismissed cheaply in both innings batting at No. 3. His finger injury, re-aggravated while bowling, is a major concern and leaves England’s balance in jeopardy for Melbourne.
Conclusion: A Crossroads for Legends
Australia march to the MCG with the urn within touching distance. Their team showed immense character, but the spotlight falls irrevocably on Steve Smith. The technical glitches and lack of runs are now a full-blown crisis. With a hungry Cameron Green waiting, the selectors face an unthinkable decision.
For England, the heartbreak is palpable. They have been competitive in every Test but find themselves 2-1 down. Their Achilles' heel remains:
- Converting dominant positions into victories.
- The fragility of the top order outside of Crawley's occasional flourishes.
- Crucial dropped catches at pivotal moments.
The series is alive, but only just. England must win in Melbourne to retain the Ashes. They have the talent and the strategy to do so, but they must now marry their thrilling intent with the ruthless execution that Pat Cummins’s Australia displayed in the crucible of Adelaide. The fourth Test promises not just a battle for the urn, but potentially the final chapter in the career of one of cricket’s greatest batsmen.