The Adelaide Oval is holding its breath. On Day 5 of the third Ashes Test, history dangles by a thread. England, chasing a mammoth 356 to win on a wearing pitch, has lost seven wickets—but not hope. With Ashes 2025 Adelaide Test hanging in the balance, Australia needs just three more wickets to seal victory, while England’s batters fight for a win that would echo through cricketing folklore.
This isn’t just another Test—it’s a high-stakes duel where legacy, tactics, and raw nerve collide under the South Australian sun. If England pulls this off, it would be their highest successful chase in Australia since 1948. If Australia holds firm, Pat Cummins’ side inches closer to retaining the urn on home soil.
Resuming Day 5 at 212/4, England’s chase looked promising—until a dramatic middle-order collapse. Travis Head, doubling as a part-time off-spinner, trapped Joe Root plumb in front, sparking a clatter of wickets . By tea, the score read 298/7. Now, with 58 runs still needed and only three wickets in hand, the task falls to Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has rotated his bowlers smartly: Mitchell Starc with the old ball, Nathan Lyon exploiting rough patches, and Josh Hazlewood maintaining metronomic lines. Just three wickets stand between them and a 2–1 series lead.
A successful chase of 356 would be:
Last time England won in Adelaide? 2010. A victory here would not only level the series but signal a true reawakening of their Ashes fortunes.
Cummins (3/62), Hazlewood (2/49), and Lyon (2/71) have shouldered the load brilliantly. But fatigue is setting in. Starc, in particular, has bowled 22 overs with a niggle in his ankle—a concern for the upcoming Melbourne Test .
Yet Australia’s field placements remain razor-sharp. A packed leg-side cordon for Stokes, short balls to Wood—it’s a pressure cooker designed to force errors.
The talisman. Known for his miracle knocks (see Headingley 2019), Stokes is calm, rotating strike, and targeting Lyon through midwicket. One big innings from him could swing the game.
Not known for his defense, but his 164 kph bouncers have given him confidence with the bat. If he survives 10 overs, England might just sneak home.
Both departed cheaply in the 90s—missed opportunities that could haunt England if they fall short.
The Adelaide pitch is doing more than expected. Variable bounce, sharp turn for Lyon, and cracks opening up near the right-hander’s length. The temperature hovers at 28°C with clear skies—ideal for fast bowling but treacherous for batters on worn footmarks .
This is chess at 150 km/h. Cummins keeps Stokes on strike with clever over-management. Stokes, in turn, uses his feet to Lyon and cuts out risky shots. Every run is calculated; every ball could be decisive.
As former captain Ricky Ponting noted on ESPNCricinfo, “This is Ashes cricket at its absolute finest—no fluff, no fear, just pure contest.”
– If Australia wins: They lead 2–1 with two to play. Retention becomes highly likely.
– If England wins: Series tied 1–1. Momentum swings dramatically to the visitors ahead of Melbourne and Sydney.
Either way, this Test will be remembered for decades.
The Ashes 2025 Adelaide Test has delivered everything: drama, skill, tension, and a chase for the history books. Whether England completes their miracle or Australia defends with grit, this final session will be etched into Ashes legend. One thing is certain: cricket fans are witnessing something special. For more Ashes insights, read our [INTERNAL_LINK:ashes-2025-series-preview].
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