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.
Table of Contents
- Ashes 2025 Adelaide Test: Match Situation
- England’s Historic Chase: What It Would Mean
- Australia’s Bowling Attack Under Pressure
- Key Batters: Batting for Immortality
- Pitch and Weather Conditions: Day 5
- Tactical Battle: Cummins vs Stokes
- Ashes Series Implications
- How to Watch: Live Coverage
- Conclusion: A Test for the Ages
- Sources
Ashes 2025 Adelaide Test: Match Situation
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.
England’s Historic Chase: What It Would Mean
A successful chase of 356 would be:
- The highest ever by England in Australia .
- Only the second 350+ chase in Ashes history Down Under.
- A massive psychological boost under Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” philosophy .
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.
Australia’s Bowling Attack Under Pressure
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.
Key Batters: Batting for Immortality
Ben Stokes (49* off 78 balls)
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.
Mark Wood (12* off 21 balls)
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.
Zak Crawley & Harry Brook
Both departed cheaply in the 90s—missed opportunities that could haunt England if they fall short.
Pitch and Weather Conditions: Day 5
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 .
Tactical Battle: Cummins vs Stokes
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.”
Ashes Series Implications
– 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.
How to Watch: Live Coverage
- UK: BT Sport
- Australia: Channel 7, Foxtel
- India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- Global Streaming: ICC.tv (select regions)
Conclusion: A Test for the Ages
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].
Sources
- Times of India: AUS vs ENG Ashes Live Blog
- ESPNCricinfo – Ashes 2025 Coverage [[3], [5], [12]]
- ICC Official Site – Match Centre [[7], [10]]
- Commentary reports from ABC Sport and Sky Sports