- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR9.1 sensational take from Crawley at point! That is unreal, an open-faced drive through the full length from Head, Crawley was just in front of square and saw it straight off the bat, stooped to his left and clung on in one hand, inches from the turf! No time to think, just let instinct take over. Both openers gone, Khawaja enters the scene! 33/28.2 out of the blue, a wicket! Weatherald winds into his pull but it was a sharp bouncer from round the wicket, 147kph, well directed, and simply spooned off the splice to Smith, who jogged round from behind the stumps and barely celebrated as he pocketed the chance. On another day, that would have soared through fine leg for a boundary 33/124.1 paddled straight to midwicket! What a start to the session! Labuschagne was neither forward nor back, a flat-batted waft across the back-of-a-length ball, 134kph, no power through the stroke, no footwork to keep it down or launch it up. Just a lollipop into Carse's midriff - an even easier chance than the one he dropped last week. Stunning! 94/347.2 taken at deep square leg! Khawaja's given it away. The delivery after the one that spun, he goes for the slog sweep, can't keep it down and it's well taken running in. What a moment for Jacks 185/524.3 flipped off the legs, straight to midwicket again! Madness, utter madness! It's a powder-soft dismissal ... 138kph, a tentative poke off the pads, leaning forward but failing to get over the ball. Carse is on hand once more... and moves well to his right to pouch his second! 94/477.2 top edge, and taken! Looks to fetch this from wide outside off with a slog sweep, just sends it straight up in the air and Smith settles under it 321/860.5 fuller length, into the timbers! That's what Tongue can do! It's the first true dismissal of the day, Tongue attacks the stumps, extra energy off the pitch as Inglis tries to defend on the back foot, and can only deflect the ball down into his middle stump. Priceless wicket, as England access the lower order 244/665.5 on the pads, fended to short leg! Up goes the finger, though Cummins isn't budging. He reviews, but England are convinced... and there's a spike! A thin graze off the inside-edge, into his body, away to Pope under the lid! 271/785.2 straight through 'im! Archer finds his line, finds his length and dings the top of leg stump much to England's relief! Starc caught on the crease and playing all around a good one. Stokes looks to the skies. He's having an animated conversation with Archer even as England celebrate 348/991.2 Lyon misses a straight one! Up goes the finger, Archer has five... or does he? Lyon reviews, though maybe just because he can. Struck on the back leg, just above the knee roll, very much adjacent. And it's hitting the top of middle, umpire's call! Nitin Menon raises his finger again, and it's over to England's batters 371/10Extras14 (lb 7, nb 7)TOTAL371 all out (91.2 Overs, RR: 4.06, 421 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Jake Weatherald, 8.2 ov), 2-33 (Travis Head, 9.1 ov), 3-94 (Marnus Labuschagne, 24.1 ov), 4-94 (Cameron Green, 24.3 ov), 5-185 (Usman Khawaja, 47.2 ov), 6-244 (Josh Inglis, 60.5 ov), 7-271 (Pat Cummins, 65.5 ov), 8-321 (Alex Carey, 77.2 ov), 9-348 (Mitchell Starc, 85.2 ov), 10-371 (Nathan Lyon, 91.2 ov)
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR7.4 a ripper! The captain strikes. Back of a length around off stump, Crawley has to play, straightens just a fraction off the seam. Grazes the outside edge near the top of the bat. Terrific bowling, Pat's back 37/19.6 cleaned up with a beauty! What a delivery. Pitches on off stump, grips and turns past the bat, takes the top of off stump. A dream delivery for the offspinner 42/39.3 strikes third ball! Awful from Pope. Full outside off, flicks it in the air to midwicket where it's well taken. Goodness, that's poor batting. What a start for Lyon. 41/216.4 Cummins nicks Root off! Easy as you like from Australia's captain, and that is a huge blow to English faith in the City of Churches. Probing line but Root has been sucked into playing one he could have left. Just enough movement to take the edge and there's no doubt this carried to Carey. Cummins gets Root for the 12th time in Tests, and England's hopes of matching Australia's first innings take another hit 71/436.2 edged, caught behind! Green strikes. Massive moment. Terrific delivery from Green, in the channel outside off, hint of shape away from Brook who is squared up without much footwork 127/584.1 Starc knocks Stokes over once again! It's a familiar tale, the wobble-seam, cutting back through the gate from over the wicket, as Stokes collapses across his stumps after being beaten on the inside-edge. Archer runs down to the boundary to congratulate his skipper, but Stokes is livid after taking the wrong option there 274/945.1 short ball again, Smith swings across the line - and Cummins celebrates! Has he nicked this one? And did it carry? Nitin Menon asks Chris Gaffaney to check. The ball goes straight into the gloves, clearly. And Snicko has a clear spike, despite what looks like a gap between bat and ball! Gaffaney goes with the technology, and Smith has to walk! He goes shaking his head, while Stokes look to be fuming. Smith was actually getting ready to review himself, thinking he had been given out (and presumably convinced he hadn't hit it) 159/652.2 brilliantly done! Carey's magic hands again! Jacks gets a nick on to his pads and Australia's silky glovemen is alert to the rebound, diving to his right to claim the catch. Ahsan Raza doesn't take long to make his decision, and there's no need to go to the DRS this time 168/754.1 cleaned up! It's all falling in a heap for England. Length ball at off stump, skims past the edge and takes the top of middle and off. Lovely delivery 168/887.2 very full, drilled into slip's midriff! Archer flung his hands through the length, but Boland's nip off the seam is too much for Archer's ambitions. Labuschagne tumbles backwards as he cushions the edge. That ends a very gutsy morning's work from England, but they remain right up against it 286/10Extras12 (b 3, lb 5, nb 4)TOTAL286 all out (87.2 Overs, RR: 3.27, 418 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Zak Crawley, 7.4 ov), 2-41 (Ollie Pope, 9.3 ov), 3-42 (Ben Duckett, 9.6 ov), 4-71 (Joe Root, 16.4 ov), 5-127 (Harry Brook, 36.2 ov), 6-159 (Jamie Smith, 45.1 ov), 7-168 (Will Jacks, 52.2 ov), 8-168 (Brydon Carse, 54.1 ov), 9-274 (Ben Stokes, 84.1 ov), 10-286 (Jofra Archer, 87.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 16 1 61 1 3.81 0 1 PJ Cummins 17 3 69 3 4.05 0 1 SM Boland 15.2 6 45 3 2.93 0 1 NM Lyon 28 5 70 2 2.5 0 0 C Green 11 3 33 1 3 0 1
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR73.6 oh, whoops... Head's gone! Tongue's weird cross-limbed angles do the job straight away. Banged in short, Head attempts to hit it into the Torrens, only succeeds in picking out Crawley at deep square leg. He almost lost it in the sun at the last moment, but manages to cling on as he goes to ground. No CB for Travis, but it's been a Heady knock, warmly applauded by everyone in at Adelaide Oval 311/51.3 over the wicket from Carse, heavy ball just back of a length, Weatherald is squared up and pinned on the pad! It's a huge appeal and up goes the finger from Nitin Menon, but that surely pitched outside leg? Weatherald topples across to the off-side after impact, which adds to the impression of plumbness... but his partner Head doesn't think it's worthy of a second opinion. Huge mistake! That's pitched three inches outside the line! 8/116.3 edged, has this carried?! England are convinced. Back of a length at off stump, squared up again, takes the shoulder of the bat and Brook grabs it low to the ground at the lone slip. Fingers definitely under that. Very good catch 53/235.1 edged, caught behind! Would you believe it. Basically a long hop outside off, Khawaja goes for the cut and gets a top edge which is well taken by Smith. Bowled for, and got? 139/336.5 edged, taken at slip! Sharp low catch. Green's problems continues. Full outside off, reaches out for a drive and gets a thick which is very well taken by Brook 149/478.2 glanced off the armpit... straight into the leg trap! No twin tons for Carey! Again Stokes is the inspiration for England, even if it is all too little too late. Banged into the body, manages to get enough life from the deck to hurry the set batter, and Brook pouches it low to his left 329/679.5 edged, caught behind! England chip away. Back of a length at off stump, Inglis has a fiddle with an open face, almost guides the edge through to Smith. Unconvincing stay for Inglis 335/783.1 edged, taken at slip! Full outside off, no footwork from Cummins, reaches out for a drive and nicks it head-height to Brook who takes his fourth catch of the innings 344/883.2 full and straight, given lbw! Angling towards middle and leg, Lyon plays across it. He's called the review but is walking at the same time. Smashing middle and leg, three reds. 344/984.4 taken, good catch! A well-directed short ball at the chest, Boland fends it to the off side, Archer makes good from his follow through, dives and holds on 349/10Extras22 (b 4, lb 10, nb 5, w 3)TOTAL349 all out (84.4 Overs, RR: 4.12, 386 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Jake Weatherald, 1.3 ov), 2-53 (Marnus Labuschagne, 16.3 ov), 3-139 (Usman Khawaja, 35.1 ov), 4-149 (Cameron Green, 36.5 ov), 5-311 (Travis Head, 73.6 ov), 6-329 (Alex Carey, 78.2 ov), 7-335 (Josh Inglis, 79.5 ov), 8-344 (Pat Cummins, 83.1 ov), 9-344 (Nathan Lyon, 83.2 ov), 10-349 (Scott Boland, 84.4 ov)
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR53.3 done him! Carey again. Another great piece of work. Lovely bowling, too. Full outside off, draws Crawley into the drive, beats the edge, excellent take because it was so full and Carey whips off the bails 194/61.2 edged, taken at second slip! That didn't take long. Quick adjustment from Cummins, back of a length outside off, a weak poke from Duckett and it flies at chest height into the cordon. No footwork, pushing well away from the body 4/19.4 screamer from Marnus! Pope runs out of rope! Cummins gets the wicket, but with a mighty assist in the slip cordon. Hard hands looking to defend, results in a phat edge that looks as if it won't quite carry... until Labuschagne throws himself full length to his left and clings on one-handed. Marnus' celebration would put Imran Tahir in the shade. But it was a worldie 31/228.6 Cummins bags Root again! Brilliant bowling, and Australia seize the moment straight after tea. Unlucky No. 13 for Root against Cummins, the Englishman furious with himself after being drawn into another guilty prod in the channel. Big deflection through to Carey. Root punches the back of his bat before dragging himself from the field 109/347.2 cleaned up, Brook misses the reverse! For some reason, Brook is standing there. Pitches outside off, spins sharply, he misses over the top of it and the ball clips the outside of leg stump. He's scored from that shot, but it looks a bad dismissal 177/451.6 what a ball! Lyon pulls out a ripper. Round the wicket, drifts into middle, straightens and spins past the bat to take the top of off stump. Special delivery. Sometimes, you really do get a good one 189/582.5 taken at wide mid-on! Smith gives it away. Oh my goodness, massive brain fade. Back of a length, straight, looks to launch it over the on side, sends it up in the air and Cummins settles under it moving to his right 285/797.2 Labuschagne with the flying catch at slip! That could be the end of England's dream! It's the wobble-seam from Starc, Jacks goes at it with hard hands, there's a big snick but what a grab, diving across at first slip, clinging on in one hand! It's his second worldie of the match, and it may have handed Australia the Ashes! In fairness, it was probably Carey's catch, but Marnus is on it! 337/8101.3 taken at deep point! Short outside off, Archer goes for an upper cut square of the wicket and couldn't have placed it any better to the fielder. Did he not see the sweeper out there? Australia need one more. Big effort from Starc 349/9102.5 edged, taken at second slip! Full outside off, Tongue drives, and this is pretty regulation by Labuschagne's standards. Boland gets on the board with the wicket which wins the Ashes 352/10Extras22 (b 4, lb 14, nb 3, w 1)TOTAL352 all out (102.5 Overs, RR: 3.42, 456 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Ben Duckett, 1.2 ov), 2-31 (Ollie Pope, 9.4 ov), 3-109 (Joe Root, 28.6 ov), 4-177 (Harry Brook, 47.2 ov), 5-189 (Ben Stokes, 51.6 ov), 6-194 (Zak Crawley, 53.3 ov), 7-285 (Jamie Smith, 82.5 ov), 8-337 (Will Jacks, 97.2 ov), 9-349 (Jofra Archer, 101.3 ov), 10-352 (Josh Tongue, 102.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 17 3 62 3 3.64 1 0 PJ Cummins 17 4 48 3 2.82 0 2 SM Boland 17.5 5 35 1 1.96 0 0 NM Lyon 25 6 77 3 3.08 0 0 C Green 10 0 44 0 4.4 0 1 TM Head 15 3 61 0 4.06 0 0 M Labuschagne 1 0 7 0 7 0 0
Match Details
Toss
Australia , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Australia led the 5-match series 3-0
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00
Match days
17,18,19,20,21 December 2025 (5-day match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Australia 12, England 0
Close of Play
- Wed, 17 Dec - day 1 - Australia 1st innings 326/8 (MA Starc 33*, NM Lyon 0*, 83 ov)
- Thu, 18 Dec - day 2 - England 1st innings 213/8 (BA Stokes 45*, JC Archer 30*, 68 ov)
- Fri, 19 Dec - day 3 - Australia 2nd innings 271/4 (TM Head 142*, AT Carey 52*, 66 ov)
- Sat, 20 Dec - day 4 - England 2nd innings 207/6 (JL Smith 2*, WG Jacks 11*, 63 ov)
- Sun, 21 Dec - day 5 - England 2nd innings 352 (102.5 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- Rain: England - 241/6 in 73.4 overs (JL Smith 25, WG Jacks 21)
- Wet Ground: England - 241/6 in 73.4 overs (JL Smith 25, WG Jacks 21)
- 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 133 balls (JL Smith 25, WG Jacks 23, Ex 2)
- England: 250 runs in 77.5 overs (470 balls), Extras 16
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- JL Smith: 50 off 80 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6)
- Over 84.4: Review by Australia (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - BA Carse (Struck down)
- England: 300 runs in 85.6 overs (519 balls), Extras 18
- Lunch: England - 309/7 in 90.0 overs (WG Jacks 38, BA Carse 13)
- Over 92.5: Review by England (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - BA Carse (Upheld)
- 8th Wicket: 50 runs in 85 balls (WG Jacks 18, BA Carse 29, Ex 5)
- England: 350 runs in 101.4 overs (613 balls), Extras 22
- Attendance: 20,643
- Total attendance: 223,638
- TM Head: 150 off 205 balls (14 x 4, 2 x 6)
- 5th Wicket: 150 runs in 209 balls (TM Head 83, AT Carey 61, Ex 6)
- Australia: 300 runs in 71.5 overs (435 balls), Extras 17
- Over 76.5: Review by Australia (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - JP Inglis (Upheld)
- Drinks: Australia - 329/6 in 78.2 overs (JP Inglis 7)
- Over 80.2: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - MA Starc (Struck down)
- Over 83.2: Review by Australia (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - NM Lyon (Struck down)
- Innings Break: Australia - 349/10 in 84.4 overs (MA Starc 7)
- England 2nd innings
- Lunch: England - 5/1 in 2.0 overs (Z Crawley 0, OJ Pope 1)
- Drinks: England - 49/2 in 14.0 overs (Z Crawley 9, JE Root 9)
- England: 50 runs in 14.2 overs (88 balls), Extras 10
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 78 balls (Z Crawley 25, JE Root 23, Ex 2)
- England: 100 runs in 26.1 overs (159 balls), Extras 11
- Tea: England - 106/2 in 27.0 overs (Z Crawley 36, JE Root 37)
- Over 27.5: Review by Australia (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - JE Root (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Z Crawley: 50 off 102 balls (5 x 4)
- England: 150 runs in 43.3 overs (263 balls), Extras 13
- Drinks: England - 153/3 in 44.0 overs (Z Crawley 61, HC Brook 19)
- 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 97 balls (Z Crawley 28, HC Brook 22, Ex 1)
- England: 200 runs in 58.2 overs (352 balls), Extras 14
- Over 58.5: Review by Australia (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - WG Jacks (Struck down)
- End Of Day: England - 207/6 in 63.0 overs (JL Smith 2, WG Jacks 11)
- Attendance: 41,289
- 9th Wicket: 50 runs in 89 balls (BA Stokes 18, JC Archer 31, Ex 1)
- BA Stokes: 50 off 159 balls (4 x 4)
- England: 250 runs in 77.2 overs (468 balls), Extras 8
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- 9th Wicket: 100 runs in 164 balls (BA Stokes 49, JC Archer 48, Ex 4)
- Drinks: England - 270/8 in 82.0 overs (BA Stokes 81, JC Archer 48)
- JC Archer: 50 off 97 balls (5 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Over 84.3: Review by Australia (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - JC Tongue (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Innings Break: England - 286/10 in 87.2 overs (JC Tongue 7)
- Australia 2nd innings
- Lunch: Australia - 17/1 in 5.0 overs (TM Head 5, M Labuschagne 4)
- Over 7.5: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - M Labuschagne (Struck down)
- Australia: 50 runs in 14.3 overs (90 balls), Extras 9
- Drinks: Australia - 53/2 in 16.3 overs (TM Head 30)
- TM Head: 50 off 72 balls (5 x 4)
- Australia: 100 runs in 25.4 overs (158 balls), Extras 10
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 58 balls (TM Head 27, UT Khawaja 22, Ex 1)
- Tea: Australia - 119/2 in 31.0 overs (TM Head 68, UT Khawaja 27)
- Australia: 150 runs in 37.1 overs (227 balls), Extras 11
- Australia: 150 runs in 37.4 overs (230 balls), Extras 11
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 70 balls (TM Head 20, AT Carey 26, Ex 4)
- Drinks: Australia - 199/4 in 49.0 overs (TM Head 97, AT Carey 26)
- Australia: 200 runs in 49.1 overs (299 balls), Extras 15
- TM Head: 100 off 146 balls (8 x 4, 2 x 6)
- Australia: 250 runs in 61.6 overs (376 balls), Extras 16
- 5th Wicket: 100 runs in 151 balls (TM Head 59, AT Carey 38, Ex 5)
- AT Carey: 50 off 84 balls (4 x 4)
- End Of Day: Australia - 271/4 in 66.0 overs (TM Head 142, AT Carey 52)
- Attendance: 53,696
- MA Starc: 50 off 73 balls (8 x 4)
- Australia: 350 runs in 86.3 overs (526 balls), Extras 13
- Innings Break: Australia - 371/10 in 91.2 overs (SM Boland 14)
- Over 91.2: Review by Australia (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - NM Lyon (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- England 1st innings
- Over 10.2: Review by Australia (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - JE Root (Struck down)
- England: 50 runs in 12.2 overs (75 balls), Extras 1
- Lunch: England - 59/3 in 14.0 overs (JE Root 11, HC Brook 6)
- England: 100 runs in 28.1 overs (170 balls), Extras 2
- Drinks: England - 113/4 in 31.0 overs (HC Brook 36, BA Stokes 15)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 97 balls (HC Brook 33, BA Stokes 17, Ex 1)
- Over 35.1: Review by England (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - HC Brook (Upheld)
- Tea: England - 132/5 in 39.0 overs (BA Stokes 19, JL Smith 5)
- England: 150 runs in 43.3 overs (264 balls), Extras 4
- Drinks: England - 162/6 in 48.0 overs (BA Stokes 29, WG Jacks 2)
- Drinks: England - 179/8 in 58.0 overs (BA Stokes 33, JC Archer 9)
- England: 200 runs in 61.4 overs (374 balls), Extras 5
- End Of Day: England - 213/8 in 68.0 overs (BA Stokes 45, JC Archer 30)
- Attendance: 51,712
- Australia 1st innings
- Drinks: Australia - 37/2 in 12.0 overs (M Labuschagne 1, UT Khawaja 3)
- Australia: 50 runs in 15.1 overs (96 balls), Extras 6
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 81 balls (M Labuschagne 17, UT Khawaja 32, Ex 1)
- Lunch: Australia - 94/2 in 24.0 overs (M Labuschagne 19, UT Khawaja 41)
- Australia: 100 runs in 25.6 overs (161 balls), Extras 6
- UT Khawaja: 50 off 81 balls (6 x 4)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 66 balls (UT Khawaja 19, AT Carey 30, Ex 1)
- Drinks: Australia - 146/4 in 37.0 overs (UT Khawaja 60, AT Carey 32)
- Australia: 150 runs in 38.6 overs (240 balls), Extras 7
- Tea: Australia - 194/5 in 50.0 overs (AT Carey 48, JP Inglis 5)
- AT Carey: 50 off 75 balls (4 x 4)
- Australia: 200 runs in 51.3 overs (315 balls), Extras 12
- Over 52.1: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - AT Carey (Struck down)
- 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 76 balls (AT Carey 27, JP Inglis 26, Ex 0)
- Over 62.1: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Ahsan Raza, Batter - AT Carey (Struck down)
- Australia: 250 runs in 62.5 overs (383 balls), Extras 12
- Drinks: Australia - 271/7 in 65.5 overs (AT Carey 85)
- Over 65.5: Review by Australia (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - Nitin Menon, Batter - PJ Cummins (Struck down)
- Australia: 300 runs in 71.2 overs (435 balls), Extras 13
- AT Carey: 100 off 135 balls (8 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 8th Wicket: 50 runs in 66 balls (AT Carey 21, MA Starc 28, Ex 1)
- New ball taken 80.1 overs
- End Of Day: Australia - 326/8 in 83.0 overs (MA Starc 33, NM Lyon 0)
- Attendance: 56,298
Match Coverage
All Match NewsStokes admits England have been 'poor' but remains committed to captaincy
Pat Cummins admitted he was surprised how the visitors had played on the very hot second day in Adelaide
Nathan Lyon suffers hamstring injury, in doubt for rest of Ashes series
The offspinner injured himself in the field during the final day at Adelaide Oval and ended on crutches
McCullum: 'Maybe I didn't get Ashes preparation right'
Head coach rues the fact that best performances came too late to change direction of the series
Cummins unlikely for Melbourne after 'pretty amazing' Ashes victory
The Australia captain lauded the way the team had responded to various setbacks during the series
No Christmas miracle for England as Australia make it 3-0 to retain the Ashes in 11 days
A gutsy fight from England's lower order took the match into the afternoon session of the final day, but Australia held their nerve






