Australia vs England The Ashes 3rd Test Tips - Aussies to seal Ashes in Adelaide Oval scorcher

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: Sun 14 Dec 2025 09:51

Adam Cusworth 14 Dec 2025

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Adelaide plays host to the 3rd Test of the five-match Ashes series between Australia and England
First ball is at 10:30AM AEDT, Wednesday December 17.
The Aussies lead the series 2-0
Pat Cummins set to return for the home side

Australia vs England The Ashes 3rd Test Tips

Australia vs England 3rd Ashes Test Preview

Australia vs England 3rd Ashes Test Preview
Head to Head
Australia Form & Team News
Australia Squad
England Form & Team News
England Squad

Australia will seal the Ashes with a win over England in what shapes as a scorching 3rd Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Hot conditions are forecast for the city of churches, adding another element into the mix for a venue that usually rewards patience and discipline- something that England have lacked so far en route to going down 0-2, while Australia have shown in spaded.

So far in the series, England’s batting has too often defaulted to the Bazball aggression when pressure mounted.

The only contests they have won so far have come at the toss- the winner in Adelaide will be likely to bat first on a surface traditionally excellent for run-scoring, particularly square of the wicket.

Ben Stokes and Will Jacks showed greater restraint in the second innings at the GABBA and gave England’s fans, including the Barmy Army, some glimmer of hope. But Australia have found a way to make key breakthrough’s- Steve Smith’s one handed catch at slip and Josh Inglis’ lethal runout a couple of cases in point from the GABBA.

An interesting subplot to this test is the weather with forecast temperature’s to reach the high 30s. Fatigue will become a factor and it is the Aussies that have shown they can sustain their speeds for longer periods.

The return of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will only sharpen that advantage. Cummins brings control, while Lyon’s ability to bowl long, accurate spells looms large. Mitchell Starc remains the spearhead. His record at Adelaide Oval is exceptional, and he can build on huge haul of 18 wickets from the first two tests.

Travis Head shapes as a key run-scoring threat and may be restored to the middle order, while Steve Smith’s ongoing duel with Jofra Archer continues to tilt heavily in Australia’s favour. Take those two to be amongst the runs.

For England, Joe Root remains the safest batting play, while Harry Brook is their most dangerous disruptor if Australia loosen control even briefly.

Head to Head

Australia’s dominance over England in Australia has seen them win 15 of the past 17 Ashes Tests played on home soil, with England’s last victory here coming in January 2011. At Adelaide Oval specifically, Australia have won six of the past seven Tests against England, while England’s only win at the venue this century required an extraordinary first-innings total in 2010.

This series has followed that established pattern. England have had moments where they looked competitive, but Australia have won the critical sessions, controlled the tempo late in matches, and consistently punished England when patience has been required.

Australia Form & Team News

Across the first two Tests, Australia have absorbed pressure then seized on momentum swings when it has counted.

Mitchell Starc has been the standout performer, man of the match in both matches by claiming 18 wickets, while he was amongst the runs in Brisbane, swinging the match Australia’s way with the bat. He has some elite numbers at the Adelaide Oval.

Steve Smith has again anchored key moments with both bat and leadership, while Travis Head has produced impact innings at the top of the order that may now see him return to his preferred No.5 role if Usman Khawaja is cleared to open.

Pat Cummins is set to return after missing the first two matches, while Nathan Lyon is also expected to return, particularly with Adelaide’s conditions and the anticipated workload on fast bowlers in extreme heat.

Usman Khawaja is expected to be fit after managing back spasms earlier in the series. His return would likely see Head move back into the middle order, where his record as a counterpuncher is among the best in world cricket. Josh Inglis is an unlucky selection casualty if Khawaja returns, while two of Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland are likely to make way to accommodate Cummins and Lyon.

Australia Squad

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

England Form & Team News

England’s 0–2 deficit accurately reflects their struggles to sustain method and intensity rather than a lack of talent. They have been competitive in bursts but consistently undone when matches slow down and demand patience.

Their bowling attack has been significantly weakened by injury. Mark Wood’s absence removes their most consistent source of extreme pace, placing increased strain on Jofra Archer, who has shown flashes of menace but has struggled to maintain speed and impact across spells. Archer has taken just three wickets at an average above 50 this series, while England’s supporting seamers have found it difficult to apply sustained pressure once the ball softens.

With the bat, England remain torn between instinct and patience. Joe Root finally converted a start into a century at the GABBA- his first on Australian soil. Harry Brook remains their most dangerous attacking option, while Ben Stokes has showed grit.

Selection-wise, England are likely to persist with an all-seam attack. Matthew Fisher has been added to the squad following Wood’s injury and England may look to Shoaib Bashir to hold up one end with spin, despite a sketchy record with the ball.

England Squad

Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood

Verdict

Australia v England 3rd Ashes Test

Australia to extend dominance over England in the Adelaide heat. Head to fire at home ground with Smith amongst the runs. Brook to provide resistance with the bat for England