England launched a dramatic counter-attack at the start of the afternoon session in the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, seizing crucial momentum with two rapid wickets in the very first over after lunch. Spearheaded by Jofra Archer, the touring side dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within three deliveries, abruptly shifting the balance of play. This immediate breakthrough injected renewed hope into an England team trailing 2-0 in the five-Test series and facing a must-win scenario to keep their Ashes aspirations alive against a formidable Australian side. The hosts, having appeared to gain an early advantage, suddenly found themselves under significant pressure as the contest intensified.

The pivotal over saw Marnus Labuschagne, who had battled to 19 runs, chip the very first ball after the interval directly to Brydon Carse at midwicket, ending his stay. Just two deliveries later, Cameron Green followed suit, also falling for a duck after miscuing an Archer delivery to midwicket, mirroring his teammate’s dismissal. These rapid departures left Australia reeling at 98 for 4, severely disrupting their innings and granting England a desperately needed boost in a match where every wicket holds immense significance for the series outcome. The intensity from the English bowlers was palpable, capitalising on the post-lunch restart.

Following this double strike, Australia’s innings stabilised somewhat with the experienced Usman Khawaja, nearing a half-century, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey at the crease. England’s bowlers, including the disciplined Josh Tongue, maintained a tight line and length, applying continuous pressure on the developing partnership. Tongue, who had bowled commendably without substantial reward in the morning session, continued his controlled effort, aiming to exploit any potential fragility in the Australian middle order. The hosts edged past 100 runs, but the scoring rate remained subdued as England meticulously worked to break the new stand.

The morning session had largely seen Australia gain a slight upper hand, despite England’s persistent efforts with the ball. Commentators Steven Finn and Graeme Swann, observing from Adelaide, acknowledged the hosts’ initial advantage. However, the dramatic turn of events in the afternoon session emphatically demonstrated England’s resilience and their unwavering determination to force a comeback. Captain Ben Stokes had earlier invoked powerful memories of England’s improbable Ashes fightback in 2023, urging his team to draw deep inspiration from past successes as they confronted the formidable task of overturning a 0-2 deficit.

This third Test at the iconic Adelaide Oval is unequivocally the first of three non-negotiable victories required for England to have any chance of reclaiming the coveted urn. Historically, only Donald Bradman’s legendary Australian side in 1936-37 has ever managed to recover from such a precarious 0-2 predicament to win an Ashes series. Adding to England’s already monumental challenge is a daunting winless streak spanning 17 Tests and 15 years on Australian soil, underscoring the sheer scale of the task ahead for the touring side. The weight of history and expectation heavily rests on this encounter.

Compounding the pre-match drama and adding another layer of intrigue, Australia suffered a significant blow with the late withdrawal of their star batsman, Steve Smith. Smith, who had captained Australia to comfortable victories in the opening two Test matches, was initially named in the XI but pulled out on Wednesday morning due to an undisclosed injury. His absence paved the way for Usman Khawaja’s recall to the side and saw Pat Cummins return to lead the team after recovering from a back injury. Smith’s omission undoubtedly altered the dynamics of Australia’s formidable batting lineup, presenting England with a potential advantage they were keenly seeking to exploit.

Khawaja, batting with characteristic caution and resilience, managed to guide the ball for singles and twos, gradually building his individual score while expertly resisting the persistent English attack. Alex Carey, known for his aggressive counter-attacking style, also sought to ease the pressure, cutting away a boundary to get off the mark and settle into his innings. England’s strategy remained clear: break this partnership swiftly to expose Australia’s lower order and maintain their newly found ascendancy in a session that could ultimately define the trajectory of this pivotal Test match and, indeed, the entire series. The battle for supremacy remained finely poised.

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Keywords: Ashes 2025, England cricket, Australia vs England Test, Adelaide Oval Test, Jofra Archer wickets, Ashes third Test live, Steve Smith withdrawal, Ben Stokes Ashes fightback