#Ashes3rdTest : Tons By Alex Carey, Travis Head And Six Wickets On A Comeback By Pat Cummins Help Australia Rout England By 82 Runs

Picture : ICC/X

Dominant Australia retained the Ashes in style as they routed England by 82 runs in the third Test at Adelaide Oval .  The Aussies now take  commanding 3-0 lead in the much hyped series with two matches to go.

Back in the team after injury Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first . Australia posted a total of  371/10 . The highlight of the Aussie innings in the absence of Steve Smith was a brilliant hundred by  wicket- keeper batsman Alex Carey ( 106) a knock cam e when they needed it most . Usman Khawaja made the most of the opportunity to score a fioghting ( 82). The rest of the batting after starts could not go on.  Travis Head ( 10), Jake Weatherald ( 18) , Cameron Green ( 0), Marnus Labuschagne ( 19), Josh Inglis ( 32), Pat Cummins ( 13) , Mitchell Starc played once again crucial low order innings a fine ( 54) to frustrate England , Nathan Lyon ( 9), Scott Boland not out 14.

England bowling  weas led by Jofra Archer who picked 5/53, Brydon Carse 2/89, Josh Tongue 1/64, Ben Stokes 0/53 , Will Jacks 2/105

In reply England were jolted early as  Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins got Zak Crawley for ( 9) , Ben Duckett ( 29) , Ollie Pope ( 3) fell to Nathan Lyon, The big wicket of Joe Root ( 19) was taken by  Pat Cummins who was impressive on his comeback, Harry Brook promised big but fell for ( 45) , English Skipper Ben Stokes batted long to score  ( 83), Jamie Smith ( 22) , Will jacks ( 6). The English hopes of first innings lead was fading away with regular loss of wickets. Aussie bowers were backed up special fielding efforts. Brydon Carse ( 0), Jofra Archer once again lifted the lower order with a timely innings. This time Archer scored a fine 51.  Josh Tongue was not out 7. England bolwed out for 286/10 . Australia taking  a vital lead .

Aussie bowling figures read : Mitchell Starc 1/61, Pat Cummins 3/69, Scott Boland 3/45, Nathan Lyon 2/70, Cameron Green 1/33

The fate of the  match rested on the Aussie second innings . Austarlia lost  opener Jake Weatherald for ( 1), Marnus Labuschagne ( 13) , Usman Khawaja once again played crucial kncok of ( 40),Cameron Green failed again out for ( 7), Alex Carey chipped in with vital ( 72) , Josh Inglis ( 10), Pat Cummins ( 6), Mitchell Starc  not out ( 7) , Nathan Lyon ( 0), Scott Boland ( 1).  Opener Travis Head  onace again proved why he is so dangerous and and can take away the match. Head despite wicket falling around him hung on to score a fine ton  a majestic 170 . Australia bolwed out for 349/10. Setting England a stiff target of 435 to win.

England  in the second innings did  offer some resistance as they battled hard but could reach only 352/10 handing Aussie a win by 82 runs  . Aussie bolwers were relentless. For England Opener Zak Crawley  batted well for his ( 85), Ben Duckett ( 4) , Ollie Pope ( 17), Joe Root fell to Pat Cummins again for ( 39), England were sliding to a big defeat. Nathan Lyon bagged English Skipper Ben Stokes for (5) and Harry Brook ( 30) ,  wicket- keeper Jamie Smith showed grit to  score ( 60) , Will Jacks ( 47),. English lower order  gave the Aussies a scare for while  Brydon Crase  not out ( 39) , Jofra Archer ( 3) , Josh Tongue ( 1).

Australia bowlers pegged England with regular wickets and their fielders were sharp with their catching. Catches win matches is the adage and this was diffrence between Australia and England.  Pat Cummins  roared back with a fine show with ball on his comeback  3/48, Mitchell Starc bagged crucial wickets 3/62, Scott Boland 1/35 ( final wicket of the match) , Nathan Lyon 3/77, Cameron Green 0/44, Travis Head 0/61, Marnus Labuschagne 0/7

Australia were dealt a blow with hamstring injury to Nathan Lyon and will miss the next two Tests.  Pat Cummins too will not take further part in the series as Cricket Austrlia do  not want take any risk with his  injury after  a superb comeback. Cummins might not play in the T20 World Cup In 2026 scheduled in India and Sri Lanka too.  Steve Smith will lead Australia in the final two Tests.

England will hope that they do not go back with a 5-0 drubbing scoreline . Absence of big Aussie names like Cummins, and  Lyon  gives them some hope though.

Match: The Ashes, 3rd Test
Venue: Adelaide | Date: Dec 17-21, 2025