Sports - Cricket
2025-26 Third Ashes Test Preview - AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
Weird things are happening in this series.
Racing and Sports will cover every bit of those from the five tests which should be the ultimate in fast flowing, risk taking adventures around the country.We'll also put in a gamble which might add to your viewing pleasure.
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
Third Test
17-21 December @ Adelaide Oval
Things have often moved so fast at times in this series that if you blinked, you'd have missed it.
So when we see going 'slow and steady' occur twice, it is a huge shock. It's almost like it's inappropriate.
In the first Australian dig at the Gabba, it was very much the case that one session of some stoic 'un-Bazballing' from the Aussie lower order put the game on an obvious path.
So what did Australia do? Chip away, value their wicket and score over 500. The highest score was 77 and every player made double figures. A sense of team, a sense of game understanding.
It directed the beginning of the England second innings into the twilight zone…Doo Doo Doo Doo, Doo Doo Doo Doo!!!!
To quote the band Blink 182 - The timing and structure (I can't use some other words from their song Dammit for reasons which would be obvious if you google it).
The timing was getting the game into the darker times of the 'Gabba hours of play.
The structure was to give the bowlers more rest with them knowing they had a shorter runway to operate at the peak speeds.
In all honesty, these have been two excellent cricket wickets. A bit in it for the bowlers, and batsman can stick around if they desire. What has been lacking is that desire.
That was emphasised with the visitors' attempt second time around. It was obvious for all to see. Get yourself in and wear the bowlers down.
I think it was a Geoffrey Boycott's line – "You win the toss, bat, bat well, bat long". If it wasn't his line it should have been because it was his mantra.
Even if they ended up losing the game, England had to come out and show the want to hang around. You don't have to block everything but make bowlers work for it.
Accentuating the inanity of those dismissals, out trots Stokes and Jacks. They batted a full session without loss. It was only 59 runs added to begin the day BUT FOR ZERO WICKETS.
Australia bowled with control – England batted with control. It wasn't boring, it was honest cricket. A moment when Bazball was placed into a vault. Look what happened.
The only thing that broke the brick wall was a moment of genius. Steve Smith has a cup overfilled with all-time great snares. He is quickly joining the likes of Mark Waugh, Bob Simpson and Ricky Ponting in the best Slipper of all time category.
He couldn't have seen the edge of Jacks' bat with Carey up to the stumps. His reactions were like a kookaburra attacking a worm. You spot it late and attack at speed.
Once the end was opened, in for the kill went the hosts. Carey has had two spectacular contributions behind the sticks this series.
Once the resistance was broken it was over quickly. And yet perhaps the most telling contretemps came in the death throes.
After doddling in around 130 clicks for much of the 117 overs that Australia occupied the crease first time around, Jofra Archer charged in knowing it was a 5 over burst.
Upon Steve Smith's arrival, the battle lines were drawn. The chest was out and the excaliburs raised. A duel was about to start.
However nothing about this was unworthy. It was several overs unmissable. And Smith knew there was time to lay the smack down.
"Bowl fast when there's nothing going on champion". Not sure you'd say it to Curtly or Malcolm or Dale or Wasim at their best but the philosophy was apt.
It is now up to Archer to show it wasn't all bluff and bluster. Not really sure there is any need for the Toss to be conducted in Adelaide.
England likes to bat last and chase so have to bowl first. That also unleashes Jofra to show he had substance behind the speed. Australia would then pick Lyon and Cummins again on what should be a good deck and bat first.
So with that in mind the caravan heads to Adelaide. Since losing to England there in 2010 (yes they were capable of winning a test down under), only once have Aus bitten the dust (India 2018).
It's likely to be red hot during the test. That is never overly pleasant with the warm dry winds. A spinner should be critical and with Nathan Lyon's return, that has to be advantage for the home side.
There has been no propensity to include Shoaib Bashir. Will Jacks was OK but hardly looking like running through a batting order. Do they risk playing them both and leave out the sameness of Carse with Stokes the bowling cover plus use Root for spin?
It's almost hard to believe Australia is 2-NIL up with the two teams they've played. While some of the cries for help from English fans to make that same assessment are scorn worthy, there is a degree of truth to it.
Perth saw them effectively 1 for over 100 at Day 2 lunch and they lost by the end of the day. In Brisbane they dropped 5 catches. Meanwhile the Aussies held some crackers like the aforementioned Smith and Carey but also Labuschagne too. It makes so much difference to the game flow but also in the game psychology.
If the Ashes are decided by Melbourne, we wonder if there might be some looking to the future. A young batsman for Inglis, another young bowler as well could be chosen.
But still don't write off England at least looking like making a run this week. If they don't, some careers will be ended. They may be those on the field of play or off it.
The Adelaide Oval isn't the size it used to be square of the wicket but it isn't as vast as parts of Brisbane were and certainly those to come. It might entice England to have one more attempt at some rollicking batting.
Back at home you can plaster balls into grandstands with miss-hits. It induces the all-out attack. That is almost impossible here. You'll notice how often they are caught on the boundary in this series.
One thing is highly likely. This is Travis Head time. He averages 42 in 62 Tests all up. On his home deck, that is almost doubled at 79.25. Hundreds have eventuated the last three Tests he's played as he's excited those cheering from the Victor Richardson Gates to the Chappell Stand.
So as we end, we should complete the ode to Blink 182 through 'Well, I guess this is growing up.'
I imagine some English supporters at home and the many travelling abroad would actually like some of their batsman to grow up a bit too. But they really might have been jilted one too many times?
Suggested Bets: Travis Head 50+ runs @ $2.55