England's grip on the Ashes urn is slipping through their fingers after a punishing fourth day at the Adelaide Oval, where Australia manoeuvred themselves to the brink of victory in the third Test. The tourists now face the monumental task of saving the match and the series, needing a further 250 runs with only seven wickets remaining on the final day.
England's Brief Resurgence Meets Australian Steel
The day began with a flicker of hope for England and the travelling Barmy Army. The bowlers, led by Brydon Carse, who came within a whisker of a hat-trick, sparked a collapse, taking Australia's final six wickets for just 78 runs. This restricted the hosts to 349 all out before lunch, setting a mammoth target of 435 for England to win.
However, the optimism was brutally short-lived. The Bazball philosophy of fearless chase was tested to its limits early in the innings. Australian captain Pat Cummins struck in the second over, removing Ben Duckett with a superb delivery caught at slip. Ollie Pope followed cheaply, deepening England's crisis before a resilient 78-run partnership between Zak Crawley and Joe Root offered temporary respite.
The pivotal moment came when Cummins, in a masterful spell, dismissed Root caught behind. The loss of their premier batter for 28 felt like a terminal blow to England's faint hopes, reducing them to 109-3. Crawley battled to a hard-fought half-century, his second of the series, and will resume on 58 not out with Harry Brook (7*), but the required run rate and the quality of the Australian attack make the task appear Herculean.
Spice, Boos and Wit on a Tense Day
The tension of the match spilled over in a dramatic final over before lunch. Zak Crawley, attempting to avoid facing another over, employed deliberate delaying tactics, prodding the pitch and backing away. The Adelaide crowd responded with loud boos, and a visibly irritated Pat Cummins engaged in a pointed exchange with the batsman as they walked off.
The day was also punctuated by moments of typical Ashes humour and rivalry. At the local Torrens Parkrun, which attracted over 500 participants including Barmy Army members, the Australian organiser quipped that English runners should "keep on running" past the Adelaide Oval. Meanwhile, former Australia captain Ian Chappell demonstrated his legendary dry wit in declining an interview request, simply stating he was "retired & I don't drink coffee."
Head's Moustache Triumphs and Inglis's Skills
Lighter moments included a fan poll on the big screen, where Travis Head's moustache convincingly beat that of England legend Ian Botham by 76% to 34%. On the field, Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis showcased surprising footballing skills, delighting the crowd by juggling the ball with his foot several times at midwicket, a replay of which earned him a theatrical bow.
As day five dawns, England's mission is stark: survive three sessions to salvage a draw. With Australia needing just seven wickets to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Ashes series, all evidence points towards the urn remaining firmly in Australian hands.
