Australia have retained cricket's historic Ashes urn after securing a decisive 82-run victory over England at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon. The win, sealed when Josh Tongue edged to Marnus Labuschagne off Scott Boland at 2.12pm local time, gives the hosts an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after just 11 days of play.
England's Brave Chase Falls Short
England, set a mammoth world-record target of 435 to win, showed flickers of defiance on the final day. Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith played an explosive innings of 60, while Will Jacks contributed a stubborn 47 and Brydon Carse finished unbeaten on 39. Their efforts briefly rekindled hope of a miraculous comeback, but each promising partnership was ultimately extinguished.
Labuschagne proved a particular thorn in England's side, taking a series of brilliant slip catches to dismantle the batting order. The tourists' aggressive 'Bazball' approach, which had brought them back to the edge of contention, was also their undoing. Smith's dismissal, caught by Pat Cummins after mistiming a lofted drive, perfectly encapsulated the fine line between celebrated aggression and costly recklessness.
Series Concluded Amid Injury and Fan Devotion
The match was not without drama for the victors. Australia's premier spinner, Nathan Lyon, suffered a suspected hamstring injury while fielding in the morning session and was forced to leave the ground. His absence, however, came too late to alter England's fortunes in this contest.
The weather in Adelaide mirrored England's gloomy prospects, with rain causing a 40-minute delay after the Barmy Army trumpeter played 'Singin' in the Rain'. Despite the crushing defeat and the surrender of the Ashes for another two years, England's travelling supporters remained steadfast. At the close, players walked over to acknowledge the Barmy Army on the hill, who continued to sing their hearts out in a display of unconditional support rarely seen in other sports.
Dead Rubbers and Future Questions
With the Ashes retained, the final two Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground are now dead rubbers. The focus will inevitably shift to the future of the England setup, with intense scrutiny on coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key following a series where they were consistently outplayed.
Off the field, the Adelaide Oval offered a culinary highlight, with its food offerings—including a well-frequented sushi stand and a Lobster Roll for around £11—deemed superior to those at the previous venue, the Gabba.
