England's hopes of retaining the Ashes are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a disastrous batting display on day two of the third Test in Adelaide left them staring at a series-ending defeat.
Series on the Line After Batting Implosion
The tourists, already 2-0 down in the series, now face a monumental task to avoid surrendering the urn. At the close of play on Thursday, 18 December 2025, England trailed Australia by 158 runs with only two wickets remaining in their first innings, having been dismantled on a placid Adelaide Oval pitch.
Australia, dismissed for 371 in the morning session, seized total control of the match and the series as England's top order folded once again. The familiar sight of wickets tumbling in clusters has become the defining theme of England's tour, with tensions visibly rising within the camp under the Australian sun.
Stokes and Archer Fight Back Amid Heated Exchange
The sole resistance came from a defiant, unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 45 between captain Ben Stokes, who finished 45 not out, and tailender Jofra Archer on 30 not out. Their gritty stand offered a glimmer of hope, but it came after a reported heated exchange between the pair earlier in the day as frustrations boiled over.
England's predicament was exacerbated by another soft dismissal from Ollie Pope, which prompted former spinner Graeme Swann to criticise the "awful" manner of his departure. The lack of application from the established batsmen has led to serious questions about the team's mentality and technique under pressure.
A Catalogue of Collapses Seals England's Fate
This latest collapse marks the fifth consecutive failure of England's batting unit on this tour, each more damning than the last:
- In Perth, they slumped from 160-5 to 172 all out on day one.
- Later in the same Test, they crashed from 65-1 to 104-7.
- In Brisbane, they were reduced to 5-2 at the start of day one.
- And in their second innings there, fell from 90-1 to 128-6.
The Adelaide debacle may be the most costly of all. Having been presented with a golden opportunity after Australia's under-par total, England's implosion has all but extinguished any lingering hope. As day three dawns, Stokes and Archer must now attempt to salvage pride and reduce the deficit, but the dream of regaining the Ashes appears to be in tatters.
The scale of the missed opportunity is stark. Fortune had favoured England with toss wins and conditions, making this final surrender of initiative all the more painful for players and fans alike. All eyes are now on Adelaide to see if England can muster one last fight or if this will be the day the Ashes are officially lost.
