🔗 Share this article

The players are about to take the field for an extended first session that will last two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be firmly in the box seat.

A Pink Outpouring of Support

The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with spectators adorned in pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support.

A fan dressed in all pink arrives at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

On-Field Tensions Bubble Over

It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to continue the exchange.

With the officials intervening, the England skipper departed after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. Under ICC regulations, the England captain could be reprimanded for making improper physical contact.

The Spin Debate Ignites Anew

Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in supporting fellow spinners. Sides should always retain a spin bowling option was his frequent argument.

Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. His old teammate Jason Gillespie had the same view observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he stated during commentary.

Australia didn’t have it. Their attack featured three specialist fast bowlers, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root compiled his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384.

It would have been helpful to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It might have eased the burden to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

Greetings and welcome to our updates of day three at the SCG. A crucial morning session awaits, but it’s impossible to escape the end-of-term feeling that has pervaded this Test so far.

Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, especially on Australian soil. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two inconsequential matches? It defies our predictions ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes.

The stakes are further reduced of a potential whitewash; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, 4-1 looks more likely. A poor bowling performance from England let Australia race to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; Michael Neser, who came in as nightwatchman has 1 from 15.

Neser received a painful blow to the elbow near the end of play, highlighting that the surface – though largely good for batting – is on the capricious side. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right length this morning they could reignite the contest.

In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.