2025-26 Ashes

Good session for England, no wickets lost, deficit wiped out and nothing in the pitch for Australia. Obviously still way behind in the game, effectively 16/6 but all they can do is build as big a lead as possible before the lights come on.

Wicket finally comes, Smith takes a fantastic low catch off Neser to remove Jacks who had played really well. Stokes still there on 49, England lead by 47.

Neser who's been Australia's best bowler today removes Stokes...53 lead for England.

Neser gets his 5. Australia need 65 for a 2 nil lead.

How often do we see this, small target needed and wickets start to fall. Good comeback for Atkinson, gave his wicket away and got whacked around early on, 2 wickets in the bag now.

Smith hits a six to win the game. Emphatic in the end. A bit of spice there between Archer and Smith, Archer has never gotten Smith out, bit of verbals and then Smith took him for 15 off the over.

Big challenge for England - 10 days to the Adelaide test, no plans for England to pay any cricket in the meantime. Some decisions for both teams to make - Hard to see Wood returning - do they go with Jacks again, Pope under pressure - Duckett done nothing so far but they're not dropping him.

Australia, Weatherald did enough to keep his place, unlilely Khawaja is back - his race is run, I suspect. Lyon is due back and Cummins too, they may keep Neser and rest Starc, Doggett will go out, I'd imagine.

Avoiding 5-0 is probably England's only realistic goal here, Root already has his century.

McCullum reckons England trained too hard before Test 2 and the bowlers were bowling crap because they were trying too hard.

He is a spoofer.

Any chance England learn a lesson at all from this and actually copy what Stoke and Jacks did and bat sensibly going forward.

They lost this match by the bowling to Mitchell Starc and Boland, they seemed completely un-interested in getting Starc out and just allowed him to take his time so Australia could get what they wanted and be bowling at England under lights.