It was the final delivery of the 97th over in England’s second innings. Brydon Carse flicked a Scott Boland delivery aimed at leg stump toward the boundary for four. This boundary didn’t mark a personal milestone for Carse, nor did it bring up a team century. Yet, the Adelaide Oval erupted as if a trophy had been won.
The applause, cheers, and the rhythmic tunes of the traveling brass band signaled a specific psychological victory: the target had finally dropped below 100. England had started Day 5 trailing by 228 runs with only four wickets remaining. What seemed an impossible equation at dawn suddenly felt within reach after Carse’s boundary. With three wickets still in hand, English fans dared to dream.
However, the jubilation lasted barely a minute. In the very next over, Mitchell Starc struck. Will Jacks, who had provided three hours of dogged resistance, fell to a spectacular catch by Marnus Labuschagne behind the stumps. That was the beginning of the end. The remaining two wickets fell in quick succession.
Australia bowled England out for 352 to secure an 82-run victory in Adelaide. With this win, Australia has taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, retaining the Ashes after winning three consecutive Tests. England didn’t just lose the series; they lost it in just 11 days of play—marking only the second time in Ashes history that a series has been decided so quickly.
A Steep Mountain to Climb
After suffering a two-day defeat in Perth and a four-day loss in Brisbane, England was set a massive target of 435 runs in Adelaide. Ben Stokes’ side had already made that target look “impossible” by the end of Day 4, reeling at 207 for 6 after 63 overs. Heading into the final day, many doubted how much fight the last four wickets could offer.
Morning Resistance: Smith and Jacks
Despite the odds, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks provided the spectators with a morning of high-quality Test cricket. Smith, who resumed on just 2*, took an aggressive approach.
After hitting Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green for sixes, Smith reached his half-century by smashing Pat Cummins for back-to-back boundaries. He followed up with two more fours against Starc in the next over. However, his attempt at a “boundary hat-trick” proved fatal, as he holed out to Cummins at mid-on for a well-made 60 off 83 balls.
The first session saw England lose only Smith’s wicket. Jacks then combined with Carse for the eighth wicket, forging a partnership that brought the required runs down to double digits. Jacks’ marathon effort ended shortly after; having faced 31 balls on Day 4, he added another 106 balls to his tally today before falling for 47.
Australia’s Dominance and Record-Equaling Feat
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland shared the final two wickets. Starc, Cummins, and Nathan Lyon each finished with three wickets in the second innings.
Despite the victory, Australia faces a minor setback. Nathan Lyon was forced to leave the field during the first session with a hamstring injury, casting doubt on his participation for the remainder of the series.
Injury aside, the Australian camp leaves Adelaide in a celebratory mood. This 11-day series win matches a record set by Steve Waugh’s side in the 2002–03 Ashes. Over two decades later, Pat Cummins’ team (with Steven Smith captaining the first two Tests) has etched its name alongside that legendary squad.
The fourth Test of the series is scheduled to begin on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
