Wednesday sees the continuation of one of the most significant cricket events on the calendar as Australia hosts England in their 2025-26 Ashes series. The Ashes have been contested since 1883, with Australia winning 34 times, England 32, and seven draws.
The Aussies are the defending champions, having won the 2021-22 series and kept the trophy via a series draw in 2023.
This Ashes series will be played over the traditional five Tests. Australia won the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane, so they need to win one of the remaining three Tests to retain The Ashes. Future Tests will be played in Melbourne (Boxing Day Test) and finally at the SGC in Sydney.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
Australia VS England 3rd Test Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Australia VS England 3rd Test Date: Wednesday, December 17 to Sunday, December 21
Australia VS England 3rd Test Odds with BetXchange:
History
It was a wild, albeit short, ride in Perth. England collapsed to their worst Test defeat in Australia for years as they fell inside two days in the first two-day Ashes Test since 1921,
To go from 105 runs ahead with nine second innings wickets in hand to losing by eight wickets less than five hours later is a defeat that will sting for a generation. It was an astonishing collapse, and it will be tough to bounce back quickly, given the widespread failures.
Brisbane was no better for the tourists as their hyper-aggressive Bazball style once again led to a quick and authoritative defeat. It has led to calls from former players for England to tone down their attacking style and play like adults, so we will see if this advice is heeded or if England swing at everything again during the Adelaide Test.
Australia
There are a couple of changes for Australia as captain Pat Cuimmings has been deemed fit enough to enter this Ashes series for the first time. It will be his first action since July, with a back injury ruling him out of the first two Tests.
Australia needs its vocal leader back, though this is something of a gamble. The Adelaide Oval is notoriously hard and flat, especially with temperatures set to hit almost 40 degrees C, something that will test out the strength of Cimmings’ back.
The other change was expected. Nathan Lyon is back in the side, with the spinner being the leading wicket-taker at this venue in Tests with 63. It is a track he loves, so expect Lyon to be in the thick of the wicket taking over the next five days.
England
There is just one change for an England side who know that any chance to build an Ashes legacy hangs in the balance at the Adelaide Oval. Josh Tongue replaces Gus Atkinson in the bowling attack, making it a like-for-like swap as one pacer replaces another.
This means there is no place for the change-up spin of Shoabi Bashir, a player who seemed likely to get the nod on a wicket where spin could be pivotal.
Instead of Bashir, England has elected to stick with all-rounder ill Jacks, adding a bat to the lineup instead of the bowling prowess of Bashir. Questions loom over the point in the whole Bashir experiment over the last two years, if the 22-year-old specialist is deemed surplus to requirements at this spin-friendly venue.
Best Bets
This is the first Test where spin will play a factor. Lyon at 11/1 to be Player of the Match is well worth a punt if you think England will be deceived by his spin. Given their desire to hack at everything, Lyon should be expecting a ton of edges off of his balls.
Harry Brook is 67/20 to be England’s top bat. He has spoken during this break about the ‘shocking shots’ that gave up his wicket too easily in the first two Tests. If he keeps his shot selection calm, then he has more than enough talent to strike a first innings 50 at 41/20.
