Australia vs England 3rd Ashes Test Day 3 Live Score Updates

Australia, meanwhile, have pressed all the right buttons. Every tactic has been executed to near perfection. Be it Carey standing up to the stumps and athletically holding onto a sharp chance to remove Jacks, while the introduction of Green into the attack that paid instant dividends, snuffing out Brook just as he was beginning to look ominous. After bowling in unforgiving heat on Thursday, the Australian bowlers will return refreshed and ready to pose a stern challenge to an England side whose hopes are hanging by a thread. The conditions offer slightly more respite than the previous day, but the stakes remain immense. A crucial morning session awaits in just a few minutes. Stay tuned.

Bazball, for now, appears to have been shelved as old school cricket has taken centre stage, best reflected in Stokes’ gritty 45 off 151 balls. Even if scaling this mountain of a lead feels improbable, hauling it below the hundred run mark would still count as a significant moral victory for the tourists. For that to happen, the tail need to massively support their captain. Archer has, at times, displayed that he can bat well and for long and is batting at a fair clip as well. But how they deal with the first crucial hour will shape England’s fate in the series. The reason why England have got to get clarity is because the likes of Nathan Lyon is going to be even more tough to play in the fourth innings of this game when the wicket will start spitting and grip more.

Day 2 was scorching at near 40 degrees and didn’t go without flashpoints. Technological controversies took centre stage at times and left England visibly frustrated. Some will argue that Jamie Smith’s dismissal felt harsh, but there were no hiding places in the bigger picture. England looked rusty on a surface that promised runs from the start. Harry Brook curbed his natural aggression in the interest of survival, but the late resistance from Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer injected a flicker of belief into the England camp. Stokes, battling cramps, has dug in trenches in a painstaking inning and will need a massive support from the tail.

Australia are smelling blood. They have out bowled and out disciplined England across every department. So ruthless has their grip been that even Mitchell Starc, a man who usually strikes early and often, is yet to take a wicket in Adelaide. The damage was set in motion by the returning spearheads, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland ensured the pressure never eased. With a commanding lead still in hand, Australia will be determined not to let it be chipped away in small, harmless increments. The aim is simple. Finish the job quickly by hunting down the last two wickets and keeping their rivals firmly on the mat.

‘Take my drum to England, hang it by the shore, strike it when your powder’s running low.’ This famous, powerful verse, though written by Sir Henry Newbolt, is the core of the legendary Drake’s Drum myth. It is a timeless summons for heroes, echoing whenever hope thins and backs are pressed firmly against the wall. Ben Stokes and his troops are living that raw legend in Adelaide right now. They are completely cornered, the series is slipping away, and are searching for a brave, desperate act of heroism to save this Ashes. On that tense note, hello and welcome to Day 3. Always a pleasure to have you join us.

... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ...

Righto, two days down and England find themselves in a precarious situation. With the Ashes on the line, they need a miraculous fightback from Stokes and a bit of shepherding with the lower order. Archer has displayed a good, positive approach and has hung in there. But they are still 158 runs adrift, which is a massive mountain to scale down. Their first target would be to shrink the lead into double figures and take it over by over. Australia, on the other hand, would look to clean up things in the first crucial hour of Day 3 and proceed with a hefty lead. We will back on Friday, 19th December for the 'Moving Day' and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 11.30 pm GMT (Previous Day). Till then, stay safe, cheers!

Australia's Nathan Lyon is up for a quick chat with Isa Guha on the sidelines. He says that it was a tough day out there, pretty hot, but nice to contribute to the team. Adds that he just tries to stick to his basics and says he enjoyed the ball to get the wicket of Duckett. Mentions that the boys did really well in difficult conditions, especially the fast bowlers, who have put them in a great position in the game. Ends by saying that he will probably need to take an ice bath.

Ben Stokes was left stranded at one end, watching the collapse unfold. He himself struggled with cramps, but was brave enough to hang in there, showing absolute solidity in defending. Scott Boland eventually tore through the lower middle order, removing Will Jacks and Brydon Carse in quick succession. England slumped from 159/5 to 168/8. England were on the mat already, and it looked like they would get wrapped sooner. But in came Archer who formed a resilient and a responsible alliance with Stokes, which was the only pebble in the shoe for Australia this day.

The final session was dominated by Snicko controversies and England's collapse. First, Jamie Smith survived when technology showed Pat Cummins' bumper hit his helmet rather than his glove. Australia were frustrated by the decision, though replays showed that the ball yorked Usman Khawaja's hands anyway. Then came the decisive moment. Smith, who'd been counterattacking with intent, was given out caught behind off the pull. Technology showed a spike, but replays suggested a gap between bat and ball. Smith had to go, which frustrated the English camp more.

Australia bowled in better areas and looked more consistent in hitting there and thereabouts. Cummins didn't let Root get past 20, which dented England further to 71/4. Though with the ball softening up and losing its bite on a pretty decent batting track, Brook and Stokes showed good resilience with a 59-run partnership. But an inspired bowling change to bring in Green proved fruitful immediately as he fished out Brook, pushing England to 127/5, deep in the afternoon session.

The day started quietly for Australia. Mitchell Starc moved to a handy half-century as the lower order added 45 runs to their overnight score, pushing the total to 371. Jofra Archer was England's standout with five wickets, bowling with genuine pace and control throughout. England's reply started smoothly on a good batting surface, but quickly turned into a mess as the two returning stars struck immediately. Captain Pat Cummins removed Zak Crawley with a beauty to set the tone. Nathan Lyon then struck twice in his first over, leaving England reeling at 42/3. It could have been even worse, but Joe Root survived a caught behind appeal when the third umpire ruled the edge hadn't carried to Alex Carey.

Another day of the Ashes bossed up by the Australians. England have got themselves into a hole, but got to give it to the English captain, Ben Stokes, for bravely hanging in there despite struggling with cramps. He got more than decent support from Jofra Archer as their alliance now stands at 45 runs. The hosts though, are still way ahead in the game, with a big lead at their disposal and just two good balls away from wrapping up England.

Another maiden over! Nathan Lyon loops it up, full and on middle, Ben Stokes negotiates it safely. THAT WILL BE STUMPS ON DAY 2!

Flatter, full and on middle, Ben Stokes knocks it to the right of the bowler. Last ball of the day coming up now.

Slows it up, full and on middle and leg, Ben Stokes is solid in his defense. Two more balls to go in the day.

Nathan Lyon comes over the wicket, flights it up, full and around leg, Ben Stokes pads it away.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Ben Stokes prods forward to fend it away.

Floated, full and on middle, Ben Stokes stays deep inside is crease to block it out.

Last over of the day coming up. Nathan Lyon (21-3-51-2) to wrap up.