Published1 hour ago28 CommentsAustralia have retained the Ashes at the earliest opportunity by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead over England with victory in the third Test in Adelaide. It is the fourth consecutive Ashes series down under where Australia have gone 3-0 up - and this time England unravelled in just 11 days of cricket. Some might say it was over before it began because of England's preparation but here are the top 10 moments that decided the 2025-26 Ashes on the field... Costly collapse in PerthTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be playedMedia caption, 'Where has this come from?' - Australia take three England wickets in six ballsAfter a brilliant fast bowling display to dismiss Australia for 132, England were 65-1 in their second innings shortly after lunch on day two of the first Test in Perth, leading by 105 and seemingly in control. What followed was a horrific collapse, including losing three wickets for no runs in six balls, to be bowled out for 164. Head's astonishing centuryTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be playedMedia caption, 'Top-class' Head century has Australia cruising towards win over EnglandAustralia still needed 205 to win on a tricky pitch at Perth Stadium and England had a chance of victory if their bowlers could fire again. But Travis Head, promoted to open because of Usman Khawaja's back spasms, savagely took England down - smashing a sublime 123 off 83 balls to help seal an eight-wicket win inside two days. Brook gifts wicket away in BrisbaneTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be playedMedia caption, Australia 'gifted' wicket as Brook's thick outside edge is caught by Smith at second slipBrisbane has provided plenty of Ashes misery for England, with 1986 the last time the tourists won a Test at the Gabba. However, England won the toss in the day-night second Test, batted first and were well placed at 176-3. Then came Harry Brook's brain fade when set on 31 - flaying a wild drive at pink-ball maestro Mitchell Starc to second slip in the twilight. Ben Stokes made a mistake to be run out by Josh Inglis shortly after. Although Joe Root went on to hit his first century in Australia, England only made 334 on a good batting surface. Dismal drops at the GabbaTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be playedMedia caption, 'Despair' on day two for England with missed opportunities in the fieldAgain England had the chance to make up for their mistakes, only to put in a woeful fielding performance on day two at the Gabba. They dropped or missed five clear chances overall, the most costly being wicketkeeper Jamie Smith's drop of Head on three and Ben Duckett shelling Alex Carey on nought. Head only scored 30 more runs but that drop set the tone. Australia went on the attack, reaching 100 off just 17.2 overs, while Carey would go on to make 63. Starc's 77 gives Aussies commanding leadTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be playedMedia caption, 'Outstanding' Starc reaches half-century with 'clubbing' hit through mid-wicket for fourEngland still had hope of quickly dismissing Australia on day three in Brisbane to limit their first-innings deficit. But Starc, who had tormented the tourists with the ball, showed them how to bat too.
