Key Highlights
- For the third time in three Tests, England have endured a horrific Day Two and now find themselves even more rapidly free-falling towards the hard embrace of series defeat.
- It will be the shortest number of days in which any side has ever surrendered the Ashes. Barring something almost beyond the miraculous, England will slip to defeat here in Adelaide, and as many predicted, it has been Australia’s bowlers who have been the deciding factor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADEngland’s Ashes hopes fade fast as Aussies bowlers dominateTo their credit – at least as much as can be assigned to a team 213/8 and still trailing by 158 – England largely managed to restrain their penchant for daft dismissals; they were simply outplayed by a bowling attack very much their superior. The exception, of course, was Ollie Pope, who even for a man famed for his jittery starts to his innings, produced just about as bad a ten-ball stint at the crease as is imaginable.
- Ungainly plays and misses as the bat swishes across his body, short-pitched balls worn in the torso; it was the knock of a man desperately short on form and confidence.
- When the end came, it was as ugly as anything that had preceded it – a horribly loose flick to just Nathan Lyon’s third ball of the day hit straight into the hands of a grateful midwicket. More from First Cricket No Joe Burns for Italy at T20 World Cup: Explosive WhatsApp messages reveal what led to exclusion Uthappa, Steyn criticise match officials over multiple inspection in Lucknow T20: 'We should grab them and ask for clarity'Ollie Pope is absolutely dreadful why wasn’t he dropped?!
- It’s absolutely unbelievable how he even made the tour in the first place #ashes25— Josh Hughes (@JHughes4196) December 18, 2025Unless he can produce something extraordinary and unlikely in the second innings, you would imagine his time in this side has, for now, come to an end. Where England’s bowlers had been inconsistent and profligate, Australia’s were miserly and relentlessly accurate – all five parts of their bowling attack refusing to give the opposition the slightest glimpse of an opportunity, even in the gaudy 40° temperature. Quick ReadsView All'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new reportPCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversyIt is always nice as a team when you can freshen up your lineup with a man who averages 22.10 with the ball in Test cricket and another who has 564 wickets.
