On the opening day of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, Australia have steadied themselves after an early stumble, with Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne patiently repairing the innings while England, already two matches down, search for the moment that will turn the contest. It is the familiar rhythm of this rivalry: a bright start, a sudden reversal, and then the slow work of rebuilding under a sky that promises a gentler afternoon for the batters. Whether England's bowlers can find the discipline to reclaim the day will say much about how this series is ultimately remembered.
Ashes 3rd Test, Day 1 at Adelaide: Khawaja and Labuschagne steady Australia after early Head wicket
A foundation of 33 for none became 33 for two
Mark
Australia are 94 for 2. Why does that feel like a good score for them?
Mimi
Because it was 33 for 2 and could have been 33 for 3. Khawaja was dropped twice in the session, and the second edge fell just short of Brook at first slip.
Mark
So the dropped catches are the story?
Mimi
Partly. England also bowled loosely. Carse was too short and gave the two left-handers boundary balls early on.
Luke
Careful with cause and effect, though. The reports say the drop could come back to haunt England, but nobody can say what it will cost. Khawaja could still fall in the next over.
Mark
Fair. What did England do well?
Mimi
Archer bowled a maiden with control and then got a breakthrough. Crawley then took a one-handed catch to remove Head off Carse.
Luke
Worth noting the source is live commentary, so judgments like England looking flat for forty minutes are the commentator's reading, not a measured statistic.
Mark
And what's next?
Mimi
The pitch has slowed and batting should ease in the sun, so England need a spell that breaks the partnership.
Luke
That's an expectation, not a certainty. The afternoon session hasn't been played yet.
The Pulse
- Australia's openers were gone inside the first hour, leaving the innings suddenly fragile at 33 for two.
- England's bowlers strayed in line and length, and a missed chance at first slip gave Khawaja a second life.
- Khawaja and Labuschagne have knitted a partnership, scoring at a steady pace and quieting the early unease.
- The pitch is slowing and the afternoon sun is expected to ease batting, so England must find a breakthrough soon or risk losing the session.
On the opening day of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, Australia have steadied themselves after an early stumble, with Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne patiently repairing the innings while England, already two matches down, search for the moment that will turn the contest. It is the familiar rhythm of this rivalry: a bright start, a sudden reversal, and then the slow work of rebuilding under a sky that promises a gentler afternoon for the batters. Whether England's bowlers can find the discipline to reclaim the day will say much about how this series is ultimately remembered.
At 23.5 overs, Will Jacks dropped one short of full on off stump and Usman Khawaja nudged it with soft hands. The thin edge fell just short of Harry Brook at first slip, who dived and could only half-stop it. It was the second time Brook had put Khawaja down that session, and it felt like an opportunity England would regret.
England arrived at Adelaide Oval trailing 2-0 and needing an answer. Pat Cummins led Australia back out, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald opening, while Ben Stokes captained England and Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opened for them. Head had scored 199 runs across the first two Tests, and Mitchell Starc led the wicket-takers with 18.
The early overs belonged to Australia. Head and Weatherald punished an England attack that was too short and too loose, and Brydon Carse in particular gave away too many easy scoring balls. Australia reached 33 without loss after eight overs.
Then the day turned. Jofra Archer finally bowled with control, and in the next over Head was caught by Crawley in a brilliant one-handed catch off Carse. Suddenly the openers were gone and the innings was 33 for two.
From there England tightened up and the scoring slowed as Khawaja and Labuschagne began rebuilding. Khawaja found his rhythm, Labuschagne gained confidence over by over, and by lunch Australia were 94 for 2 after 24 overs. The pitch has eased and conditions should favour the batters later on, so England must find a spell that breaks the partnership when play resumes.
At 23.5 overs into the first day of the third Ashes Test, Will Jacks slowed one up, full and on off stump, and Usman Khawaja pushed at it with soft hands. A thin edge dropped just short of Harry Brook at first slip, who dived to his left and could only make a half-stop. It was the second time in the session that Brook had put down Khawaja, and it set the tone for a morning in Adelaide that England will feel they let slip.
England arrived at Adelaide Oval trailing the series 2-0 and needing a response. Pat Cummins is back as Australia's captain. Australia named Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland. England went with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes as captain, Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
The individual numbers framed the contest. Head had made 199 runs across the first two Tests, Root led England's batters with 161, and Starc topped the wicket-takers' list with 18.
The start favored Australia. Head and Weatherald, both left-handers, took advantage of an England attack that was too short and too loose. Carse in particular dropped short and offered too many scoring balls, and the pair sent them to the boundary while Archer tried to keep things tight at the other end. England's short-ball plan with the new ball did not work for lack of execution, while their fuller deliveries swung early. After eight overs Australia were 33 without loss.
Then the game turned. England had looked flat for roughly the first forty minutes, rarely targeting the stumps. Archer bowled a maiden with far more control and followed it by getting a breakthrough. In the very next over, Head was dismissed off Carse, caught by Crawley in a stunning one-handed grab. A foundation of 33 for none became 33 for two, with both openers back in the pavilion.
From there England's bowling tightened for a stretch and the runs dried up as Khawaja and Labuschagne set about rebuilding. Had Brook held the outside edge off Khawaja deep in the session, Australia could have been three down. Instead, Khawaja found his fluency and Labuschagne grew in confidence with each over. A boundary came when Khawaja got on top of the bounce against Stokes and pulled to deep backward square leg. Jacks went for 10 runs in his opening over. One small moment of misfortune came when Root's throw from the field hit Labuschagne in the back and deflected onto the stumps, which, as the commentary put it, must have hurt a bit.
By lunch Australia were 94 for 2 after 24 overs. The coverage judged that the Australians would be the happier side, given that the pair had defused the threat of a collapse and still scored at a fair rate. England showed character after removing the openers, particularly Archer, but the rest of the attack was inconsistent in line and length.
The pitch has slowed and batting is expected to get easier with the sun out. England need someone to produce a spell that breaks the partnership, and play resumes after lunch at 2.10 am GMT.
Notable Quotes
Khawaja's dropped catch has come back to haunt them, the commentary judged, while the Australians would be the happier side at lunch.— Times Now live commentary
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