🔗 Share this article Australia v The Three Lions: Final Ashes Test, Day Three Gets Underway The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an extended first session that will last two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be strapped into the commanding position. A Sea of Pink for a Cause It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The day honors the charity's dedication to providing cancer support. A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground. On-Field Tensions Bubble Over The intent was unclear whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a annoying day's end in Sydney by exchanging remarks out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He subsequently approached and placed a hand on the batsman's shoulder to continue the exchange. With the officials intervening, Stokes walked away after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, Stokes potentially faces sanction for “inappropriate physical contact”. Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. It's presumptuous to speak for the deceased, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in supporting fellow spinners. Sides should always retain a spin bowling option was his common contention. Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. His old teammate Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. The hosts lacked that option. Instead, they had a trio of pace specialists, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with significant stands while Joe Root went on to his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384. It could have been advantageous to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell. Setting the Scene for Day Three Greetings and welcome to our updates of the third day's play in Sydney. There’s a big first session coming, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere that has pervaded this Test so far. Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, especially on Australian soil. This one seems particularly subdued, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two inconsequential matches? It’s not what we thought when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes. The stakes are further reduced of a possible series sweep; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, 4-1 looks more likely. A poor bowling performance from England let Australia race to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow just before the close, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they could reignite the contest. Regarding this specific game, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.