🔗 Share this article Australia v England: Fifth Ashes Test, The Third Day Unfolds 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 firmly in the box seat. A Pink Outpouring of Support The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with spectators adorned in pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the charity's dedication to offering support for cancer patients. A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground. A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening The intent was unclear whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to prolong the conversation. As the umpires moved in, Stokes walked away after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, the England captain could be reprimanded for making improper physical contact. Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in backing his guild. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his frequent argument. Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. His old teammate Jason Gillespie had the same view observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. The hosts lacked that option. Their attack featured 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 compiled his top score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384. It would have been helpful to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell. Preamble: A Session of Significance Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three at the SCG. There’s a big first session coming, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere that has characterized this Test so far. We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, especially on Australian soil. This one seems particularly subdued, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two inconsequential matches? It defies our predictions when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes. The stakes are further reduced of a potential whitewash; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. An underwhelming display with the ball from England let Australia race to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is 91 not out from 87 balls; Michael Neser, who came in as nightwatchman has scored a single from fifteen deliveries. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow near the end of play, highlighting that the surface – though generally batsman-friendly – is on the capricious side. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right length this morning they could reignite the contest. In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.