This is it – how England can keep Ashes alive on pivotal day

In many respects, we have been in this situation before.

The prevailing thought was that England had to win in Perth.

Having not achieved that, their next step was necessary to secure a victory in Brisbane, considering they have never managed to win an Ashes series after being 2-0 down.

The loss at the Gabba left only the most optimistic fans clinging to the slightest glimmer of hope. Most of that hope revolves around merely keeping the series alive for another week.

But this Thursday in Adelaide is truly it.

If they play effectively – and by effectively, we mean dismissing the last two Australian wickets swiftly before batting through the day – Ben Stokes’ team will be positioned to dominate the remainder of this match.

Don’t expect to enjoy a cricketing Christmas if England are not still batting by the time the UK wakes up for breakfast on Thursday, but there are other shortcomings they must rectify to ensure 18 December 2025 is not remembered as the day Bazball was finally defeated…

On day two, England’s priority is to swiftly finish the Australian innings – a task that is seldom their forte.

During the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, England was the sixth least effective team in getting rid of the tail, and that pattern persisted into the second Test in Brisbane, where Mitchell Starc’s 77 allowed Australia to extend their innings from 383-7 to 511 all out.

From that point, losing became unavoidable.

Starc remains in Adelaide, currently not out on 33, and the forecast for Thursday – which suggests Adelaide will be hotter than the Sahara – emphasizes the urgency for a swift England exit from the field.

Every minute saved will provide relief for England’s bowlers, subjecting Australia to the worst of the intense South Australian heat.

It’s the ideal scenario for Josh Tongue, back for his first match of the series, to demonstrate why he earned the nickname The Mop.

They will also benefit from a ball that is still just three overs old. Additionally, this is a moment for Jofra Archer to grab the two wickets necessary to achieve his first five-wicket haul in Tests in six years.

England has referenced the 2023 Ashes series, where they went down 2-0 before rallying to a 2-2 draw, as a basis for why fans should maintain confidence.

In the third Test of that series, at Headingley, England surrendered a first-innings deficit but bounced back to triumph in a run chase.

Attempting to recreate that in Adelaide, where there has been only one successful chase over 200 in the last 43 years, would likely lead to a different result.

With the pitch expected to spin later but favorable for now, runs in the first innings are crucial. Australia was generous in contributing to some of their dismissals on day one, and England must seize that opportunity.

«I firmly believe that on this pitch, which is excellent for batting, a score of 450-500 will win you the Test match,» stated former England spinner Graeme Swann on TNT Sports.

«England has positioned themselves in a way that they will bat on days two and three, which are the prime batting days on this pitch.»

Former England captain Michael Vaughan added on BBC Test Match Special: «Bat all day tomorrow. Exhaust Australia in the heat of the Adelaide Oval.

«They will require a first-innings lead. Batting last on this wicket will be a challenge.»

Nevertheless, batting for long periods has been England’s most significant issue in the first two Tests of this series.

They could only manage 67.3 overs over both innings of the first Test combined and did not last long enough in the second innings of the second Test for Australia to need a second new ball.

Harry Brook has acknowledged playing «shocking» shots. Now is his opportunity to prove he has truly learned.

Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are on their last chance.

England must first replicate their performance from the second innings in Brisbane, where they succeeded in surviving Starc’s opening over, before facing a completely different challenge.

After being a backup option in the first two Tests, Australia’s bowling lineup is nearing full potency with captain Pat Cummins returning and spinner Nathan Lyon being summoned back.

No bowler has collected more than Lyon’s 63 wickets at the Adelaide Oval – a venue he knows well from his 15 Tests and his time working on the groundstaff.

Lyon’s former supervisor remains the curator in Adelaide. This makes it all the more crucial to score your runs before the ball starts spinning significantly.

«England needs to go big as Nathan Lyon is the key difference,» remarked former Australia opener Justin Langer on TNT Sports.

«Even [England spinner] Will Jacks managed to get a few to spin, but it’s going to be 40 degrees tomorrow and the ball will start turning so England must take advantage of this very flat pitch.

«England should be considering that they’ll only bat once; it’s such a flat wicket. I didn’t see a ball swing or seam all day. This is a batting paradise.»

Is that a glimmer of hope? Find out again on Thursday morning…