Australian media highlights England's 'problem' but warns third Ashes Test in Adelaide could be a 'danger game' for Australia
Published 16/12/2025 at 10:19 GMT
After a disastrous second Test, TNT Sports takes a look at the temperature down under as England travel down south for the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, with Australia already holding a commanding two-match lead against their old rivals. The Australian media have highlighted a "big regret" and "problem" for the tourists as they look to turn the series around from a very poor start.
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It is a familiar tale for the Australian media covering an England Ashes tour. They belittle them as they arrive on the shores. Then they take joy in them failing. Then they quietly mourn the lack of competition.
The jibes carry on, but feel more half-hearted as they wish they could have a live series going into the last Test, as has been the case in recent series held in England.
"We were all excited by the fact that England looked like giving a rousing account of themselves, and deep down, that's what Australians want," Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock told TNT Sports.
"I’ve been covering cricket since the 1980s, I’ve lived in hope of a close Ashes series in Australia. England have won two of them with Andrew Strauss and Mike Gatting and Australia have romped home in the rest.
"It’s extraordinary you can go 40 years without a close Ashes series, but that’s Australian cricket, the loser tends to get back-slammed.
"The big regret for England is this Australian team was beatable."
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There is some hope for England though. Former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy thinks England are finally prepared for the Ashes and backs them in resisting the temptation to make many alterations - with Josh Tongue coming in for Gus Atkinson as the only change.
"You have to say to [Brydon] Carse, 'you've got to get it right'," Healy said on Stick to Cricket.
"His pace was alright but he couldn’t hold the control as he hadn’t practised, he was under done.
"They’re more ready to be better than a brand-new player, who hasn’t played an Ashes Test before.
"They have to say to him: ‘You’ve got to get the job done, or we might not come back to you.’"
Crash added: "To me, their problem is not the ceiling but the floorboards. The difference between Michael Neser’s best and worst is small. He’s the same bowler every day.
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Pat Cummins and the Adelaide Oval
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"You’ve got Jofra [Archer], who is up and down. Carse, up or down. Mark Wood not having bowled since February and Archer, two Test matches in two years.
"I haven’t seen a bowler come to Australia in 30 years who had a really light preparation and had a great tour.
"You have to be hard. Starc is hard. You couldn’t kill him with an axe."
Another reason to be cheerful is the Adelaide Oval, which great Aussie batsman Mike Hussey thinks should suit England down to the ground.
"Of all the wickets, all the pitches and the grounds around Australia to suit their style of cricket, it’s the Adelaide Oval," Hussey said.
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After playing on the two quickest Test pitches in Australia, the more sedate Adelaide pitch will suit the stroke players in the England top seven, while square boundaries mean there is full value for pull shots without holing out to fielders on the square or long-leg boundaries.
Even Glenn McGrath, never knowingly one to talk up England’s chances, feels the circumstances around the match could result in their favour.
"It is a danger game for Australia," McGrath said on The Fast Bowling Cartel podcast.
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"The last thing they want to do with Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins back is think it will just happen. They have to keep scrapping, keep hanging in there and keep dominating.
"They’ve had a break, they’ve identified there is an issue. It’s about 12 months too late, but they got there. Are they going to put things in place?
"They have to, they have to keep the series alive in this Test match. If they lose, my prediction of 5-0 will definitely come true."
Thoughts?
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