Will England win the third Ashes Test in Adelaide? Will Josh Tongue selection pay off? Can Joe Root hit another century in Australia?
Published 15/12/2025 at 10:25 GMT
Josh Tongue has replaced Gus Atkinson in the only England change for the third Ashes Test - but will it pay off? There are many questions to be answered in Adelaide as Ben Stokes' side attempt to keep the series alive. Can Jofra Archer win his latest battle with Steve Smith? Will Joe Root get another Australian century? Watch the action unfold live from Tuesday night on TNT Sports and discovery+.
England v Australia Ashes highlights: Stokes' troops fall 2-0 behind in series
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England head to Adelaide knowing only a win is good enough to keep alive their hopes of winning the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series.
After falling to convincing defeats against Australia in Perth and Brisbane, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes’ side face an uphill task to turn around their fortunes.
Yes, a drawn third Test would keep the series alive, but it would also end England’s chances of winning back the famous urn and Australia would retain it once again.
The third Test is live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with play beginning at 23:30 GMT on Tuesday night.
England have made just one change to their team ahead of the Adelaide showdown, with Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson in the bowling attack.
That selection - both the change and lack of further change - has answered some of the questions England fans were pondering, but we have been looking at some of the other issues that will be settled in the match.
You can have your say too, on where the third Test will be won and lost.
Can England win the third Test?
Let’s start with the big question. Can England - who must win if they are to have any chance of victory in the series - beat Australia?
They lost by eight wickets inside two days in the first Test in Perth, before going on to lose again by eight wickets in Brisbane’s pink-ball match.
The Australians are firmly in the ascendancy and have been further boosted by the return to fitness of captain Pat Cummins.
England meanwhile have been dealt a blow in the build-up to the match, with fast bowler Mark Wood ruled out for the rest of the series.
Will Tongue selection pay off?
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Rare bright moment for England as Atkinson sees off Head
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McCullum and Stokes have made just one change to their team for the third Test, with Josh Tongue coming in to replace Gus Atkinson.
Atkinson struggled in the first two matches, with just three wickets at a cost of 78 runs each.
Tongue returns to the side having taken 31 wickets in his six Test matches, which included twice dismissing Australia’s Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2023.
Tongue took eight wickets in England’s fifth Test defeat to India at The Oval earlier this year.
Can Archer come out on top against Smith?
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'Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion' - Smith and Archer in fiery exchange
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Speaking of Smith, he was, unsurprisingly, at the centre of the first proper flare-up of the series in Brisbane, as he clashed with England bowler Jofra Archer.
With Australia easing to victory on the fourth evening of the match, England's Jofra Archer began bowling a rapid spell. Australia stand-in skipper Smith let him know exactly what he thought of it at the Gabba.
Despite delivering at 93mph, Archer was unable to disrupt Smith, who said: "Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion", to the England bowler.
Their rivalry goes back to 2019 when a ferocious spell from Archer saw him first hit Smith on the arm, before a bouncer struck the Australian in the neck.
Smith was forced to leave the field for tests and was then ruled out of the rest of that match due to concussion.
Should Bashir be playing?
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Cook: 'Undercooked' England 'cost themselves' opening two Tests through lack of match preparation
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Shoaib Bashir has been overlooked again by McCullum and Stokes for the third Test in Adelaide.
Conditions did not favour spinners in the first two matches, but with temperatures expected to reach 39°C during some days of the Adelaide Test, spin bowling could play a big part as the pitch dries out.
Bashir made his England debut in 2024 and has gone on to take 68 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 39 runs.
When he reached 50 Test wickets earlier this year, Bashir became the youngest England player to achieve the feat.
Will Jacks has been retained as England’s dedicated spinner.
- What is England's record in Adelaide? When did they last win there?
- Cook laments England's 'mad' lack of preparation
Will Joe Root hit another century?
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Root finally ends hoodoo with first century Down Under
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There have been few moments to cheer for England fans so far in Australia but Joe Root’s first Test century down under was a moment to cherish.
In his 16th Test in Australia, Root finally reached three figures in Brisbane - reaching his century off 181 balls.
Root will be hoping to achieve more success with the bat in Adelaide, which is a venue he has performed well at in the past.
In three Ashes Tests there, Root has scored 264 runs at an average of 44.
There have been three Adelaide half centuries for Root, with 87 being his highest score to date.
Root has reached scores of 15, 87, 9, 67, 62 and 24 in his six innings in Adelaide.
Watch and stream every ball of the Ashes series in Australia live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Thoughts?
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