Graeme Swann refuses to accept England's Ashes hopes are over claiming Jamie Smith is capable of emulating 'Edgbaston 2005' Australia fightback
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Published 20/12/2025 at 23:26 GMT
Any lingering hopes England had of keeping the Ashes alive are fading fast, with defeat looming after just 11 days of cricket. Chasing an unprecedented target of 435 to win the third Test in Adelaide, they closed day four on 207-6. For long periods, Ben Stokes’ team appeared to have seized control, navigating much of the day with purpose and resilience, and Graeme Swann hasn't given up the ghost.
Highlights: England defiance not enough as Australia close in on series victory
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Graeme Swann has summoned Australia's own spirit of Edgbaston in 2005 as inspiration for England as they look for an almighty salvage operation, on the brink of officially losing the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series in Adelaide.
Australia can smell the taste of victory and the retention of the urn after just 11 days of cricket, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
England require 228 more runs to win, but they only have four wickets remaining in order to reach that target. It should be Australia's Ashes - and on day five, they will try to confirm that.
It has been some Test for the South Australians, with Travis Head and Alex Carey doing most of the damage with the bat. Four English wickets fell in the final session as hope of a miraculous comeback slipped away - but Swann hasn't given up hope completely just yet.
"I'm going to go ultra-positive," he told TNT Sports. "You haven't seen the best of Jamie Smith. I've been on a tour with this kid in Sri Lanka when he got 150 of the best runs against decent spin. I'm not saying he's going to do it... I'd love him to... but I'm not giving up the ghost on this.
"Everyone, even Zak [Crawley], has said that 'we've lost the Ashes' before correcting himself, saying 'we're coming back tomorrow, we're under the pump'. As those two batsmen in there now, [Will] Jacks and Smith should come out and make them panic.
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'I'm not giving up!' - Why the Ashes might not be over just yet...
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"Just like back in 2005 at Edgbaston. England turned up and thought it was a walk in the park, but then all of a sudden the runs came down. England started to panic... I know we ended up winning that, but you never give up the ghost."
Crawley cut a dejected figure, admitting to TNT Sports that the dressing-room is "flat" with the likelihood of defeat on the horizon. His innings of 85 off 151 balls showed a level of restraint rarely seen from him in Test cricket.
The 27-year-old right-hander followed up two ducks in Perth with scores of 76 and 44 in Brisbane, but like at The Gabba, he struggled to build a partnership of any real significance at Adelaide Oval.
He put on 78 for the third wicket with Joe Root, who was eventually claimed by Pat Cummins, before Crawley's stumping culminated in a devastating spell from Nathan Lyon as three wickets fell for 17 runs in the space of just six overs.
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Big wicket for Lyon as Brook perishes on reverse-sweep attempt
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Swann continued: "The way Crawley and Root played Nathan Lyon, I can tell you this - and I know we will say he bowled brilliantly because of that one ball to Stokes - he did not bowl well for his first 11 overs.
"He wasn't allowed to. He went at 5.5 an over, not with big shots but with very clever batting, pushing singles, reverse sweeps. That was exceptional play from England, and it was one of the first times in this series where I've seen them actually have a clear game plan that really worked.
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"If you're defending a big total - and I can't believe Australia haven't done this today - they should have a short leg, a silly-point, a leg slip and then your men on the boundary.
"The classic in-out field with a short mid-wicket. Nathan Lyon could have put it in that omelette all day long, and he would not have gone at five-an-over. I was really surprised they didn't do that."
Justin Langer agreed with Swann's assessment of Smith, but admitted that, having worked with him earlier this year, we are yet to see the Surrey wicket-keeper-batter anywhere near his best this series.
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'That's a beauty' - Stokes dismissed by Lyon 'peach' as England comeback collapses
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"I thought around 45 minutes before the end of play today that if England had gone in at four down tonight, and they just need over 200, there would have been so much optimism and hope," Langer told TNT Sports.
"I agree with you on Jamie Smith. I was fortunate enough to coach him at London Spirit earlier this year, and he has enormous talent, but I need to see a lot more from him.
"Not just with his bat but his energy. I know he's an introverted kid, but I need to see more from him. He's got to drive it out with his energy in the field. With his batting, I know he's probably down in confidence, but he's got the ability to absolutely nail it.
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'Disaster for England!' - Cummins takes Duckett with second ball
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"Earlier, England bowled really well. I was hoping that Australia would bat longer, and it's made the game. We've had a really good day of Test cricket.
"It's now going to be very difficult for England. What is great is that we've got to day five. We've been craving it. Australia will probably win the Ashes tomorrow, but it's been nice to see a good fight."
Crawley: We know we're up against it
Saving the Ashes is a long shot now for Brendon McCullum's side, but at least England have avoided their worst capitulation since 1921.
It is a fact that certainly won't be celebrated by Jacks and Smith as they trudged off the crease at the end of Day 4, where three main wickets were lost in the final hour.
Such has been the relentless nature of Australia, with the bat and with the ball, one does not suspect England will be able to withstand such pressure long into Day 5.
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Crawley falls for 85 - 'surely the end is nigh for England'
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Crawley told TNT Sports: "It's obviously disappointing, we came here to win the Ashes, and we're up against it. It's tricky; we put up a good fight with the ball and tried to do our best with the bat, but we're disappointed right now.
"I just tried to 'see ball, hit ball', and they bowled really well; they didn't give me anything early. I was waiting for it to come, but they just held their lines, held their lengths. I think I got my fluency as I got in, but it wasn't a conscious effort; I was just trying to play.
"It was a plan not to let them get into rhythm, try to get some fielders out from around the bat. I thought Joe Root played really nicely, and then I managed to get a couple away myself, and it felt a bit easier for a little bit. But they are relentless in these conditions; they're a really good bowling line-up.
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'As good as you'll see!' - Brilliant Labuschagne catch ends Pope's innings
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"They're phenomenal, they're the best bowling attack I've played against for sure, especially in these conditions when it was spinning like that for Lyon.
"They don't give you anything; they make the ball move. We knew that coming up, we knew we had to be at our best, and unfortunately, we were just short of that. In fairness to them, they've been phenomenal in the last three games."
Crawley refused to accept defeat, conceding later during the press conference that England are "staring down the barrel".
"It's an uphill battle from here," he said. "But the boys are going to give it a good crack tomorrow. Obviously, we’re staring down the barrel, so it’s disappointing.
"It is always going to be tricky - fourth innings Adelaide with the quality of their bowling attack - we tried our heart out like we have the whole time.
"We have been successful chasing because we play like it is the first innings. We try to take the scoreboard out of it. I was pleased with the way I played. It is still fresh. I am still upset about it, but pleased with how I played in total.
"Every time you bat, it’s an opportunity. We saw it as a great opportunity to try do something special. We'll never give up."
Watch every ball of the 2025/26 Ashes on TNT Sports and discovery+
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