Australia has reclaimed the Ashes with a dominant performance at the Adelaide Oval, sealing a 3-0 series lead under the leadership of Pat Cummins. A mix of superb centuries from hometown stars Travis Head and Alex Carey, coupled with a disciplined bowling attack, ensured that England’s hopes of an Ashes victory were dashed just eleven days into the series.
England’s lower order resisted on day five, yet the outcome was inevitable. Bazball’s approach has faltered, and with the Ashes already gone by Christmas, scrutiny will intensify on the future of English cricket. The tourists have made numerous errors throughout this tour, but one glaring miscalculation stood out during the five days in Adelaide.
For Australia, the return of Steve Smith promises further changes to the batting line-up, while Nathan Lyon’s injury creates a pressing need to identify a successor for the veteran spinner. Amid team success, some Australian players face pressure to prove their worth, and the likes of Head and Carey now have the chance to cement themselves among the great individual Ashes performers.
Marnus Labuschagne’s Miracle in the Slips
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh predicted that the Ashes would be decided by the team that fields best — a forecast validated on day five. Australia dominated the fielding department, with Marnus Labuschagne producing a catch that will be remembered for years.
With England chasing 98 runs and three wickets in hand, Mitchell Starc drew an edge from Will Jacks, sending the ball towards Labuschagne, who delivered a spectacular one-handed grab just in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Labuschagne’s positioning, between first and second slip but closer to the stumps than Carey, compensated for the weakening pitch conditions.
“What a catch, Marnus has done it again,” commentator Mark Howard said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
“Take two baby, even better.
“With the Ashes on the line.
“Marnus, an absolute top shelf snare.
“What are we seeing here in Adelaide?
“It’s the Marnus touch, not the Midas touch.”
This was not Labuschagne’s first extraordinary catch of the match. On day four, he dismissed Ollie Pope off Pat Cummins with a diving catch reminiscent of Steve Smith’s iconic Gabba moment. Earlier in Brisbane, Labuschagne had executed a Superman-like dive to dismiss Jofra Archer, proving that he is in exceptional form in the field.
Mark Waugh praised the evolution of Labuschagne’s technique:
“He’s taken some great catches in his career, but that has got to be right up there.
“That’s gone quick. He’s up close.
“It’s flown, great technique, to his unnatural hand.
“He cannot believe it himself.
“He’s changed his technique. He’s now watching the ball all the way, he used to watch the bat.
“That could well win the match for Australia.”
Labuschagne himself reflected on his fielding adjustments:
“As a kid growing up in South Africa, I loved Jonty Rhodes.
“I loved fielding, going to the beach, dad on the camp chair hitting catches, diving around everywhere. It was one of the most enjoyable things I did. I loved catching.
“It’s funny who those sort of things translate into what you do for a living. It’s awesome to be able to do that when we needed it.”
He also noted a tactical shift during the first innings:
“I was about halfway through the first innings, and Beau Webster was standing next to me.
“I was like, ‘What do you watch at third slip?’ and he said, ‘I watch the ball.’
“I usually watch the ball at first and then the bat from there on.
“(Steve Smith) was like, ‘I always watch the ball everywhere.’
“Ah well, looks like I’ll watch the ball then … I watched the ball for the majority of the game, so looks like I’m watching the ball!”
Alex Carey also acknowledged the impact of Labuschagne’s energy on the team, noting that his relentless chatter and intensity can be a pest for the opposition, but an asset for Australia.
England’s Post-Mortem
The Bazball post-mortem will be intense, but England still has two Tests remaining. Although they avoided losing the Ashes in ten days, a defeat in 11 days provides little solace. This was meant to be the touring side that challenged Australia at home, a series they had prepared for over four years.
Brendon McCullum previously described Jofra Archer as:
“He’s a proper cricketer, hence why we’ve taken our time with him to make sure that we give him every chance to be in the biggest series of all of our lives.”
Yet, in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, the tourists have largely struggled. Mark Waugh highlighted the vulnerabilities of the English top order:
“So not only mental issues, but technical issues with a lot of their batsmen heading towards Melbourne and Sydney.
“Normally in the UK you think of swing and seam, but I think in recent years with the batting approach that they have taken they have batted on a lot of flat wickets.
“Coupled with the balls, so many balls in the right areas to test out a slight weakness and then the mental pressure of being behind in the series as well.”
He also suggested that Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett may be at risk of losing their spots in the next Test.
Nathan Lyon’s Succession Challenge
Lyon’s hamstring injury on day five immediately ruled him out for the remainder of the Test, creating a succession challenge for Australia. At 38, with 567 Test wickets, Lyon has been a cornerstone of Australian cricket for over 14 years, and the task of replacing him is significant.
Victorian Todd Murphy emerges as the likely candidate, while Corey Rocchiccioli and Mitchell Swepson also present options. Murphy’s domestic performances, alongside his brief stint with Australia A, make him the logical choice, particularly with the fourth Test at the MCG approaching.
Travis Head and Alex Carey Shine
Travis Head’s 170 in Adelaide continues his extraordinary Ashes form, with a summer tally of 379 runs at an average of 63.16 and a strike rate of 88.13. Brett Lee praised his impact:
“In terms of putting the onus back on the bowler, Warner used to be devastating and we’ve seen that now with Travis Head.
“They’re different players but it’s that same aggression and that same free flowing run scoring.
“I think that’s why Australia like him because he can take them on and take them apart, and score very, very quickly.”
Alex Carey has also enjoyed a purple patch, with a batting average of 90.40 when playing in Australia’s top six, second only to Sir Donald Bradman. Carey’s wicketkeeping, including 18 catches and a stumping, complements his batting exploits.
Mark Waugh observed:
“As he’s often done in the last couple of years, he’s just made some really important runs at crucial times.
“He’s just a great player under pressure, I think. Technically very correct and he’s making a case to be the permanent No.6, I think.”
Australian Batting Shake-Up
Steve Smith’s return for Boxing Day will prompt adjustments in Australia’s top seven. Mark Waugh outlined potential changes:
“Smith comes back in for (Josh) Inglis, I’d say.
“(Usman) Khawaja stays in the middle order. (Alex) Carey probably has to drop back to seven or you could bat (Cameron) Green at seven.”
Cameron Green’s position remains under scrutiny after a disappointing series performance, highlighting the selectors’ willingness to make tough decisions.
England’s Fatal Oversight
England’s choice to not play Shoaib Bashir in Adelaide, despite the spin-friendly conditions, has been widely criticised. Former England spinner Phil Tufnell said:
“Everybody knows at Adelaide you play a spinner.
“I can understand not playing a spinner at Perth and perhaps not playing a spinner at Brisbane.
“But if Bashir is not going to play here, why is he here in the first place? No disrespect to Jacks, but Bashir would have bowled better than Jacks. He is a bowler, and it is in his blood.”
Michael Vaughan added:
“To think that he’s been on that journey, and he’s not playing here at the Adelaide Oval where it’s absolutely roasting, on a pitch that we know will take a bit of spin, tells you that can’t be right.
“The decision not to play their main spinner, having backed him for pretty much three years, is a big call by the England side. And you have to say, it’s been the wrong call to go on all that journey with Shoaib Bashir if he’s not going to be playing here.”
The selection missteps have left England with few viable options for the remainder of the series, further compounding the Ashes disappointment.
Australia’s blend of individual brilliance, tactical discipline, and resilience on the field has ensured a commanding lead in the Ashes. As the series moves to Melbourne and Sydney, questions remain for England, while Australian stars Labuschagne, Head, and Carey continue to etch their names into cricketing history.
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