🔗 Share this article Australia v The Three Lions: Fifth Ashes Test, The Third Day Gets Underway The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an extended first session that will last two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be firmly in the box seat. A Sea of Pink for a Cause The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with spectators adorned in pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the charity's dedication to offering support for cancer patients. A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground. On-Field Tensions Bubble Over It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Seemingly reacting to something said by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to continue the exchange. With the officials intervening, Stokes walked away after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. Under ICC regulations, Stokes potentially faces sanction for “inappropriate physical contact”. Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. It's presumptuous to speak for the deceased, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in supporting fellow spinners. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his common contention. Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. His old teammate Jason Gillespie had the same view observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. The hosts lacked that option. Instead, they had three specialist fast bowlers, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384. It would have been helpful to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell. Preamble: A Session of Significance Greetings and welcome to our updates of day three at the SCG. There’s a big first session coming, yet one cannot ignore the end-of-term feeling that has pervaded this Test so far. Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, especially on Australian soil. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two dead rubbers? It defies our predictions ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes. There isn’t even the jeopardy of a potential whitewash; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, 4-1 looks more likely. A poor bowling performance from England allowed Australia to charge to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has scored a single from fifteen deliveries. Neser received a painful blow to the elbow just before the close, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right length this morning they can force their way back into the game. In the context of the match, the morning's play is vital. It's simply that the fixture lacks the significance we anticipated.