Adelaide, December 17, 2025 - England's Jofra Archer provided a moment of brilliance on Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, dismissing Mitchell Starc shortly after the Australian reached his half-century. Starc's innings, which included five boundaries, propelled Australia's overnight score of 326-8 to 348-9 before Archer's intervention.
The dismissal was a significant breakthrough for England, who are aiming to claw their way back into the series after losing the first two tests. Archer's delivery was exceptional, hitting the top of middle and leg stump, leaving Starc with no chance. This wicket brought Archer closer to his first Test five-wicket haul in six years. He ended the day with 3 wickets for 29 runs.
Starc's impressive batting display follows his earlier performance in the series, where he scored a crucial 77 runs in the Pink-Ball Test at the Gabba. His ability to contribute with the bat has consistently added valuable runs to the Australian total, placing pressure on the English bowlers. Before his dismissal, Starc had been averaging 63 with the bat in the series.
Resuming the day at 326-8, Australia sought to extend their innings and put England under pressure in the stifling Adelaide heat, which was expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius. Starc and Nathan Lyon aimed to bat as long as possible to tire out the English bowlers. The partnership between Starc and Lyon added valuable runs, frustrating the English side.
Earlier in the day, Starc had displayed aggressive intent, hitting Archer for multiple boundaries. He capitalized on loose deliveries, threading the ball through the covers and slashing over the slips. This aggressive approach allowed him to quickly reach his half-century, further frustrating England's efforts.
Despite Archer's efforts, Australia managed to post a total of 371 before being bowled out. Scott Boland's contribution of 6 runs, including a boundary driven through mid-off, added to Australia's total.
The first day of the test saw Alex Carey score a century. Carey's innings was not without controversy, as a Snicko technology malfunction led to a missed edge off Josh Tongue's delivery. Despite the controversy, Carey's innings provided a solid foundation for Australia's total.
Jofra Archer's performance on Day 1 was a highlight for England, showcasing his ability to take wickets and trouble the Australian batsmen. England's bowling coach, David Saker, acknowledged the effort of the bowlers in challenging conditions. Archer's three wickets included the crucial dismissals of Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green.
With Australia now bowled out, England face a challenging task to respond strongly with the bat and get themselves back into the match. The pitch is expected to favor batting, and England will need to post a significant total to put pressure back on the hosts. The English batsmen will need to bat well and put their best batting performance.
