Australia retain Ashes with Adelaide Test win over England

Australia defeated England by 82 runs in the Adelaide Test to retain the Ashes with a 3-0 lead. Starc, Cummins, and Lyon starred with the ball, while Travis Head’s 170 powered Australia’s dominance. England’s lower order resistance fell short

Adelaide: Mitchell Starc, skipper Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon shared nine wickets as Australia stormed to an 82-run victory in the Adelaide Test, retaining the Ashes series after winning their third consecutive Test of the series.

Australia already have an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after just 11 days of cricket, matching the fastest time frame in which the Ashes have been won in the past century, following easy victories in Perth and Brisbane.

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England’s lower order fought hard, particularly wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and all-rounder Brydon Carse, raising hopes of a miracle. But Australia’s disciplined bowling attack kept control and ensured the urn stayed with them.

Smith (60), Will Jacks (47), and Carse (38 not out) offered resistance after England reached 207/6 on Sunday. Starc (3-62) brought Australia close before Scott Boland dismissed Josh Tongue, ending England’s innings at 352 in pursuit of a record 435.

Off-spinner Lyon, who claimed three wickets on day four, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and is uncertain for the rest of the series.

Earlier, Cummins and Lyon spearheaded the attack on Day 4, reducing England to 207/6. On the final day, the visitors needed 228 runs, while Australia required four wickets.

Starc dismissed the tailenders with figures of 3/62. Boland sealed victory by forcing Tongue to edge to first slip, where Marnus Labuschagne took his fourth catch of the game. Carse remained unbeaten on 39, but his effort was in vain.

Australia’s dominance was evident on day two when they took an 85-run lead, dismissing England for 286. Travis Head’s 170 and Alex Carey’s 72 lifted Australia to 349 in the second innings, giving them over five sessions to bowl out England.

Australia will now look to whitewash England when they meet in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starting December 26, followed by the fifth and final Test at SCG from January 4.

Brief scores: Australia 371 (Alex Carey 106, Usman Khawaja 82; Jofra Archer 5-53) & 349 (Travis Head 170, Alex Carey 72; Josh Tongue 4-70) beat England 286 (Ben Stokes 83, Jofra Archer 51; Scott Boland 3-45, Pat Cummins 3-69) & 352 (Zak Crawley 85, Jamie Smith 60; Pat Cummins 3-48, Mitchell Starc 3-62) by 82 runs.