Another test down, and another Aussie win. The Australians lead the 2025/26 Ashes series 2-0, and the hopes of England will ride or die on the back of the next Test in Adelaide. Lose, and they’ve lost the urn. Draw, and Australia will retain the urn regardless of the final two tests. Win, and they keep the series alive. Where will the urn be won or lost? We’ve broken down the third Ashes test before it even begins, to give you all our tips and predictions!
The batting, as to be expected, is going to be pivotal in this next test match. The Australians seem unfazed by the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, while England have struggled tremendously against Mitchell Starc this series. Starc comes into Adelaide with 18 wickets under his belt already, leaving daylight between him and the next best bowler of the series. Conversely, England’s strike weapon in Archer heads into the match with just 2 wickets to his name. If England are going to hold any chance of winning the third test, they need to play Test cricket, not Bazball. Ben Stokes and Will Jacks looked like getting England all the way back into the second Test on Day 4 when they were playing smart cricket shots and not looking to force anything. This England line-up is an exceptionally talented one, they just need to stop attacking from ball one. Starc was neutralised when they stopped chasing the moving ball. A full two innings batted like that in Adelaide would put them in a very strong position to keep the series alive. Alas, I can’t see England dropping their newfound, test match revolutionising way of playing cricket any time soon, despite what the results may say. Instead, I’d expect more of the same from England. They will look to take the game on, the Aussies will turn half chances into wickets, while England drop genuine chances and like the ball, the series will slip through the fingertips.
If England can learn to respect the new ball early, they will set themselves up nicely for Joe Root and Harry Brook to put on massive scores. Ultimately, they have to bat deep and bat time. At the moment, England aren’t putting on big enough scores to justify being all out in 50-60 overs. They are leaving too much time in the game for the Australians to respond. For the Aussies, the extended time in the middle that they all received in the first innings in Brisbane could be invaluable. Every player batted time, with the last four wickets falling over the space of 50 overs! Bat in partnerships, and use the conditions to your advantage. Adelaide is usually hot and flat. Keep England in the field, and tire them out.
A tired England will play tired shots. I’ll be tipping Australia to win and win well, with a likely margin of a whole innings for mine. Travis Head will score a double hundred and head into Christmas and the new year in red-hot form. Make sure you’re fully stocked up for Christmas this year with all the latest supporter gear for Cricket Australia, NRL, AFL and Rugby Union. The new officially licensed 2026 NRL and AFL stock is coming in hot, just in time for the perfect Christmas present! Be sure to head into Jersey’s Megastore, in-store and online, to get yours! Jersey’s Megastore, for all things footy!
