Australia added a valuable 45 runs for their remaining two first innings wickets on day two of the third Ashes Test on Thursday (December 18, 2025) before being dismissed by England for 371.

The hosts resumed on 326-8 with Mitchell Starc not out 33 and Nathan Lyon yet to score with temperatures soaring towards a forecast 39 Celsius at Adelaide Oval.

Starc plundered five quick boundaries before being bowled by Jofra Archer for 54.

Lyon and Scott Boland then piled on more misery for the tourists in a 23-run last-wicket stand before Lyon was trapped lbw by Archer for nine.

Alex Carey top scored on 106 while a rejuvenated Usman Khawaja hit 82, with Jofra Archer the pick of the attack with 5-53.

Australia lead the five-Test series 2-0 and will retain the Ashes if they win or draw, after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.

Steve Smith is aiming to be back in Ashes action for Australia on Boxing Day after being ruled out shortly before play started Wednesday (December 17, 2025) in the third test at Adelaide.

Smith was talking to Australian coach Andrew McDonald on the field in the hour before the toss of the coin, when it appeared the final decision was made to leave him out of the XI so he can continue recovering from dizziness and nausea.

That allowed Usman Khawaja an unexpected recall for Australia, batting at No. 4 to replace Smith rather than opening the innings.

Australian team management later said Smith was being treated for a “potential vestibular issue” in the inner ear, ruling out speculation that the star batter had sustained a concussion during a net practice session.

He practised with the Australia squad on Saturday (December 13), and Sunday (December 15) skipped Monday’s (December 15) session, but returned on Tuesday (December 16) and batted again in the nets on Wednesday (December 16) morning.

“Steve is feeling a little bit unwell the last couple of days,” returning captain Pat Cummins said at the coin toss. “He came and gave it a crack this morning but didn’t think he was going to get up for this one, so he’s headed off home.”

“But we’re pretty lucky we have got someone like Usman who can step right in.”

Team management said Smith, who has dealt with vertigo symptoms in the past, is likely to return for the fourth test starting December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“He was assessed and monitored closely and was close to being available to play,” Australian team management said in a statement. “However, given the persistence of symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed.”

Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of Cummins. He hit the winning runs in Brisbane as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first in Adelaide, his first test since sustaining a back injury in July. England needs a victory in the third test to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes.

Defiant England coach Brendon McCullum brushed off concerns Sunday (December 14, 2025) that his job was on the line heading into the third Test against Australia, while admitting the team have been “nowhere near” their best.

The tourists were crushed in the first two Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets and only a win at Adelaide Oval this week will be enough to keep the five-match series alive.

McCullum confirmed they would stick with the same top seven, keeping under-fire Ollie Pope at number three rather than bring in Jacob Bethell.

“Knee-jerk reactions and chopping and changing settled batting line-ups is not really our way,” he said.

“We know we haven’t got enough runs so far in the series. But for us to go on and win the series it’s not about throwing out what’s been successful for us over the past few years.”

England’s lack of fight and questionable preparations have drawn scrutiny, while McCullum’s claim that they “trained too much” prior to Brisbane was met with disbelief by former greats.

A decision for the team to lounge on the beach in tourist playground Noosa this week before heading to Adelaide was also panned.

But McCullum was unfazed, dismissing talk that his job could be threatened by another defeat.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t really bother me, to be honest,” he said.

“I mean professional sport, it’s not easy, right? You do the job to the best of your ability. You have conviction in what you’re doing, and whatever happens, happens.”

McCullum admitted England must improve to keep the series alive, but suggested they would not change their gung-ho approach.

“We knew when we came here that we had to win three Tests to win the series, and the fact we’re 2-0 down has made it harder on ourselves, but it doesn’t stop the belief that you have within the dressing room,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ve been anywhere near our best so far in these last two Tests … but what’s been has been. Now, it’s focusing on the one that’s coming.”

“I firmly believe that if we play our best cricket, we’re a massive chance in this Test match. We do that, and the narrative changes in the series,” he added.

McCullum defended the decision to take a beach break rather than train after two heavy defeats.

“Noosa for us was excellent. It was planned, obviously a year ago,” he said, adding that it was about spending “time away from the heat of the battle”.

“And I think now the freshness which we come into this Test match with will hopefully pay off.

“There’s no guarantee, but that’s the plan, and I think the boys are excited to get back to training and look forward to the next few days.”