Travis Head scored his third century of ‍the series as Australia reached 281 ​for three in reply to ‌England’s 384 at lunch ​on the third day of the fifth Ashes test at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday (January 6, 2026).

Opener Head was 162 not out at the break and will resume ​with skipper Steve Smith, who ⁠was unbeaten on 16, looking to cut further into the 103-run deficit.

Head ​earlier crunched the ⁠ball through the covers for four off the 105th delivery he faced for his 12th test ‌century before raising his helmet ‌aloft on the handle of his bat.

He was ‍dropped on the boundary by Will Jacks on 121.

England burned ‍their final DRS review in a bid to remove nightwatchman Michael Neser lbw, only for the video to confirm the impact of Brydon Carse’s delivery was outside the line.

Carse finally got ⁠Neser out for 24 off 90 balls with an ​outswinger that induced an edge behind.

Australia, who started the day on 166-2, lead the series 3-1 and have already ensured they will retain the Ashes ⁠urn.

Police in Australia’s New South Wales state said on Saturday (January 3, 2026) they would ‍bolster staffing at the Sydney Cricket Ground for ​the fifth Ashes test starting on Sunday (January 4), ‌weeks after gunmen killed 15 people ​at a Jewish event in the city.

The father-and-son gunmen are alleged to have carried out the attack at a Hanukkah event at the famed Bondi Beach on December 14. Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost three decades, the ​attack shocked the nation and stoked fears ⁠of rising antisemitism in the country.

The massacre has sparked more active policing in Sydney, Australia’s most populous city and ​the state capital.

Authorities said ⁠a “high-visibility” police presence at the SCG, located around 5 km (3.1 miles) from Bondi Beach, would include the riot patrol unit, officers on ‌horseback and officers carrying rifles.

“The difference will ‌be in the visibility of long arms and a stronger presence,” New South ‍Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said in a statement.

Police said they expected a capacity crowd for ‍day one of the fixture between England and Australia, the final encounter in the five-match series already claimed by Australia.

“Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events, but our objective here is to help the public feel safe,” Mr. Lanyon said.

On Wednesday (December 31, 2025), ⁠around 3,000 police, some carrying long arms, were deployed in the city during ​New Year celebrations, which typically attract over a million ⁠revellers.

Several New Year events planned at Bondi were cancelled, while traditional Christmas celebrations there were muted, following the attack that authorities believe was inspired by Sunni Muslim militant ⁠group Islamic State.

Australia collapsed for 152 yet still claimed a 42-run lead over England on the first innings in a remarkable opening day of the fourth Ashes test on Friday (December 26, 2025) in which 20 wickets fell.

The day’s play unfolded before a world-record crowd for a day of cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The attendance figure of 94,199 beat the 93,013 for the 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG.

Australia was 4-0 in its second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 46 runs, after having to bat through one nervous over before stumps.

Josh Tongue claimed a career-best 5-45 as England bowled Australia out after winning the toss and bowling. In reply, England made 110 in 29.5 overs as Michael Neser grabbed 4-45.

Tongue, in his eighth test, took three early wickets as Australia stumbled to 72-4 at lunch.

Travis Head (12) and Jake Weatherald (10) fell cheaply as Australia reached 31-2 in the 10th over. Capitalizing on a pitch offering sideways movement, Tongue deceived Marnus Labuschagne (6) who edged to first slip at 34-3.

In a key breakthrough, captain Steve Smith lost his middle stump while attempting to drive Tongue with the total on 51.

Australia aimed to rebuild through veteran Usman Khawaja, but the 39-year-old was caught behind to Gus Atkinson’s bowling for 29 at 89-5. Alex Carey clipped a catch to leg gully two runs later.

Neser (35) and Cameron Green (17) shared a 52-run partnership before Green hesitated and was run out at 143-7.

Tongue was cheered off the field at tea after dismissing Neser and Scott Boland (0) with the first two deliveries of his 12th over, giving England’s spirits a boost after losing each of the first three tests.

England was 8-3 in 4.2 overs as Zak Crawley (5), Jacob Bethell (2) and Ben Duckett (2) all departed in an action-packed opening to the innings.

When Joe Root was caught behind for a duck off the bowling of Neser at 16-4 at the end of the eighth over, Harry Brook charged the next delivery from Mitchell Starc and clubbed it over mid-off for six.

Brook bravely belted 41 off 34 balls including two fours and two sixes, adding 50 for the fifth wicket with Stokes.

Boland (3-30) dismissed Brook, Jamie Smith (2) and Will Jacks (5) in three consecutive overs as England slumped to 77-7.

Neser struck a key blow in the following over when skipper Ben Stokes (16) was caught at slip.

England’s innings closed with just enough time for Australia to face the one over before stumps.

“It’s not easy because the ball is nipping around,” Neser said. “We saw when we batted, it was tough.” England named its team on Wednesday with the big news the loss of star bowler Jofra Archer for the rest of the series, including the fifth and final test starting Jan. 4 in Sydney.

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.”

England fast bowler Mark Wood missed a training session on Saturday (November 29, 2025), raising doubts about his availability for the second Ashes test due to concerns over his troublesome left knee.

The 35-year-old Wood’s fitness had been an issue going into the five-match series after he only recently returned following knee surgery in March. That was the eighth operation of his career. He had been training with heavy strapping on his leg.

He is not expected to recover in time for Thursday’s (December 4, 2025) opening day at the Gabba in Brisbane, but England will be hoping he could return later in the series.

Australia leads 1-0 after an eight-wicket victory with three days to spare in Perth, where Wood bowled just 11 overs in total, returning 0-44.

Australia’s all-rounder Beau Webster, despite a positive start to his Test career, which includes four fifties from his seven Tests, isn’t taking things for granted, as per the ICC website.

Tasmania’s latest international cricketing star reasons that Cameron Green, who has impressed since his return at No. 3, will sooner or later return to bowling, and that might open up his spot in the lower middle-order to scrutiny.

“When you’re at the top level, you’re fighting to hang on to your spot. With all the wonderful cricketers around the country, and especially a guy like Cameron Green, he batted at the top of the order [in the West Indies], and didn’t bowl,” Webster said.

“He’s obviously going to be back bowling this summer, which is going to put a bit more pressure on my spot at No. 6 as the allrounder. But I welcome it,” he added.

While Marnus Labuschagne has thrown his hat in the ring as a contender to open for Australia, if Green’s bowling returns are encouraging, the Australian selectors can find ways to accommodate the experienced Labuschagne into the XI while also playing specialist openers.

This would leave the seven-Test-old Webster under the scanner, but the all-rounder is ready to once again prove his worth in the domestic red-ball setup.

“I feel like I’ve been in this position before a lot in my career. I’ve got to score runs to either go to the next level or stay on the team. It’s certainly not unfamiliar. I’m looking forward to once again showing what I can do at [Sheffield] Shield level, and hopefully, be lining up in that first Ashes Test in Perth,” Webster added.

“It’s going to be a massive summer. I’m sure the team’s going to change a little bit throughout those five Tests. I’m just going to do everything I can to make sure I’m there for all five.”

Webster will have four prospective Shield fixtures to make a strong case for Australia’s selectors to pick two all-rounders for the upcoming Ashes.

The all-rounder has complete faith in his capabilities, should the call-up come for him.

“I feel like I’ve scored some tough runs. At the same time, there’s no hundred next to my name, which I would have loved to go on with one of those [half-centuries]. I felt like I was batting as well as I have in a number of those innings. I feel like I’ve got all the tools to succeed this summer in the Ashes with what England are going to potentially bring,” he said.

The series starts on 21 November and will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.