The fate of the Ashes 2025 series hangs in the balance as England face a do-or-die situation in the third Test against Australia. The match begins at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, with the visitors trailing 0-2 and desperately needing a win to keep the series alive.
England's Uphill Battle in Adelaide
Ben Stokes' England side is staring down the barrel of a potential series defeat. Another loss in Adelaide would put them in an almost insurmountable 0-3 position, raising the grim prospect of a 5-0 whitewash. Their task has been made significantly harder with the return of two key Australian players.
Australia's regular captain Pat Cummins is back to lead the side, bolstering their formidable pace attack. Furthermore, the hosts welcome back their premier spinner, Nathan Lyon, whose presence on what is traditionally a good batting wicket adds a crucial dimension to Australia's bowling arsenal. In response, England have injected fresh energy by bringing Josh Tongue into their playing XI, hoping his skill set will be effective on the Adelaide Oval pitch.
Match Details: When and Where to Watch
For cricket fans in India and across the globe, here is all the essential information to tune into this high-stakes encounter.
The third Ashes 2025 Test between Australia and England will be played at the historic Adelaide Oval. The match is scheduled to commence at 5:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Live television coverage in India will be provided by the Star Sports Network. For viewers preferring to stream the action online, the exclusive digital platform will be Disney+ Hotstar.
Confirmed Line-ups and Full Squads
Both teams have announced their playing elevens for this critical match.
Australia Playing XI: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Australia Squad: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Beau Webster.
England Squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, Matthew Potts, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Shoaib Bashir.
The stage is set for a thrilling contest under the Adelaide lights. With their backs against the wall, England must produce a performance of immense character to challenge a resurgent Australian side. All eyes will be on whether the Three Lions can fight back or if the Aussies will move one step closer to reclaiming the urn.
