Australia’s dominance in the Ashes 2025–26 continued to gather momentum in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, with the hosts tightening their grip on the contest through a commanding all-round display. Asked to bat first, Australia posted a solid first-innings total of 371, built around a standout effort from wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Walking in under pressure, Carey produced a composed and decisive knock, scoring 106 off 143 balls to lift Australia to a strong position and ensure valuable runs down the order.
Carey’s influence did not end with the bat. He was equally sharp behind the stumps during England’s reply, playing a major role in dismantling the visitors’ batting line-up. By the close of Day 2, Carey had been involved in five dismissals, underlining his impact as Australia kept England firmly in check. With that performance, Carey achieved a rare Ashes milestone, becoming only the third player in the history of the series to score a century and register five dismissals in the same Test. He now finds himself in elite company alongside Adam Gilchrist and Matt Prior. England’s first innings never quite gained momentum after Australia’s total of 371. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley fell for 29 and 9, setting the tone for a difficult batting effort. Ollie Pope managed just three, while Joe Root was dismissed for 19. Harry Brook showed resistance with a well-made 45 but could not convert it into something more substantial. At stumps on Day 2, England were 213 for the loss of several key wickets, still trailing Australia by 158 runs. Captain Ben Stokes remained unbeaten on 45, with Jofra Archer providing late support on 30 not out, as the visitors looked to salvage their innings heading into Day 3.
