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The players are about to take the field for an extended first session scheduled to run for two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be firmly in the commanding position.

A Sea of Pink for a Cause

It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support.

A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening

The intent was unclear whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. England's captain concluded a annoying day's end in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to prolong the conversation.

With the officials intervening, the England skipper departed after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, Stokes potentially faces sanction for making improper physical contact.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. It's presumptuous to speak for the deceased, but his record in life was loud and clear in backing his guild. Sides should always retain a spin bowling option was his common contention.

Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had a trio of pace specialists, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root compiled his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384.

It would have been helpful to introduce a specialist spinner when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It would have been helpful to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

Greetings and welcome to our updates of day three at the SCG. A crucial morning session awaits, yet one cannot ignore the series finale atmosphere that has pervaded this Test so far.

We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, particularly when England play in Australia. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two dead rubbers? It’s not what we thought when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes.

The stakes are further reduced of a possible series sweep; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. A poor bowling performance from England let Australia race to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is 91 not out from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser was struck nastily on the elbow just before the close, highlighting that the surface – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they could reignite the contest.

In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.