🔗 Share this article The Baggy Greens v England: Fifth Ashes Test, The Third Day Gets Underway The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an lengthy first session that will last two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be firmly in the driving seat. A Sea of Pink for a Cause The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with everybody wearing pink in support of the McGrath Foundation. The day honors the charity's dedication 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 frustrating second evening in Sydney by exchanging remarks out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He subsequently approached and placed a hand on the batsman's shoulder to prolong the conversation. As the umpires moved in, the England skipper departed after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. Under ICC regulations, Stokes potentially faces sanction for “inappropriate physical contact”. The Spin Debate Ignites Anew When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in supporting fellow spinners. 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 had the same view watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had three specialist fast bowlers, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with significant stands while Joe Root compiled his top 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 settling in. It might have eased the burden to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell. Preamble: A Session of Significance Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third day's play in Sydney. A crucial morning session awaits, yet one cannot ignore the end-of-term feeling that has characterized this Test so far. We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, especially on Australian soil. This feels flatter than the rest, largely due to the pre-series hype. Two inconsequential matches? It’s not what we thought ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes. There isn’t even the jeopardy of a potential whitewash; the series will end either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. An underwhelming display with the ball from England allowed Australia to charge to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; Michael Neser, who came in as nightwatchman has 1 from 15. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow just before the close, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is on the capricious side. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they could reignite the contest. In the context of the match, the morning's play is vital. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.