Australia but tightened my grip Third Ashes Test in Adelaide On a scorching day 2, with pat cummins And nathan lyon Delivered a decisive spell that put England in trouble and left the hosts firmly on top of the Ashes 2025/26 series.
After being bowled out for 371 in their first innings, Australia needed early breakthroughs – and their captain led from the front. Cummins struck quickly to disrupt England’s plans, setting the tone for a day that steadily swung Australia’s way as the surface began to show signs of grip and turn.
Pat Cummins strikes early to break England’s resistance
England’s reply suffered an immediate blow when Pat Cummins dismissed Zak Crawley for 9, hitting a thick outside edge which was safely taken by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The dismissal halted England’s early stance and brought urgency to the batting side.
The success proved decisive. What started as a cautious start soon unraveled as England slipped from relative stability into trouble, giving Australia a chance to take advantage in the heat.
Nathan Lyon’s double blow overturns the test
Offered before lunch, nathan lyon Produced a match-sized turning point that dramatically changed the direction of the England innings. First, he forced Ollie Pope to mishit a shot to midwicket and dismissed him for 3 runs. Moments later, Lyon delivered a drifting off-break which turned sharply and was bowled to Ben Duckett on 29, which hit the top of the off stump.
The double strike left England at 59/3 at the interval, giving Australia complete control as the conditions favored fast spin.
England’s middle order resists for some time
England attempted to rebuild through Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, who counter-attacked with intent to keep Australia at bay. Brook looked particularly fluent, scoring 45 from 63 balls, while Smith added 22 from 26 balls.
Despite their efforts, Australia’s bowlers maintained constant pressure and did not allow England to escape. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, ensuring that the visitors never recovered from the early damage.
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer standing on the stumps
England’s score at stumps on the second day was 213/8, with captain Ben Stokes scoring 45 not out, with tail-ender Jofra Archer contributing 30 runs. The pair added 45 runs for the ninth wicket, giving England a ray of hope.
However, the reality remains challenging. England, still trailing Australia by 158 runs in their first innings, face another uphill battle to stay in the Test and series.
Historic milestone for Nathan Lyon
Beyond the immediate impact of the match, the second day was a watershed moment in Lyon’s career. His wickets took him to 564 Test dismissals, surpassing Glenn McGrath for second place in Australia’s all-time wickets list and sixth overall in Test cricket history.
With Cummins returning from injury and Lyon returning after missing the Brisbane pink-ball Test, Australia’s full-strength bowling attack has once again exposed England’s batting weaknesses at a crucial stage of the Ashes.
