Marnus Labuschagne turned the third Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at the Adelaide Oval into his personal fielding highlight reel as the Australia star produced a moment that changed the outcome of the match against England on the final day.
England were on their way to creating history while chasing a huge target of 435 runs against Australia in Adelaide. He found himself in a good position when the target had gone below 100 with three wickets still in hand, and Will Jacks was digging in with calmness and courage.
Marnus Labuschagne’s magic ends England’s fight in the third Ashes Test
The partnership between Jacques and Brydon Carse had passed 50 and Australia were beginning to feel the pressure in the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval. But once again Mitchell Starc gave a masterclass to ensure that Australia retained the Ashes title for the fifth consecutive time.
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Starc bowled the ball a little fuller than usual at 138.5 kmph, but not a full ball. It was outside off stump and Jacques tried to play a drive shot, but the ball was too far from his body. As soon as the ball hit the pitch, it spun slightly straight.
Because of that speed, the ball hit the thick outside edge of Jack’s bat rather than the middle. The ball flew towards Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey. He dived full to his right and looked good to take the catch, but Labuschagne was also running through the slips and reached the ball first.
Marnus Labuschagne’s flying catch shatters England’s dream in Adelaide
Wearing his familiar white floppy cap, Labuschagne understood the situation perfectly and took an incredible catch. As Carey was still in mid-dive, Labuschagne dived to his left in front of the wicketkeeper and took an amazing one-handed catch with his left hand.
The Australian star took a clean catch with a full dive, just in front of Carey, a few inches above the turf. The catch ended Jack’s gritty innings of 47 off 137 balls and broke a dangerous 52-run partnership when England had a real chance of winning to return to the ongoing Ashes 2025-26.
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It was a very special and difficult catch, showing great effort and quick reflexes from Labuschagne. Jacques, on the other hand, had played a tough and patient innings, so he was very disappointed after getting out as he knew that his wicket was important for his team.
There’s no way he did that again!
Marnus Labuschagne takes a bow!#ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/EkxdtkFsrg
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 21 December 2025
The dream we came here with is over: Ben Stokes
Well, Australia finally won the Ashes 2025-26 by winning the third test by 82 runs. With a 3-0 lead in the ongoing five-match Test series, the Kangaroos continued their dominance over England by winning their fifth consecutive Ashes.
England captain Ben Stokes is heartbroken after losing the Ashes. “The dream we came here with is over. Everyone is feeling the pain. They managed to outwit us. We were confident we could chase it down; it was a very good wicket,” Stokes said in the post-match presentation.
We wanted a lot more from the team and I saw that. We can learn a lot from this game; We have learned a lot. We have not been consistent or tireless enough. We have people coming here; We are going to give our absolute everything.”
