pat cummins And nathan lyon to push Australia On the cusp of victory against the Ashes 2025-26 England In Adelaide. third test of The Ashes 2025-26 series Australia dominated England on the fourth day, setting a challenging target of 435 runs after scoring 371 and 349 at the Adelaide Oval, starting on December 17, 2025. England were at 207/6, needing 228 more at stumps, the aggressive bowling of Cummins and Lyon led to a massive crowd celebration, leading Australia to a series win.
Australia’s flexible batting set a big target for England on the fourth day
Australia’s second innings started slowly on the fourth day, but after a strong innings saw a dramatic collapse, they still scored 349 to go ahead. travis headA brilliant knock of 170 off 219 balls including 16 fours and two sixes took the innings forward and reached 150 off 205 balls during a 150-run partnership for the fifth wicket. alex carey (72 out of 128). Key partnerships inspired the milestones: 300 runs in 71.5 overs and 250 runs in 61.6 overs, but after Head was out at 311/5 (73.6 overs), the lower order collapsed, leaving 38 for six in 10.8 overs.
England’s bowlers launched a decisive counterattack. passion tongue Claimed 4-70 including head, cameron green (7), and josh inglis (10), while braydon carse Took a score of 3-80 while getting out Jake Weatherald (1), marnus labuschagne (13), and Lyon (0). Usman Khawaja (40) and Carey added important runs first ben stokes (1-26) and jofra archer (1-20) Australia were all out in 84.4 overs at 4.12 runs per over. Despite a late wobble after being all out from 311/5 to 349, England’s overall total was the fourth highest successful chase in Test history.
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon beat England, Australia eyes Ashes 2025-26
Cummins and Lyon turned the fourth day at the Adelaide Oval into a theater of dominance, electrifying the crowd as Australia tightened their grip on potentially winning the Ashes 2025-26. With England attempting to chase the target increasingly difficult, Cummins led from the front and bowled a fiery spell that shattered the visitors’ early resolve. The Australian captain was dismissed while striking in his very first over. ben duckett And soon it included valuable wickets too Ollie Pope And Joe RootConcluding with spectacular shapes that represent both control and danger. At the other end, Lyon played the perfect foil, using cleverness and composure to break down England’s middle order, dismissing harry brook, ben stokes And, most importantly, set well jack crawleyWhose serious resistance kept England afloat for some time.
England’s innings never really gathered momentum, crawling along at a slow run rate as the Australian bowlers continued to apply pressure. Crawley’s half-century offered a glimmer of hope, but once he fell, a post-tea collapse exposed England’s fragile middle order. Cummins’ supporting cast also includes Scott Boland And Mitchell StarcMaintained tight lines, ensuring no one escaped. By stumps, England were looking at a difficult target with their tails wide open, while the Adelaide crowd sensed the inevitable. Australia just need a few more successes, with a 3-0 series lead now within reach.
See also: Nathan Lyon’s deadly spin sent Harry Brook to the pavilion on the fourth day of the Adelaide Test.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Nathan Lyon to-
jack crawley
ben stokes
harry brook#Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/sw4xobBMDQ– SanjayGandhi (@SanjayGandhi41) 20 December 2025
Modern-day great Nathan Lyon 🐐 has been Australia’s X-factor since 2011.#AUSvsENG #nathanlyon #Ashes2025 #ash25 pic.twitter.com/6OuFU2fe77
– Mahisi 1996 (@Mahisi1996) 20 December 2025
Nathan Lyon’s sensational spell has put Australia on the brink of retaining the Ashes in Adelaide.#WTC27 pic.twitter.com/iDFeJv79hu
– Kunal Khan (@kuncunalkhan) 20 December 2025
Nathan Lyon is indispensable!
In just a few overs, he clean bowled Harry Brook (30) and Ben Stokes (5)! Both batsmen were completely surprised by the drift and dip. Brook went for a reverse sweep, Gary hit the ball on the stumps. Stokes played back and Gary took the woodwork.#ash #lyon pic.twitter.com/AmfAnJAC8k
– Arun R Arya (@arunarya6396) 20 December 2025
3.3 overs, and Nathan Lyon wreaks havoc:
❌ brook b lyon
❌ Stokes b Lyon
❌ Crawley St Carey b LyonA spell for the ages – pure magic from Lyon!
No wonder they call him the GOAT🐐#AUSvsENG #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/eodKq2Qttn
– Arshi (@imArshit) 20 December 2025
Only two people have taken 150+ wickets as Test captain: Imran Khan (187) and Pat Cummins (150) motiv pic.twitter.com/x0Gnlunnel
– Sohail Khan (@k42068387) 20 December 2025
Pat Cummins dismissed Joe Root for the 13th time in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/SyBwhy2zn4
– Muhammad Zubair (@MuhammadZu83460) 20 December 2025
🚨 Australia vs England Ashes, 3rd Test Match 3rd Day, Stumps
England at 207 for 6
Will Jacques – 11*
Jamie Smith – 2*Pat Cummins: 10 – 3 – 24 – 3
Australia needs 4 wickets to win #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/MESedYgjrT
– Cricket Lover (@AkhandSharma9) 20 December 2025
Pat Cummins – the great captain of modern times
Pat Cummins has become the second bowler in Test history to take 150 wickets as captain.
Only the great Imran Khan is ahead with 187 wickets as a Test captain.
⭐ Elite Company. Historical milestone. Leading with influence. pic.twitter.com/wC1IlbapHA
– Abdul Rehman Yaseen (@Aryaseen5911) 20 December 2025
Australia comes close to retaining the Ashes#AdelaideTaste #AUSvsENG #ash pic.twitter.com/2LlAdfLOeb
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 20 December 2025
