🔗 Share this article The Baggy Greens v The Three Lions: Fifth Ashes Test, The Third Day Gets Underway The players are about to take the field 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 Pink Outpouring of Support It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the charity's dedication to offering support for cancer patients. A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground. A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to continue the exchange. As the umpires moved in, the England skipper departed following a brief pat. As per the ICC code of conduct, Stokes potentially faces sanction for “inappropriate physical contact”. The Spin Debate Ignites Anew Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, 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. His old teammate Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. Australia didn’t have it. Their attack featured a trio of pace specialists, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and some token part-time bowling. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with significant stands while Joe Root compiled his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384. It could have been advantageous to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It might have eased the burden to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell. Setting the Scene for Day Three Greetings and welcome to our updates of the third day's play in Sydney. A crucial morning session awaits, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere that has characterized this Test so far. Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, especially on Australian soil. This feels flatter than the rest, mainly because there was such expectation. Two inconsequential matches? It defies our predictions ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes. There isn’t even the jeopardy of a potential whitewash; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. Right here, right now, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. A poor bowling performance from England allowed Australia to charge to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is 91 not out from 87 balls; Michael Neser, who came in as nightwatchman has 1 from 15. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow near the end of play, a reminder that this pitch – though largely good for batting – is on the capricious side. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right 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.