🔗 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 strapped into the commanding position. A Pink Outpouring of Support The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The day honors the foundation's commitment to offering support for cancer patients. A fan dressed in all pink arrives at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On-Field Tensions Bubble Over It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a annoying day's end 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 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 after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, the England captain could be reprimanded for making improper physical contact. Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics 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. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his frequent argument. Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. The hosts lacked that option. Instead, they had a trio of pace specialists, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with significant stands while Joe Root compiled his top score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384. It could have been advantageous to introduce a specialist spinner when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It might have eased the burden to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing 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, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere 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. The stakes are further reduced of a possible series sweep; the series will end either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. Right here, right now, 4-1 looks more likely. An underwhelming display with the ball from England let Australia race to 166 for two, a deficit of 218, 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 just before the close, highlighting that the surface – though generally batsman-friendly – is on the capricious side. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they could reignite the contest. Regarding this specific game, the morning's play is vital. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.