🔗 Share this article The Baggy Greens v England: Final Ashes Test, Day Three Gets Underway The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an lengthy first session that will last two and a half hours. Should Travis Head remain at the crease by the lunch break, Australia will be firmly in the driving seat. A Pink Outpouring of Support The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with everybody wearing pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support. A fan dressed in all pink arrives at the Sydney Cricket Ground. A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening The intent was unclear whether it was a signal sent to the Australians or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a annoying day's end in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Seemingly reacting to something said by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He then walked over and placed a hand on the batsman's shoulder to continue the exchange. As the umpires moved in, the England skipper departed following a brief pat. Under ICC regulations, the England captain could be reprimanded for “inappropriate physical contact”. Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. It's presumptuous to speak for the deceased, but his record in life was loud and clear in backing his guild. Sides should always retain a spin bowling option was his frequent argument. Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie had the same view observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he stated during commentary. Australia didn’t have it. Their attack featured three specialist fast bowlers, 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 went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384. It could have been advantageous to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell. Preamble: A Session of Significance Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third day's play in Sydney. There’s a big first session coming, 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 defies our predictions when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes. There isn’t even the jeopardy of a possible series sweep; the series will end either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, 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; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow near the end of play, highlighting that the surface – though largely good for batting – is on the capricious side. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they could reignite the contest. In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.