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The players are about to take the field for an extended first session scheduled to run for 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 Sea of Pink for a Cause

The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with everybody wearing pink in support of 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 signal sent to the Australians or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Seemingly reacting to something said by Labuschagne, Stokes was audibly telling “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He subsequently approached and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to prolong the conversation.

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”.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. 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 common contention.

Nor is allegiance of style the only factor. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

Australia didn’t have it. Instead, they had a trio of pace specialists, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with significant stands while Joe Root went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their best total in the Ashes, 384.

It would have been helpful to introduce a specialist spinner when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

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 end-of-term feeling that has pervaded this Test so far.

Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, particularly when England play in Australia. 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 potential whitewash; 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 unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser received a painful blow to 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 can force their way back into the game.

Regarding this specific game, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.