England threatened to script a festive miracle in the third Test, but Australia once again proved too composed, too sharp, and too ruthless when it mattered most. A spirited lower-order resistance dragged the contest deep into the final afternoon, yet Australia’s grip never truly loosened as they sealed a third straight win and wrapped up the 2025–26 Ashes inside just 11 days.
The decisive moment came courtesy of Scott Boland, who tempted Josh Tongue into a thick edge that flew straight to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip. It was Labuschagne’s fourth catch of a breathtaking fielding performance, and it finally ended England’s stubborn stand, leaving Brydon Carse stranded on 39. His efforts, alongside defiant knocks from Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, briefly revived belief that England’s fight deserved a better fate than the series scoreline suggested.
Yet the margins told a familiar story. Labuschagne’s brilliance in the slips mirrored Australia’s superiority throughout the series, while costly dropped chances again haunted England. The winning margin of 82 runs matched Usman Khawaja’s first-innings score after being spilled early, while the 71 Travis Head added after a reprieve on 99 proved terminal to England’s hopes. These moments, more than any single session, defined the gulf between the sides.
Hope lingered until the very end, but it was extinguished by a familiar adversary. Mitchell Starc may have missed out on another Player-of-the-Match award, but his dominance across the series left no doubt about his claim on the Compton-Miller Medal. On a day when Australia were shaken by Nathan Lyon’s hamstring injury, Starc stepped up magnificently, claiming three of the final four wickets. His ability to find movement on an otherwise lifeless Adelaide surface, and then exploit the harder new ball, ensured England’s resistance would only ever be temporary.
England began the day with cautious optimism, negotiating the final overs before the new ball as Lyon and Cameron Green shouldered the early workload. Smith and Jacks counterattacked boldly, with Smith launching spin and seam alike to cut the target below 200. The Barmy Army sensed momentum, their belief swelling further after a rain delay briefly halted play.
But the morning turned when Lyon, fielding at fine leg, pulled up injured while attempting to stop a boundary. As he limped from the field, memories resurfaced of his cruel Ashes-ending injury at Lord’s two years earlier. The incident seemed to galvanise England, who raised the tempo as Smith unfurled a flurry of boundaries, even taking the new ball to Starc and Pat Cummins with rare authority.
Just as Australia appeared rattled, Smith pushed too far, miscuing an ambitious shot off Starc and offering Cummins a relieving catch. It was another familiar English heartbreak: momentum gained, then immediately squandered. Jacks remained composed, rotating strike and resisting temptation, while Carse chipped away to take England into lunch with faint hope still alive.
After the interval, Australia sensed the finish line. Chances came and went, reviews were debated, and even Australia’s usually impeccable catching wobbled briefly. But the pressure never relented. Starc continued to probe, Boland maintained discipline, and Labuschagne’s hands refused to falter.
In the end, England’s resolve was admirable but insufficient. Another edge found a fielder, another roar erupted from the stands, and Australia celebrated a fourth consecutive home Ashes triumph, achieved once more at the earliest possible moment. There was no Christmas miracle for England—only a reminder of Australia’s unyielding dominance and their knack for closing out great rivalries with ruthless efficiency.
