England Face Must-Win Test as Australia Eye Ashes

ISLAMABAD: England head into Wednesday’s third Ashes Test in Adelaide under immense pressure, with critics saying they “need a miracle” to stay alive in the series as a resurgent Australia look to seal another dominant home Ashes triumph.

Heavy eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane have left England 2-0 down, extending their winless run in Australia to 17 Tests since their last series success in 2010–11. Another Australian victory would wrap up the five-match series inside three Tests for the fourth straight time on home soil.

Former England great Geoffrey Boycott has been scathing in his assessment, pointing to poor shot selection, wayward bowling and dropped catches. Writing in his column, he said England were already in desperate trouble after just six days of cricket.

Despite the criticism, coach Brendon McCullum remains upbeat, insisting England still have a strong chance to turn the series around if they can win in Adelaide. Captain Ben Stokes, however, was visibly frustrated after the Brisbane defeat, calling on his players to be tougher in pressure situations.

Ex-captain Alastair Cook believes Stokes will deliver some blunt messages ahead of the must-win day Test at the Adelaide Oval, noting the skipper’s fiercely competitive nature and intolerance for repeated failures under pressure.

History is firmly against England. Only once has a team recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes, when Don Bradman inspired Australia to do so in 1936–37.

England may make changes to freshen up the squad. With Mark Wood injured, Josh Tongue could come in for Gus Atkinson. McCullum has confirmed the top seven will remain unchanged, with Ollie Pope retaining his spot at number three. Spin options remain under discussion, with Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks both in contention.

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Australia, meanwhile, are set to be strengthened by the return of captain Pat Cummins, who missed the first two Tests with a back injury. He will lead an attack already firing, spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, who has taken 18 wickets so far. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is also expected to return, likely at the expense of one of the seamers.

Selection questions remain over Usman Khawaja’s role, with the possibility of him moving down the order—or even being dropped—after regaining fitness. Chief selector George Bailey has indicated all options remain open.

Despite Australia’s dominance, pace legend Glenn McGrath has warned against complacency, urging the hosts to maintain intensity and aim for a clean sweep. Former captain Tim Paine added that Adelaide’s flat pitch and short boundaries could suit England’s aggressive style, making the third Test a compelling contest.