Ashes Test 3 Day 2: England Collapse but Stokes Resists
Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval saw Australia’s bowlers tighten the screws on England after a competitive start to the hosts’ first innings. England, trailing Australia’s 326/8, struggled to build momentum with the bat and ended the day at 213/8, still significantly behind. Alex Carey’s century on Day 1 had set up Australia’s position, but England showed fight through their middle order before Australia’s attack reasserted control under testing Adelaide conditions.
Australia vs England – 3rd Ashes Test • Day 2
The Ashes 2025/26 • Adelaide Oval
Match Progress Till Last Day Stumps
At stumps on Day 2, England were 213/8, still trailing by 158 runs in the first innings after Australia were dismissed for 326/8 on Day 1. England’s reply began with hopes of a resilient start, but early wickets kept them under scoreboard pressure. Skipper Ben Stokes provided stubborn resistance, anchoring partnerships and frustrating Australia’s bowlers at times. England lacked consistent support from others, with only limited contributions from Jofra Archer and others in between. Australia’s bowlers, led by disciplined lines and persistent probing, maintained upper hand throughout the day to stay ahead in this crucial Test.
Day Summary
Day 2 was largely defined by Australia’s ability to sustain control once England strayed from partnership building. After being set a competitive target, England began with intent but found scoring and application difficult at regular intervals. Australia’s attack — exploiting subtle movement and variations — struck at crucial junctures to keep England under pressure. Though there were moments of resistance, particularly from captain Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, the visitors failed to string together long partnerships. By stumps, the scoreline of 213/8 evidenced England’s struggle to keep pace, while the home team’s bowlers were rewarded with control and key breakthroughs.
Session-by-Session Breakdown — Day 2
Morning Session: England Fight Early Woes
The opening session of Day 2 was shaped by Australia’s bowlers maintaining incisive pressure from the outset. England resumed their innings with a clear task: steady the innings and chip away at the deficit. Early movement off the pitch and disciplined lines from the Australian pace trio ensured wickets at regular intervals, with edges carrying to the cordon and the scoreboard ticking slowly. Ben Stokes, battling the bulk of the new ball’s threat, played with measured caution and resilience, which helped blunt the early onslaught. Jofra Archer showed glimpses of intent, but England’s middle order found scoring opportunities hard to come by consistently. Though there were defensive stands that stemmed the flow of wickets for a time, Australia’s strategy of consistent discipline kept the hosts on top throughout the morning session.
Afternoon Session: Stokes and Archer Forge Resistance
Post-lunch, England’s challenge shifted subtly toward resilience rather than acceleration. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer took up the mantle, grappling with a tricky Adelaide surface and probing Australian attack. They rotated strike effectively and frustrated the bowlers by finding gaps that had been elusive earlier in the day. Archer’s contribution was particularly noteworthy; his willingness to tackle length balls and convert singles helped keep England within sight of parity. The Australians, however, were equally persistent, probing lengths and mixing pace and variation to keep the batsmen guessing. The tempo remained slow, but crucially, England managed to delay further collapses and rebuilt some momentum. Yet, they never fully escaped the psychological pressure of a large first-innings deficit, leaving their position tenuous heading into the final session.
100 run partnership for Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. Outstanding from these two. 👏#Ashes pic.twitter.com/ch8EBdBdF2
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) December 19, 2025
Evening Session: Bowlers Regain Control and Close
As shadows lengthened at Adelaide Oval, Australia’s bowlers once again found the extra gear to disrupt England’s plans. After the relative stability of the afternoon, renewed intensity and incisive lines brought a series of breakthroughs that dented England’s resistance. Key scalp opportunities translated into dismissals, restricting any significant partnerships from progressing. Ben Stokes’ fight was the stand of the day, but a lack of substantial support from partners meant England’s tail started to shrink under mounting scoreboard pressure. Discipline from the Australian attack — repeatedly hitting the right channels and testing the fringes — yielded results late in the day. By stumps, England were eight down, still trailing, and on the back foot: a position that leaves them with much to do as this pivotal Test unfolds.
Top Performers of Day 2
Ben Stokes — Dogged Resistance Amid Collapse
Ben Stokes delivered a crucial resistance act for England, anchoring his side with a composed 45 runs* in a first innings that otherwise struggled for momentum. Stokes displayed experience and grit, often shepherding the strike and rotating the bat to keep England from spiralling early. Against probing lines and tight field placements from Australia’s bowlers, his ability to find gaps and maintain concentration was vital. Though the scoreline did not reflect a dramatic recovery, Stokes’ innings highlighted his determination to shoulder responsibility and stave off collapse for as long as possible.
Jofra Archer — Aggression with the Bat and Ball
Jofra Archer offered England a spark on Day 2 with both bat and ball. With the ball, his disciplined pace and probing lengths struck early, unsettling Australian batters in the previous innings and setting a tone that carried into England’s reply. His ability to generate movement and back his skills under pressure was noticeable. With the bat, Archer contributed an important cameo (around 30 runs*), helping England blunt the bowling attack in partnership with Stokes. His dual contributions underscored his value as a genuine all-round threat in Aust–Eng Tests.
What to Expect on Day 3
Day 3 will be pivotal as England aim to close out their first innings and reduce Australia’s psychological advantage. Expect renewed aggression early with the new ball and tactical use of spin later as Adelaide conditions evolve. Australia will look to exploit any collapses and press for an innings lead, while England must build partnerships and delay the scoreboard deficit to stay competitive. Cool, early sessions will be key for bowlers to extract movement.
Ashes Test 3 Day 2 Highlights
