Overview:
The 3rd Test between Australia and England will start at 5:00 am IST on December 17 in Adelaide.
The Australian men’s cricket team is set to take on England in the 3rd Test at the Adelaide Oval. The 3rd clash of the five-Test series will start from December 17 onwards.
Australia have done well in their 83 Tests here. They have won 46, lost 18 and drawn 19. England have played 33 times here. They have won 9 Test matches (D5 L19).
Both sides have played one Test series each in the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Australia beat West Indies 3-0 away and lead the series 2-0 versus England. They are atop with a 100% PCT from 5 matches. Meanwhile, England are also playing their 2nd Test series. They drew 2-2 against England at home and trail this series 0-2.
What is the Context of the AUS vs ENG match?
England announced their playing XI for the 2nd Test on December 15. They have roped in Josh Tongue for Gus Atkinson. Will Jacks kept his place as there was no place for Shoaib Bashir for the 3rd time in this series.
For the Aussies, opener Usman Khawaja has returned to the squad after missing the pink-ball Test at the Gabba. This was after he failed to recover from the back spasms suffered in Perth. The absence of Khawaja had cleared the way for Travis Head to open the batting. However, he was not included in the Playing XI.
The big news is that skipper Pat Cummins is making a return. He missed the 1st two Tests and will now lead the side.
Australia and England have featured in 363 Test matches. Australia have won 154 matches compared to the England team’s 112. A total of 97 matches have been drawn. In Australia, the two teams have met on 187 occasions. The hosts have claimed 101 wins besides losing 57. A total of 29 matches have been drawn.
The 3rd Test between Australia and England will start at 5:00 am IST on December 17 in Adelaide.
Australia – Playing XI
Travis Head: The multi-format player can be Australia’s match-winner. He owns over 4000 runs in Tests which includes 1000-plus Ashes runs.
Jake Weatherald: He made Test debut in the 1st Ashes Test. Weatherald didn’t impress, scoring only 0 and 23. He shone thereafter in the 2nd Test and hit a crucial fifty in the 2nd innings.
Marnus Labuschagne: He fought his way back into the side after being dropped for the West Indies tour and delivered against England in Perth. Labuschagne also did well in the Gabba Test and is a clutch figure.
Steve Smith: He led Australia for the 1st two Tests and was superb. Now with Cummins being present, Smith can solely focus on his batting. A big player, Smith got past 10500 Test runs in the previous Test. He has done well against England over the years.
Cameron Green: The all-rounder has a key role to play. Besides his batting, he also lends a voice with the ball. Green has an important role to play.
Alex Carey (wk): A fierce player, left-handed batter Carey is a key asset. He has scored 2099 runs from 45 Tests (67 innings) at 34.98.
Josh Inglis: He is likely to keep his place ahead of the returning Khawaja. He is 4 Test matches old.
Mitchell Starc: He will lead the Aussie attack. Starc has been magnificent in this Ashes series and one hopes to see him dominate once again.
Nathan Lyon: He was ignored for the Test in Brisbane, but is expected to make a return. He is two shy of becoming the 6th-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Lyon has 562 Test wickets. He owns most wickets in Adelaide (Tests).
Scott Boland: The pacer was instrumental in the 2021-22 Ashes at home, picking 18 scalps. Boland did an able job in the 1st Test at the Perth Stadium, clocking 0/62 and 4/33 across his 2 spells. In Brisbane, he bagged three wickets.
Pat Cummins (c): The experienced pacer and skipper is making an awaited return. He will provide a lot of depth.
Player to watch out for (Steve Smith): The senior Aussie batter will want to bring his A game. He has a sound record at home in Tests.
England – Playing XI
Ben Duckett : The England southpaw will aim to take on the Aussies from the start with his aggressive play. He scored 21 and 28 in the Perth Test. In Brisbane, he managed a paltry 0 and 15.
Zak Crawley : He will be supporting Duckett well at the top. Crawley owns 1900 runs from 38 Tests. He bagged a pair in the Perth Test before being amongst the runs in Brisbane.
Ollie Pope: He is a solid customer. He scored 46 and 33 in the Perth Test. Pope will want to convert starts into big scores here in Adelaide. He got starts in Brisbane but threw them away.
Joe Root: The 2nd-highest scorer in Tests, Root suffered in the 1st Ashes Test, scoring 0 and 8. He smashed a century in Brisbane next. Root is England’s best bet.
Harry Brook: He needs to curb his aggression and play a sound brand of cricket. He scored 53 and 0 in the 1st Test. The 2nd Test saw him get starts before he threw the same away.
Ben Stokes (c): He will be aiming to bring his all-round play. Stokes owns over 7000 Test runs and has 238 scalps. He did well in the 3rd innings at the Gabba.
Jamie Smith (wk): The wicketkeeper batter can be a menace with his power-hitting and risk-taking abilities. He scored 33 and 15 in the Perth Test before failing cheaply in the 2nd clash.
Will Jacks: He owns over 2500 First-Class runs with 4 tons and 16 fifties. With the ball, he has 49 scalps. He owns 3 Test caps for England.
Brydon Carse: He can chip in with the bat if needed and bring value. Being 11 Tests old, he has bagged 45 scalps. He picked 5 wickets in the 1st Test and 4 in the 2nd.
Jofra Archer: He is England’s main bet and needs to deliver. He picked 2 scalps in the 1st Test and one in the 2nd.
Josh Tongue: He makes a return to the side for Atkinson. It’s a bug encounter for Tongue who last featured in the England-India Tests.
Player to watch out for (Joe Root): He is a world class Test player and England will count on his attributes.
Top Batters for Dream11
In terms of the Dream11 team pick, among batters, the likes of Steve Smith, Joe Root and Harry Brook can be wise picks alongside Travis Head and Ben Duckett.
Jamie Smith can be a differential pick. He promises quick runs and able partnerships.
Best All-Rounders to Boost Points
In terms of all-rounders, one can go with two sound options in the form of England skipper Ben Stokes and Australian powerhouse Cameron Green.
Bowlers to Watch in Dream11
With the surface expected to be help pacers especially with the new ball, go for quicks. The likes of Mitchell Starc, Jofra Archer and Pat Cummins can be ideal picks. Spinner Nathan Lyon can be handy.
Captain and Vice-captain picks
Head can be an ideal captaincy option with Root being the vice-captain pick.
One can mix it with Starc being picked as captain and having Stokes as the vice-captain.
Pitch Report & Venue Conditions
One may not see a batting paradise here in Adelaide. However, given the history, it will provide joy. Pace bowlers will be in the contest especially with the new ball. One can expect there will be enough in it for bat and ball. Spinners will come into this contest late on when the surface gets older.
Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?
All things considered, both sides will be up for it on a surface that will help batters and assist pace, especially the new ball. Both teams will have 4 pace options and a spinner. Australia will be slightly ahead given the dominance of Mitchell Starc in the first two Tests. Batting will be easier compared to Perth and Brisbane. .
FAQs About AUS vs ENG Playing 11
Who are the key players in the AUS vs ENG clash?
For the Aussies, Steve Smith will want to bring his A game. He has a sound record at home in Tests. For England, Joe Root can be ominous for Australia. He is a sheer run-scorer.