🔗 Share this article The Baggy Greens v England: Fifth Ashes Test, Day Three Unfolds The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an lengthy first session scheduled to run for two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be firmly in the driving seat. A Sea of Pink for a Cause It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with spectators adorned in pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to offering support for cancer patients. A supporter clad entirely in pink makes their way into the Sydney Cricket Ground. On-Field Tensions Bubble Over It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. Ben Stokes signed off a frustrating second evening in Sydney by swapping words out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” at the end of the over. He then walked over and put an arm around his opponent’s shoulder to continue the exchange. As the umpires moved in, Stokes walked away following a brief pat. Under ICC regulations, Stokes potentially faces sanction for making improper physical contact. The Spin Debate Ignites Anew Shane Warne's biography title 'No Spin' was not an endorsement of the tactic. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in backing his guild. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his common contention. Loyalty to a bowling type isn't the sole consideration. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio. The hosts lacked that option. Their attack featured a trio of pace specialists, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They had an England innings that was allowed to pull away, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root compiled his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384. It would have been helpful to introduce a specialist spinner when Root and Harry Brook were settling in. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell. Preamble: A Session of Significance Greetings and welcome to our updates of the third day's play in Sydney. There’s a big first session coming, yet one cannot ignore the end-of-term feeling that has pervaded this Test so far. We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, particularly when England play in Australia. This feels flatter than the rest, mainly because there was such expectation. Two inconsequential matches? It’s not what we thought ahead of 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. Right here, right now, 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; Michael Neser, who came in as nightwatchman has scored a single from fifteen deliveries. Neser was struck nastily on the elbow just before the close, highlighting that the surface – though largely good for batting – is somewhat unpredictable. Should England's bowlers, namely Matthew Potts, discover the right length this morning they can force their way back into the game. In the context of the match, this is a big first session. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.