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The players are about to take the field for an extended first session that will last two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be strapped into the box seat.

A Sea of Pink for a Cause

It’s Jane McGrath Day at the SCG, with everybody wearing pink in support of the McGrath Foundation. The occasion commemorates the foundation's commitment to providing cancer support.

A fan dressed in all pink arrives at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening

The intent was unclear whether it was a signal sent to the Australians or his own bowlers. England's captain concluded 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 placed a hand on the batsman's shoulder to prolong the conversation.

As the umpires moved in, the England skipper departed following a brief pat. As per the ICC code of conduct, Stokes potentially faces sanction for “inappropriate physical contact”.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. It's presumptuous to speak for the deceased, but his lifelong stance was unequivocal in backing his guild. Sides should always retain a spin bowling option was his common contention.

Loyalty to a bowling type isn't the sole consideration. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie had the same view watching the fifth Ashes Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

Australia didn’t have it. Their attack featured three specialist fast bowlers, a couple of curiously employed all-rounders and a sprinkle of part-time guff. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with significant stands while Joe Root went on to his top score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384.

It could have been advantageous to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It would have been helpful to prevent Mitchell Starc from a taxing fourth spell.

Setting the Scene for Day Three

Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three at the SCG. A crucial morning session awaits, but it’s impossible to escape the series finale atmosphere that has pervaded this Test so far.

Final Ashes Tests often prove anticlimactic, particularly when England play in Australia. This feels flatter than the rest, mainly because there was such expectation. Two inconsequential matches? It defies our predictions ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes.

The stakes are further reduced of a possible series sweep; the series will end either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. At this moment, a 4-1 scoreline appears probable. An underwhelming display with the ball 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; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser was struck nastily on the elbow near the end of play, highlighting that the surface – though generally batsman-friendly – is somewhat unpredictable. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they can force their way back into the game.

In the context of the match, the morning's play is vital. It's simply that the fixture lacks the significance we anticipated.