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Pat Cummins and Zak Crawley engaged in tense mind games as Australia set England a record 435 to win the Ashes at Adelaide Oval, with Travis Head scoring 170 and Alex Carey 72.
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England struck early on Day 4, wrapping up Australia for 349 and setting themselves a frightening 435 to win — but it surely was the late-session theatre that stole the highlight.
With just minutes left before lunch, Pat Cummins removed Ben Duckett with a thick edge, turning the screws with the brand new ball. Ollie Pope nudged his first run, leaving Zak Crawley to face the ultimate moments — and igniting a gripping duel.
Sensing danger, Crawley tried to run down the clock, wandering down the pitch and tapping away because the break loomed. Cummins wasn’t amused. Wearing a smile, the Australian captain slowed things down himself, fidgeting with his shoes and forcing Crawley to attend.
The standoff ended the one way it could: Cummins charged in and delivered a beauty that squared Crawley up completely, whistling past the surface edge. A number of alternative words followed, Crawley could only smile — and the Ashes walked into lunch with the temperature rising fast.
A Historic Miracle Needed For England
Travis Head slammed 170, and Alex Carey hit 72 Saturday as Australia were all out for 249 to set England a record 435 to win and keep the Ashes alive.
England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia’s second innings for 349 on the Adelaide Oval.
It left England with 10 minutes to bat before lunch, but disaster struck within the second over when Ben Duckett, on 4, edged Pat Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip.
England were at 5-1 at lunch, with Ollie Pope on one and Zak Crawley yet to attain.
England must win to maintain the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane. Australia, as holders, only need a draw to retain the urn.
Ben Stokes’s men can have to provide something extraordinary as they stare down the barrel of a 435-run goal for victory.
No team has ever chased down greater than 316 on the Adelaide Oval, while the largest successful run chase in Test history was 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St. Johns in 2003.
(with agency inputs)
December 20, 2025, 09:47 IST
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