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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Ashes in sight as Lyon, Cummins torment England
Scott Bailey, AAP • December 20th, 2025 8:30 pm
Nathan Lyon has spun Australia closer to another Test win over England, and retention of the Ashes | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Australia are four wickets away from retaining the Ashes after Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon tore apart England's last-ditch resistance in the third Test.
Needing to pull off a world-record fourth-innings chase of 435 to stay in the series, England went to stumps on day four at 6-207 and still requiring 228 runs to win.
At one stage it looked as if the game could be over on Saturday evening, before Jamie Smith (11 not out) and Will Jacks (2no) did enough to push it to a fifth day.
And while that has denied Australia the quickest retention of the urn in more than century after just 10 days of cricket, Sunday now appears a mere formality.
After England took 6-for-76 on Saturday morning to have Australia out for 349, England still faced an uphill battle.
Requiring a world-record chase in order to stay in the series, England lost Ben Duckett in the second over when Cummins (3/24) had him caught at slip.
The opener's dismissal summed up a horror tour for the left-hander, who is yet to pass 30 and has quickly been exposed by his refusal to leave the ball.
Ollie Pope is having a worse tour, with his misery compounded by a superb one-handed grab by Labuschagne at slip after an edge off Cummins.
And while Joe Root led a brief fightback alongside Zak Crawley, Cummins eventually had his number for a 13th time in Test cricket after tea.
Playing his first Test since July, and after taking 3/69 in the first innings on return from back pain, Cummins moved the ball just enough to have him caught behind.
Then it was time for Lyon (3/62) to take over.
He first bowled a reverse-sweeping Harry Brook for 30, ending a 68-run fourth-wicket stand with Crawley that had appeared England's last resistance.
Brook had successfully employed the tactic of reversing both Lyon and Travis Head, but this one held up a bit off the pitch and turned a long way.
The right-hander then spent an age standing at the crease before walking off, with the reality of England's plight perhaps sinking in.
Stokes followed for five, when a big ripping ball pitched on leg and took the top of the left-hander's off stump.
And when Lyon drew Crawley forward in flight and had him stumped for 85, even the most one-eyed England fan must have stopped believing.
Some rain is forecast for parts of Sunday, but even if that was to ruin day five a draw would be enough for Australia to retain the urn.
Earlier, Travis Head reached 170 and Alex Carey 72, as the pair missed out on a double-century and twin tons for the match respectively.
Travis Head and Alex Carey starred in a 162-run partnership to set England a world-record run chase | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Josh Inglis was caught at slip for just 10, no doubt prompting consternation over whether he is squeezed out for Usman Khawaja to stay on Boxing Day.
But they were the only lows for Australia, who are now almost certain to retain the Ashes for a fifth straight series.
Tune into Sport Nation for live ball-by-ball commentary of The Ashes series - the third Test continues on Sport Nation Extra via the Sport Nation app from 12pm Sunday - thanks to SEN.
