Ashes LIVE: England on the brink of becoming the WORST Ashes side in over 100 years following Travball clinic at Adelaide Oval

Carse really getting tonked here, surrendering 23 runs in his last two overs

Some great fielding from Joe Root denies Head another boundary.

Ricky Ponting has bad news for Usman Khawaja with Steve Smith to return for the Boxing Day Test

‘As well as Usman has played, I think it has to be he that goes out again. The selectors made the decision that Inglis was a better middle-order option coming into this week. I don’t see how their opinion could change on the back of one game. The analogy I used is the Hazlewood-Boland that’s happened over the last couple of years. Hazlewood has been injured and Boland will come in. But when Hazlewood has been fit, Boland goes out. I am looking at it that way.’

150 up for Travis Head, he is turning this century into a big score. And in worrying signs for England he is starting to find the boundary with ease again.

Peter Lalor with an update on Steve Smith

‘Steve Smith was back at the ground yesterday and back in the nets this morning. I watched him for quite some time. It was an extended session, over half an hour, a very positive sign for Australia.. Which … makes for an interesting issue going into the next Test. Who goes out of the 11 to make way?’

It’s a cruel sport sometimes. Head gets his first run of the day, but he gets it coming within an inch of chopping the ball onto his own stumps. Stokes can’t believe it.

Ricky Ponting

‘Stokes needs to stand tall for his team once again. 198 balls he was out there with the bat trying to drag his team back into the contest. Now he has to do it with the ball. Can he break this partnership?’

A cracking shot from Carey who is showing intent early. Carse’s first over of the day and he surrenders a boundary. Every one of those will be a hammer blow for England

Ben Stokes, who didn’t bowl at all yesterday, lines up to deliver the first over of the day.

Ricky Ponting

‘Ben Stokes didn’t bowl a single over. One of the England coaches was put up in front of the media last night, he said he didn’t think he was injured. He was pretty fit to bowl but he too tired. Exhausted. Doesn’t work in Ashes Series, unfortunately. Think of what Alex Carey has done in the same [time] so far. 100 in the first innings, kept the whole time. Is out there batting now. He will be tired as well. He is rocking up and getting it done.’

Australia lead by 356, the sun is shining, Travis Head and South Australian teammate Alex Carey are in the middle. The Barmy Army are singing ‘Jerusalem’. Stay with us for all of the day’s action

David Lloyd launched a blunt attack on England spinner Will Jacks as Australia took complete control of the Adelaide Test.

Speaking on Channel 7, Lloyd dismissed Jacks as ‘a net bowler,’ questioning England’s decision to rely on him while frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir has not bowled a single ball in the series.

Asked by Ricky Ponting if Jacks was England’s No.1 spinner, Lloyd replied: ‘Absolutely not.’

‘He’s a net bowler. He bowled 250 overs in red ball cricket in three years. So no.’

Good morning and welcome to our live blog of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide and boy, doesn’t England have a mountain to climb.

Travis Head tore the game away from England with his sparkling, unbeaten century on day three and remains at the crease at the start of day four.

If England lose in Adelaide, the Ashes would be decided inside ten days, making it the fastest Ashes series defeat since 1921 and a 104-year low point.

Australia’s 356-run lead, with six wickets still in hand, highlights how comprehensively England have been outplayed across all three Tests.

England’s campaign has unraveled through repeated top-order failures, reliance on part-time bowlers, and the visible physical toll on captain Ben Stokes, who did not bowl on day three.

Former players and commentators have labelled the tour embarrassing, with calls for mass changes at the ECB and suggestions that only Stokes should survive in leadership.