England aim to throw some haymakers for Ashes miracle

Scott Bailey | December 20, 2025

England’s coaching staff have declared it’s time for the tourists to stand up and “throw some haymakers” knowing only something magical will keep them in the Ashes.

After just nine days of cricket, England’s hopes of regaining the urn appear over, with Ben Stokes’ side likely to require a record chase to stay in the Ashes.

Travis Head’s big century has ensured Australia will resume on Saturday in Adelaide on 4-271, leading by 356 runs with two days still to play in the third Test.

No team has ever chased down that fourth-innings total at Adelaide Oval, while England’s highest successful fourth-innings chase anywhere in the world is 373.

Leading the series 2-0, Australia need only draw this Test to retain the Ashes. Victory will ensure the five-Test series is won.

In a sign of how bad things have gone, England have not had a player speak to media after play in this Test, with coaching staff instead fronting the media.

England spin coach Jeetan Patel joked on Friday he had “done a few” of these kind of press conferences, but insisted nothing was impossible for his side.

“I’m very optimistic of where we could take it and I still believe there’s an opportunity for us,” Patel said.

“It won’t be easy, we’re going to need something magical but it’s about time we saw something magical from us.

“Three games in, we have thrown some, but taken a lot. 

“I think it’s about time, now we are backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers back.”

For their part Australia are unlikely to settle for a draw in Adelaide, with plenty of time in the match to set an imposing target and try to take a 3-0 series lead.

Head will start the day on 142no eyeing off a double century, while his fellow South Australian mate Alex Carey is unbeaten on 52 and a chance of twin tons for the match.

“Today was a really important, another hot day to get overs into bowlers,” Head said on Friday. 

“We’ve got back-to-back Test matches next too, we’ve spoken about what that can do.

“Tomorrow’s another huge day and I think the wicket’s deteriorating, it’s starting to spin. 

“I think it will stay a bit lower as the next two days go on, but it’s going to be hard work, it’s probably a more batter-friendly wicket than we’ve seen in the past.

“But the goal is to try and put as many on in the morning as we can and then get to work and try and win a Test match.”