Fans erupt as Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon put Australia on the verge of Ashes Test series win against England on Day 4 in Adelaide

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Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon push Australia to the cusp of Ashes 2025-26 triumph against England in Adelaide. The third Test of the Ashes 2025-26 series at Adelaide Oval, starting December 17, 2025, saw Australia dominate England on Day 4, setting a daunting 435-run target after posting 371 and 349. With England reeling at 207/6, needing 228 more at stumps, Cummins and Lyon’s incisive bowling sparked massive crowd celebrations, inching Australia toward a series-clinching win.​

Australia’s second innings began steadily on Day 4 but witnessed a dramatic collapse after a strong platform, yet they amassed 349 to forge ahead. Travis Head‘s masterful 170 off 219 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes, anchored the innings, reaching 150 in 205 balls during a 150-run fifth-wicket stand with Alex Carey (72 off 128). Key partnerships propelled milestones: 300 runs in 71.5 overs and 250 in 61.6 overs, but post-Head’s dismissal at 311/5 (73.6 overs), the lower order crumbled, losing 38 runs for six wickets in 10.8 overs.​

England’s bowlers struck back decisively. Josh Tongue claimed 4-70, including Head, Cameron Green (7), and Josh Inglis (10), while Brydon Carse took 3-80, dismissing Jake Weatherald (1), Marnus Labuschagne (13), and Lyon (0). Usman Khawaja (40) and Carey added crucial runs before Ben Stokes (1-26) and Jofra Archer (1-20) mopped up, with Australia all out in 84.4 overs at 4.12 runs per over. Despite the late wobble from 311/5 to 349 all out, the total left England facing history’s fourth-highest successful chase target in Tests.​

Cummins and Lyon turned Day 4 at the Adelaide Oval into a theatre of dominance, sending the crowd into raptures as Australia tightened its grip on a likely Ashes 2025–26 triumph. With England attempting an increasingly uphill chase, Cummins led from the front with a fiery spell that shattered the visitors’ early resolve. Striking in his very first over, the Australian captain removed Ben Duckett and soon added the prized wickets of Ollie Pope and Joe Root, finishing with superb figures that reflected both control and menace. At the other end, Lyon played the perfect foil, using guile and patience to break England’s middle order, dismissing Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and, most crucially, the well-set Zak Crawley, whose gritty resistance briefly kept England afloat.

England’s innings never truly found momentum, crawling along at a slow run rate as Australian bowlers applied relentless pressure. Crawley’s half-century offered a flicker of hope, but once he fell, the collapse after tea laid bare England’s fragile middle order. Cummins’ supporting cast, including Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, maintained tight lines, ensuring there was no escape. By stumps, England were staring at a daunting target with their tail exposed, while the Adelaide crowd sensed the inevitable. With Australia needing just a few more breakthroughs, a 3–0 series lead now appears firmly within reach.

Also WATCH: Nathan Lyon’s deadly spin sends Harry Brook packing on Day 4 of Adelaide Test

Nathan Lyon to-

Zak CrawleyBen StokesHarry Brook#Ashes2025

— SanjayGandhi (@SanjayGandhi41) December 20, 2025

The modern-day great Nathan Lyon 🐐 has been Australia’s X-factor since 2011.#AUSvsENG #NathanLyon #Ashes2025 #ashes25 ⚱️

— महेंद्र बाहुबली (@Mahisi1996) December 20, 2025

Nathan Lyon's sensational spell puts Australia on the brink of retaining the Ashes in Adelaide 🔥#WTC27

— Kunal Khan (@kkunalkhan) December 20, 2025

NATHAN LYON IS INEVITABLE!

In the space of just a few overs, he’s cleaned up Harry Brook (30) AND Ben Stokes (5)! Both batters absolutely bamboozled by the drift and dip. Brook went for the reverse sweep Garry hit the stumps. Stokes played back Garry took the wood.#Ashes #Lyon

— Arun R Arya (@arunarya6396) December 20, 2025

3.3 overs, and Nathan Lyon wreaks havoc:

❌ Brook b Lyon❌ Stokes b Lyon❌ Crawley st Carey b Lyon

A spell for the ages — pure magic from Lyon!

No wonder they call him the GOAT 🐐#AUSvsENG #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG

— Arshy (@imArshit) December 20, 2025

Only two men have taken 150+ wickets as Test captain: Imran Khan (187) and Pat Cummins (150) 💪

— Sohail Khan (@k42068387) December 20, 2025

PAT CUMMINS GETS JOE ROOT FOR THE 13TH TIME IN TEST CRICKET. 🔥

— Muhammad Zubair (@MuhammadZu83460) December 20, 2025

🚨 AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND ASHES, Third Test Match 3rd DAY , STUMPS

ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 AT 207 for 6

Will Jacks – 11*Jamie Smith – 2*

Pat Cummins : 10 – 3 – 24 – 3

Australia need 4 wickets to win #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG

— CricketPremi (@AkhandSharma9) December 20, 2025

Pat Cummins — a modern-day great captain

Pat Cummins has become the second bowler in Test history to take 150 wickets as captain.

Only the great Imran Khan stands ahead, with 187 wickets as Test captain.

⭐ Elite company. Historic milestone. Leadership with impact.

— Abdul Rehman Yaseen (@Aryaseen5911) December 20, 2025

Australia have edged closer to retaining the Ashes 💪#AdelaideTest #AUSvsENG #Ashes

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 20, 2025

Also WATCH: Marnus Labuschagne grabs a screamer to remove Ollie Pope on Day 4 of the third Ashes 2025-26 Test in Adelaide