7plus

How to Watch the Ashes in Adelaide: Your Complete Guide to the Third Test

The hallowed Adelaide Oval is set to host a pivotal moment in the 2025/26 Ashes series. As the Test match cricket caravan rolls into South Australia, the stakes could not be higher. For Australian cricket fans, the day-night format offers a perfect blend of summer evening entertainment and high-stakes sporting drama. This guide provides everything you need to know about the third Ashes Test, from team changes and player form to how you can catch every ball live.

The Main Narrative: A Series on the Line

The Ashes series is currently teetering. With the first two Tests delivering a mixture of dominance and resilience, the arrival in Adelaide represents a crucial turning point. The Australian team, buoyed by home advantage and the unique challenges of the pink ball, are looking to tighten their grip on the urn. Conversely, England arrives with a sense of urgency, knowing that leaving Australian shores without a win could spell the end of their campaign.

The significance of the Adelaide Test goes beyond the scoreboard. It is the premier day-night Test of the series, a format where Australia has historically excelled. The twilight session, often referred to as the "danger zone" for batters, will be a severe test of technique and temperament for the English lineup. The atmosphere under the Adelaide lights is legendary, creating a cauldron of pressure that often breaks visiting teams.

Recent Updates: Team Changes and Strategic Shifts

As the teams finalize their preparations, verified reports from cricketing authorities have confirmed significant selection decisions that will shape the match.

England’s One Change

England captain Ben Stokes has confirmed a solitary change to his playing XI for the crucial encounter. According to a report from cricket.com.au, the tourists are bringing Josh Tongue into the side to replace the injured Brydon Carse. This is a strategic shift, opting for a bowler with genuine wicket-taking ability over an all-rounder.

The decision highlights the pressure on the English bowling attack. With the series on the line, Stokes has backed the raw talent of Tongue.

"Josh [Tongue] has been knocking down the door with his performances in the nets and his domestic cricket. His wicket-taking ability is exactly what we need on this Adelaide surface," Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPN.

How to Watch for Australian Fans

For fans across Australia, tuning in is straightforward, but knowing the specifics helps. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has outlined the viewing logistics for the match. The Test commences on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

• Live Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket (Channel 501) and Kayo Sports.
• Free-to-Air: For those without a subscription, the match will also be available on the Seven Network (Channel 7 or 7mate) and streamed on 7plus.
• Radio Coverage: ABC Radio Grandstand will provide ball-by-ball commentary for those on the move.

Contextual Background: The Day-Night Fortress

To understand the weight of this match, one must look at the history of the Adelaide Oval and the day-night format. Since the inception of day-night Tests in 2015, Australia has been virtually unbeatable at this venue. The pink Kookaburra ball swings significantly under lights, often making batting in the final session of the day nearly impossible for visiting teams.

England’s history in day-night Tests in Australia is poor. They famously lost heavily here in 2017, and the memory of that collapse lingers. The "twilight session" is the key battleground. If England can survive the pink ball moving late in the day, they give themselves a chance. If not, Australia’s deep batting lineup will likely bat them out of the game.

The Josh Tongue Factor

The inclusion of Josh Tongue adds a layer of intrigue. Unlike the traditional English seamers who rely on line and length, Tongue is aggressive. He bowls with high pace and extracts bounce, attributes that are vital on the hard, true Adelaide pitch. While he lacks Test experience compared to some of his teammates, his "wicket-taking ability" — a phrase highlighted by Stokes in the ESPN report — makes him a dangerous X-factor.

Immediate Effects: The Pink Ball Pressure Cooker

The immediate impact of this Test will be felt in the World Test Championship standings, but more importantly, in the morale of both camps.

Australia’s Tactical Advantage

The Australian bowlers, led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, are masters of the pink ball. Their strategy will likely involve aggressive short-pitched bowling during the twilight session, exploiting the variable bounce and the fading light. The crowd in Adelaide is notoriously vocal, and the energy during the evening session can be deafening. This environment has historically rattled visiting batters, leading to technical errors and soft dismissals.

England’s Survival Mode

For England, the immediate effect of the team selection is a reliance on their pace attack to deliver. With Josh Tongue coming in, the burden on the experienced James Anderson (or the equivalent senior seamer) increases. They need to bowl Australia out cheaply to have any chance. Batting first, if they win the toss, becomes imperative. Chasing a target under lights in Adelaide is a nightmare scenario that England will be desperate to avoid.

Future Outlook: What’s at Stake?

Looking beyond this single match, the implications of the Adelaide Test are massive.

The Path to the Urn

If Australia wins, they hold a commanding 2-0 (or 1-0) lead, making the return of the urn almost a formality. The momentum would be entirely with the Baggy Greens, and England would have to win both remaining Tests to regain the Ashes—a feat rarely achieved in Australia.

If England manages to pull off a victory, the series becomes a dogfight. It validates their selection aggression and proves they can adapt to Australian conditions. It would also put immense pressure on Australia heading into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, a venue where the home team has also struggled recently.

The Legacy of the Day-Night Test

This match will also be watched closely by cricket administrators globally. Day-night Tests are designed to save the format and bring in crowds. A competitive, thrilling match in Adelaide with a packed house and a dramatic finish under lights serves as a perfect advertisement for the format. If the pink ball dominates too heavily and the game ends in three days, questions will be asked about the balance between bat and ball.

Conclusion

The third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval is more than just a cricket match; it is a tactical war fought under the unique challenge of the pink ball. With England bolstering their attack with the fiery Josh Tongue and Australia looking to exploit their fortress under the lights, fans can expect a fierce contest.

For Australian viewers, the stage is set for a summer spectacle. Whether you are tuning into 7plus for free or watching on Fox Cricket, the action promises to be gripping. As the sun sets over the Torrens and the floodlights bathe the field in white, the Ashes will hang in the balance.

Disclaimer: This article is based on verified reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, cricket.com.au, and ESPN as of mid-December 2025. Team selections and broadcast details are subject to change.