England Faces Uphill Battle as Australia Sets 435-Run Target

England’s hopes of retaining the Ashes have been significantly challenged as Australia set a daunting target of 435 runs in the ongoing third Test at the Adelaide Oval. The Australian team concluded their second innings at 349 all out, bolstered by a remarkable performance from Travis Head, who scored 170 runs, and Alex Carey, who added a valuable 72 runs.

In his first appearance of the series, England’s pacer Josh Tongue showcased his bowling skills by securing a four-wicket haul. After taking just one wicket in the first innings, Tongue made an impact by dismissing key Australian players, including Marnus Labuschagne for 13 and Cameron Green for 7. He continued his success on the fourth day, claiming the wickets of Head and Josh Inglis, who scored 10 runs. Tongue finished the innings with figures of 4 for 70 from 18 overs, making him the standout bowler for England.

With this performance, Tongue has accumulated a total of 36 wickets across seven Test matches, maintaining an average of 29.55. His achievements include two five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls, with ten of those wickets coming in the Ashes series at an average of 28.50.

Despite Tongue’s efforts, Australia established a formidable total. Currently, they lead the five-match Ashes series 2-0. Should they win or draw this Test, they will retain the Ashes, having previously secured victories by eight wickets in both Perth and Brisbane.

England’s batting lineup has struggled against Australia’s potent bowling attack, leaving them on the brink of defeat in this critical match. The team will need to find a way to combat the pressure if they wish to keep their hopes of the series alive.