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Ashes LIVE: All the most recent scores and updates as Australia sit on the verge of profitable the collection

Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest scores and updates from the third Ashes Test in Adelaide. 

 

Steve Smith could be OUT of the Test

Aussie cricket great turned commentator Kerry O’Keeffe has just reported that Smith could be out of the Test after failing to train due to a reported illness earlier this week.

‘Steve Smith had a long discussion with Pat Cummins regarding his fitness for this game. He walked away disconsolate after that discussion,’ O’Keeffe said.

‘There’s a suggestion that he was hit in the head at training, that there may be a possibility of a concussion … it could mean an 11th hour change to the Australian team.’

Australia's batsman Steve Smith waits to bat in the nets during a training session ahead of the third Ashes cricket Test match against England, at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on December 16, 2025. (Photo by William WEST / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

The big changes from both teams

The tourists have made only one change to the side that lost by eight wickets in Brisbane, bringing in Josh Tongue for his first game of the series in place of Gus Atkinson.

Australia have dropped opener Usman Khawaja after he faced calls to retire due his disastrous start to the series.

The opener, who turns 39 tomorrow, played golf for three days straight before the start of the first Test, then suffered back spasms that left him unable to open in either innings.

The same back problem then saw him ruled out of the victory in Brisbane.

Nathan Lyon (pictured below practising in Adelaide this morning) returns after being controversially dropped for the second Test in favour of fast bowler Michael Neser.

Nathan Lyon of Australia ahead of play on Day 1 of the Third Men's Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Wednesday, December 17, 2025. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

How the Bondi fallen will be remembered

Iconic Aussie singer John Williamson (pictured) will perform his famous song True Blue as a tribute to the victims when the match begins on Wednesday. Flags will also be flown at half-mast.

Daily Mail also understands players from both Australia and England will wear black armbands at Adelaide Oval.

‘This is a tragic time for all Australians and the thoughts of everyone in the cricket world are with the victims of this terrible event, their families, friends and the Jewish community,’ Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said.

‘While sport can seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay tribute, to console and to contemplate what we want our nation to be.’

John Williamson poses during the 47th Tamworth Country Music Festival in Tamworth, Friday, January 25, 2019. The 47th Tamworth Country Music Festival runs from January 18-27, with the Golden Guitar awards on Saturday, January 26. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne) NO ARCHIVING

Heightened security at Adelaide Oval

South Australian authorities have ramped up security at the ground in light of the atrocity at Bondi Beach on Sunday.

The SA Police’s Security Response Section (pictured, bottom), which features officers armed with rifles and wearing ballistic vests, will be deployed in and around Adelaide Oval today.

Officers patrolling the area (pictured top before the start of play today) will also have additional powers to use metal detectors to search people for weapons, order groups or individuals to leave the area, and ban people from the oval for 24 hours if they commit a public safety offence

Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - Third Test - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia - December 17, 2025 Police officers outside the Adelaide oval as fans arrive before the start of play REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
15383759 How Bondi Beach massacre has forced important change to Ashes Cricket Test

G’day and welcome

Thanks for joining the Daily Mail for our coverage of the third Ashes Test from Adelaide Oval.

A desperate England side will be trying to avoid losing the series in this match after crashing to losses in Perth and Brisbane.

It’s also sure to be a day of high emotion as tribute is paid to the innocent people who lost their lives in the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Key Updates

  • Steve Smith could be OUT of the Test
  • How the Bondi fallen will be remembered
  • Heightened security at Adelaide Oval

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