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The cricketers are preparing to step onto the pitch for an extended first session scheduled to run for two and a half hours. If Travis Head is batting at lunch, Australia will be strapped into the driving seat.

A Pink Outpouring of Support

The SCG is observing Jane McGrath Day today, with spectators adorned in pink in solidarity with the McGrath Foundation. The day honors the charity's dedication to offering support for cancer patients.

A fan dressed in all pink arrives at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A Heated Exchange Mars the Evening

It was hard to know whether it was a message to Australia or his own bowlers. England's captain concluded a annoying day's end in Sydney by exchanging remarks out in the middle with Marnus Labuschagne. Appearing to respond to a comment by Labuschagne, Stokes was heard saying “shut the fuck up” as the over concluded. He subsequently approached and placed a hand on the batsman's shoulder to prolong the conversation.

As the umpires moved in, Stokes walked away after giving Labuschagne a squeeze. As per the ICC code of conduct, the England captain could be reprimanded for “inappropriate physical contact”.

Questions Over Australia's Bowling Tactics

When Shane Warne called his biography No Spin, it wasn’t a recommendation. Speaking for the dead is unacceptably presumptuous, but his record in life was loud and clear in supporting fellow spinners. Teams should always give themselves the option of spin bowling was his common contention.

Loyalty to a bowling type isn't the sole consideration. Former pace colleague Jason Gillespie echoed the sentiment observing the Sydney Test. “You need that variety,” he said on radio.

The hosts lacked that option. Their attack featured a trio of pace specialists, two all-rounders used in puzzling roles and some token part-time bowling. They permitted England's batting to accelerate, with substantial partnerships while Joe Root went on to his highest score in Australia of 160 and England their highest score of the series, 384.

It would have been helpful to turn to specialist spin when Root and Harry Brook were coasting. It would have been helpful to save Mitchell Starc from bowling a fourth spell.

Preamble: A Session of Significance

Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three at the SCG. There’s a big first session coming, yet one cannot ignore the series finale atmosphere that has pervaded this Test so far.

We’re used to anticlimactic final Tests, particularly when England play in Australia. This one seems particularly subdued, mainly because there was such expectation. Two dead rubbers? It defies our predictions when we were imagining the 2025-26 Ashes.

There isn’t even the jeopardy of a possible series sweep; the outcome will be either 4-1 or 3-2 to Australia. Right here, right now, 4-1 looks more likely. An underwhelming display with the ball from England let Australia race to 166 for two, trailing by 218 runs, in only 34.1 overs. Travis Head is unbeaten on 91 from 87 balls; the nightwatchman Michael Neser has 1 from 15.

Neser received a painful blow to the elbow just before the close, highlighting that the surface – though generally batsman-friendly – is on the capricious side. If England, particularly Matthew Potts, find their length this morning they can force their way back into the game.

In the context of the match, the morning's play is vital. It’s just that the match isn’t as big as we hoped.