Ashes 2025 live score: England made to toil as Australia lead continues to grow on day three

A single apiece to Australia’s last men standing as Will Jacks twirls in again. Jacks has bowled decently, finding good flight and drift at times, although neither batter is unduly concerned.

That’s 4-146 for Brydon Carse now, closing in on a five-for to…well, probably not savour, but a five-for nonetheless. Brendan Doggett is the new man, and off the mark with a couple after catapulting a short ball to long leg.

Heavens, he’s gone! Just about! Mitchell Starc finally makes an error, failing to time a slap from wide outside off stump and skewing it high in the air. Two England fielders almost get themselves in a horrible tangle but Ben Stokes, the larger of them, bashes Ben Duckett aside and clings on to the catch.

An outstanding knock from Mitchell Starc, though, continuing a sterling series. 13 fours in his 77 from 141 balls.

There is a bit of speculation about a declaration, curiously, with Steve Smith surely minded to just let these two plough on. Mitchell Starc has had a bit of treatment on his right elbow, and looks in slight discomfort as he strides through for the sole single of Will Jacks’s eighth over.

Mitchell Starc lifts Gus Atkinson back over his head for four to move into the 70s. Gus Atkinson responds with a short ball that would have gone over the head of Yao Ming. A wide.

Four more for Starc, this time lofted over mid-on. Some shot, that, and the pose is held for the cameras. Starc’s begin to open up his arms. This is now the longest partnership of the series. A quick single allows Starc to keep the strike and move on to 76, with an errant throw striking him on the rump of the back.

Nathan Lyon has perched himself alongside Alex Carey down near the boundary as England’s off-spinner Will Jacks continues to whir away without success. Jacks does manage to beat the edge of Scott Boland as the Australia No 10 props forward outside off stump.

Mitchell Starc now has more runs from No 9 than any other Test cricketer, going past Stuart Broad. He’s batted at No 8 a fair bit, too – he and Pat Cummins, when fit, really do deepen the Australian order.

The shadows continue to lengthen on the Gabba outfield.

Scotty Boland blocks back Will Jacks’s sixth over. A maiden.

We said earlier that Mitchell Starc is continuing to climb that list of top Test run-scorers without a ton, but he’s beginning to threaten to drop off it – two gorgeous drives through the covers move him on to 65. It’s getting ugly for England.

Here is how he went to 50:

Mitchell Starc brings up the 50 partnership with a little nurdle to leg. And how about that from Scott Boland – too wide and too full from Will Jacks, and driven with elan wide of mid-off for four.