Jofra Archer finally made an impression in Adelaide, but England’s prospects of winning the Ashes again are in shambles, and captain Ben Stokes looks furious as plans go astray. On the first day of the third Test, the fast bowler gave an outstanding performance, cleaning out the Australian tail to record his best Test statistics in six years.
Even though the right-arm bowler took five wickets for the first time since 2019, Stokes was clearly frustrated when he and Brydon Carse gave up runs late in the Australian innings.
Early on the second day, Archer and Stokes got into a heated argument on the pitch.
On the second morning, Mitchell Starc, who for the first time in his career achieved consecutive Test fifties, took advantage of the situation by hitting Archer and Carse for a barrage of boundaries. Stokes was dissatisfied with the bowling discipline because Australia had already surged to quick runs even though Archer eventually bowled Starc with an excellent delivery.
“There was a communication breakdown. “Whether they have plans and haven’t carried them out, or Jofra says, ‘I need a third man,’ Stokes responded, ‘Nope, that’s where I wanted you to bowl,'” Mark Waugh stated during Kayo Sports’ The Ashes coverage.
Heated argument between Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.🥵🥶#Ashes #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/LfleIpAI9Q
— kuldeep singh (@kuldeep0745) December 18, 2025
With stats of 3 for 29 from 16 overs at the start of the day and 5 for 53 from 20.2 overs at the end, Archer trapped Nathan Lyon lbw for nine with yet another excellent delivery. But in just over eight overs, Australia scored a further 45 runs, raising their total to 372.
The Adelaide Oval crowd gave Archer a standing ovation as he left the pitch, bringing back memories of his spectacular debut in Test cricket during the 2019 Ashes. He took 22 wickets in four Test matches against Australia during that series, including a career-high 6 for 45 from 17 overs that gave England an exciting victory at Leeds.
Archer made just 11 Test appearances between that Ashes series and his return to Australia last month, and he found it difficult to keep up his pace and rhythm in the lead-up to the third Test. In Adelaide, Archer was expected to step up, according to former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee, who thought the fast bowler was more suited to do so after playing the first two Test matches and developing match sharpness.
He deserved the “five fa” because of his excellent bowling. He threw the ball upward. He bowled at a decent velocity. He appeared to have mastered the rhythm during the two practice Test matches. This is a unique occasion. It’s good when you can raise the ball and receive a ‘five fa’. He deserves the “five fa” because of his hard work and the scorching weather. Lee stated on Fox Sports, “Well bowled.”
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