LIVE: Inglis' "wasted innings" brings Cummins to crease

• LISTEN LIVE: Every ball of the third Test
• Australia bat first after Steve Smith's withdrawl due to illness
• Openers fall early with Jofra Archer England's main weapon
• Usman Khawaja falls for 82 afte replacing Smith in the XI

Australia only need a draw in Adelaide to retain the Ashes. Will England show up?

The visitors have made just one change for the Adelaide Oval showdown with Gus Atkinson dropped in favour of pace bowler Josh Tongue, while Australia welcome back Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja. Steve Smith was a late out on the morning of Day 1 due to illness.

Eight wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane have put Australia in an incredibly fortunate position with talk of a potential whitewash on the horizon should things go their way in South Australia.

Follow all the action from Day 1 below.

4:41pm - Cummins burns review on short-leg catch

Australia 7/271 - Carey 85, Starc to the crease

Captain Cummins departs for 13 after clipping one into his thigh, bobbing straight to Ollie Pope at short-leg.

Bizarrely, the skipper reviewed almost straight away when snicko showed a clear edge.

Australia have two reviews remaining while England have just one.

England must clean up the tail here, something they've struggled to do on occasion.

Starc makes his way to the crease.

4:16pm - Tongue does the damage as Inglis chops on

Australia 6/244 - Carey 71, Cummins to the crease

Josh Tongue proved a wise bowling change from Ben Stokes as he removes Josh Inglis for 32 chopping on.

Damien Fleming thinks the Western Australian will rue that dismissal as the English began to tire and the Aussies looked to have things under control.

"That's a wasted innings for Josh Inglis... he was doing it easy," Fleming said on SEN Cricket.

Pat Cummins joins the cruising Alex Carey who is on 71.

3:37pm - Carey gets back-to-back 50's

Australia 5/197 - Carey 51, Inglis 5

Alex Carey makes his 14th Test half-century in front of his home crowd. He continues a solid counter-attack from the Aussies after a 91-run partnership between Carey and Khawaja.

The two best wicket keepers in Australia are looking solid.

TEA

3:11 - England's session, just

Australia 5/194 - Carey 48, Inglis 5

The second session is complete, and you've probably got to give the nod to England.

The Poms took 3/100 that session, and while the Aussies scored relatively easily, they really should have done better.

This partnership is now crucial for the home side. How long it lasts in the upcoming third session could really make or break this game.

Carey is looking great in the middle again, he'd love to go on with it after Khawaja missed out.

2:59pm - Khawaja goes!

Australia 5/185 - Carey 44, Inglis to the crease

Usman Khawaja misses a golden opportunity to make a return century, falling for 82 in the deep from the bowling of Will Jacks.

It's another soft-ish dismissal, with Khawaja out sweeping. Josh Tongue grabs it at deep mid-wicket.

"He looked so comfortable before that." - Adam Collins.

It's another wicket for England just as Australia were getting on top.

The two glovemen will now combine in the middle before Australia's tail are exposed.

2:44 - Aussies taking a liking to Will Jacks

Australia 4/180 - Khawaja 80, Carey 42

England's spinner is beginning to put in a shift, but that doesn't seem to be worrying the Aussies.

From six overs so far, Jacks has gone for 38 runs. While there's an argument he's bowling to Australia's two best players of spin, going at more than a run a ball won't please his captain.

Perhaps Australia have a plan to get on top of the spinner, who has been picked somewhat as an all-round option, to force England to tire out their quicks in the 35 degree heat.

2:27 - 150 up for Australia

Australia 4/159 - Khawaja 69, Carey 37

This is the big partnership for Australia, and it's now passed 60 in less than half a session.

The score has also ticked over 150, and they'll need to keep going here for the next little bit if the Aussies are to reach a score that starts with a three.

Both batsmen appear to be doing it fairly easily. One of them simply has to go on with it an dbe the batter that the rest of the team builds around this innings.

1:55 - Fifty up for Uzzie

Australia 4/129 - Khawaja 50, Carey 26

Usman Khawaja has raised the bat after passing fifty from 81 balls.

After being dropped early, the veteran has made the most of his chance in the middle order after getting a late recall into the side due to Steve Smith's illness.

It's the first time he's made a half century in 2025.

"He got his recall this morning and he's making the most of it, he reaches 50 for the 44th time in Test cricket," Adam Collins said.

"He's giving himself a wonderful opportunity in great batting conditions."

He may need to go on with things and notch a big score if the Aussies are to reach a score that they'll consider par in these conditions.

1:14 - Another one!

Australia 4/94 - Khawaja 41, Carey to the crease

Green shells a catch to Brydon Carse at mid-wicket again!

The No. 5 falls just two balls after Marnus Labuschagne, with Jofra Archer grabbing another.

The big right hander clipped it off his pads comfortably at a catchable height, and Carse grabbed it easily diving to his right.

It's the worst start possible for the Aussies. Alex Carey to the crease.

1:11pm - Shocking dismissal for Marnus

Australia 3/94 - Khawaja 41, Green to the crease

A horror start for the Aussies after Lunch, Marnus Labuschagne bunts one to mid-wicket off the bowling of Jofra Archer. The first delivery after the main break!

That's the worst dismissal we've seen this summer. A rank half tracker, and Labuschagne barely plays through the ball. Brydon Carse takes the easiest catch you'll see at mid-wicket.

"Complete disbelief, a horrible shot from a rank half tracker. Labuschagne give his wicket away for 19," Gerard Whateley.

"I can't believe what I've just seen there, that was like catching practice in the morning. First ball after Lunch... that's just a brain fade," Simon Katich.

LUNCH

12:32 - Aussies regain the momentum

Australia 2/94 - Khawaja 41, Labuschagne 19

After a shaky start, Australia have rebuilt to get to a solid position at Lunch.

Having come into the side late, Khawaja looks the pick of the batters, reaching 41 not out from 55 balls at the main break. After being dropped on 5, that could prove incredibly costly.

Marnus Labuschagne is battling with him at the crease. It was a fairly even session, although Simon Katich thinks Australia can now build from here across the day.

"England would have been happy with two wickets, but it feels like Australia have taken some momentum here with a partnership of more than 50," Katich said.

"I think both teams will be relatively happy, but I think Australia are in a good position because they are batting first and it's going to be a hot afternoon."

12:15 - Will someone cash in?

Australia 2/72 - Khawaja 25, Labuschagne 13

This looks a very good deck to bat on. Well, at least a lot more favourable than what we saw in both Perth and Brisbane.

The bowlers aren't getting a heap of seam movement despite a hint of grass covering the wicket... and don't forget it's 35 degress today in the City of Churches.

Unfortunately for Australia, they haven't set themselves up all that well to take advantage of it early on Day 1, losing both openers.

If these two can bat until Lunch, and then go on from there, it feels like there's a big score available to someone in Australia's middle order.

11:55 - Drop!

Australia 2/52 - Labuschagne 12, Khawaja 6

Harry Brook has put down Usman Khawaja on 5 in the slips!

Josh Tongue got the left-hander's edge, and while the ball went at a nice level to second slip, Brook put him down while diving to his left.

While it wasn't an easy chance, it really should have been taken.

"That's a bad miss by Harry Brook... he's moving away to his left, it's pretty regulation, he should have swallowed that up," Gerard Whateley said.

Was this the chance Khawaja needed to get going?

11:35 - Can Khawaja make the most of great record at No.4?

Australia 2/37 - Labuschagne 1, Khawaja 3

Usman Khawaja is batting at No. 4 after replacing Steve Smith in the Aussie XI.

While he’s opened in recent years, No. 4 has been his preferred spot in professional cricket.

Tom Morris revealed his brilliant First-Class stats in the slot. Currently on 3 not out, can he go on with it in Adelaide?

11:17 - That's a screamer!

Austrlaia 2/33 - Labuschagne 0, Khawaja to the crease

What a catch by Zak Crawley in extra cover!

Head departs for 10 after trying to slash through the off-side. Brydon Carse gets his first wicket of the day.

"He's dragged that in an inch above the turf at cover-point, he got a good chunk of it, Travis Head," Adam Collins said.

"Usman Khawaja, what a morning he's had, he gets to the crease now."

WATCH THE GRAB HERE.

11:11am - Archer removes Weatherald

Australia 1/33 - Head 10, Labuschagne to the crease

Jake Weatherald is out, with Jofra Archer getting the opener out caught by keeper Jamie Smith.

Weatherald tried to turn a short ball down to fine leg, with the ball ballooning off his glove for an easy take for Smith.

The left-hander departs for 18, Marnus Labuschagne heads to the crease.

10:58 - Katich: Get Carse off

Australia 0/29 - Head 8, Weatherald 17

Simon Katich has not liked what he's seen from England opener Brydon Carse this morning.

The big quick has bowled three overs and has already leaked 24 runs.

Coming around the wicket, Carse has barely hit a good length, with Jake Weatherald pouncing on some short balls this over with brilliant cut shots.

"It's time for Ben Stokes to step in, it's not good enough," Katich said on SEN Cricket.

"This is what we saw at the Gabba. This is absolute rubbish from him. He's got to rip him off here, this is a poor start and they're giving Australia the momentum."

10:45am - England's lengths questioned

Australia 0/10 - Weatherald 4, Head 4

Three overs in, and England are bashing a real back of a length area.

Damien Fleming is urging the opposition to pitch it up to bring mistakes from the batters.

"If you get to Lunch and the opposition is one down, it's a long way to go," Fleming said.

"He (Archer) has been bowling too short, it's not giving you the chance to get bowled, LBW or caught behind."

10:31am - Play underway

Australia 0/0 - Weatherald and Head at the crease

Jofra Archer has sent down the first ball to Travis Head.

The delivery comes in at 135.8km/h, let's see if he ramps it up here.

It's 35 degrees and sunny in Adelaide today. If the Aussies can bat long, it will be tough going for the visitors.

10:20am - Adelaide Oval silence

The Adelaide Oval crowd and both teams stood in complete silence to pay respects to the Bondi massacre victims.

Australian music icon also put in a touching tribute with his song, 'True Blue'.

"A beautiful choice in the circumstances." - Gerard Whateley.

10:00am - Change confirmed as Aussies bat first

Pat Cummins has won the toss and has chosen to bat first in Adelaide.

Usman Khawaja is into the side and will bat at number four, with Steve Smith confirmed out due to illness.

9:42 - Shock change confirmed

Steve Smith has left the Adelaide Oval.

Usman Khawaja will replace him in the Australian XI.

It's a stunning reprieve for the veteran who only yesterday seemed destined to never play another Test match.

9:38am - Every sign pointing towards Smith missing out

After speaking to coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith hasn't been sighted on the Adelaide Oval.

His likely replacement Usman Khawaja is now out on the field warming up.

"Judging by that vision, Smith didn’t look that well really. I don’t know if its illness or concussion," Simon Katich told SEN Cricket.

"We will find out soon but it doesn’t look good. Khawaja is out there and strapping his fingers, that’s gives away a few signs. Looks like there is a late change."

It also appears that Smith has left the ground with his backpack.

9:22am - Smith in doubt for Test

Steve Smith is in doubt for the Adelaide Test with less than one hour to go before the toss.

Smith had been reported unwell in the days leading into the third Test but he also copped a ball to the abdomen in the nets on Tuesday.

If he misses, Usman Khawaja is expected to replace him.

“He was talking with McDonald and Cummins before leaving the field. Smith would have to be on his death bed to miss a Test like this,” Gerard Whateley said on SEN’s coverage.

9:15am - Incredible stat in Aussies’ favour

England have not won a third Test in Australia the 1965-66 series. That’s 60 years ago…

That victory came at the SCG in January of 1966, with the Poms winning by an innings and 93 runs.

Since then, Australia has won nine third Ashes Tests down under. Four have ended in draws, while one was abandoned due to weather.

Even more concerningly for England, the Aussies have won seven third Ashes Tests in Australia in a row.

Can England turn that around here? Or will their poor record in third Ashes Tests down under continue to haunt them in Adelaide?

Bondi tributes in Adelaide

Cricket Australia have confirmed singing icon John Williamson will perform True Blue before play gets under way as part of a tribute to honour the victims of the Bondi terror attack.

“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.

“I’m grateful John has agreed to perform True Blue, which has at its essence the ideal of Australians from all backgrounds sharing the same hopes and aspirations.

“As John said recently, I believe in a multicultural society, one where all Australians come together in unity to celebrate our unique multicultural nature and freedoms.

“We will continue to look at ways cricket can support and honour those who have been affected by the Bondi shootings and thank those who provided assistance during and since this tragedy.”

Players from both side will wear black armbands throughout the Test.