The Ashes

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Australia may be about to seal series victory in the Ashes, but sections of the stands at the Adelaide Oval are currently closed on day five of third Test.

In common with many national boards around the world, Cricket Australia do not sell tickets for day five of Tests far in advance, therefore they rely on supporters picking up seats once the match is under way.

As of 2024, only 30% of Tests go to a fifth day, external, therefore the sales strategy reflects the likelihood of fans planning far in advance to attend a day's play that might not be staged.

For those in the Adelaide area, entry is $30 (approx. £15) for adults with children aged 15 and under admitted free.

All proceeds from day five tickets sales will be donated to charity.

The South Australian venue has enjoyed bumper crowds at this Test match, with the days one-four attendance total of 202,995 a record for the ground.

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England opener Zak Crawley says Australia's bowling attack is the best he has played against in his 62-Test career.

Crawley hit 85 in England's second innings in the third Test but it does not look like being enough to prevent the tourists losing the Ashes at the earliest opportunity.

Key to Australia's success in the third Test in Adelaide in particular has been the relentless skill of their bowlers: seamers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Cameron Green, plus spinner Nathan Lyon.

"They're phenomenal, they're the best bowling attack I've played against for sure, especially in these conditions when it was spinning like that for Lyon," Crawley told TNT Sports.

"They don't give you anything, they make the ball move. We knew we had to be at our best and unfortunately we were just short of that.

"In fairness to them they've been phenomenal in the last three games."

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Shoaib Bashir would have bowled better than Will Jacks in the third Ashes Test, according to ex-England spinner Phil Tufnell.

Jacks has been ineffective in Adelaide, returning 3-212 from his 39 overs on a pitch that is already offering turn for the spinners.

England preferred Surrey all-rounder Jacks over 22-year-old Bashir, who has taken 69 Test wickets since being identified as the kind of bowler England might need down under.

"Everybody knows at Adelaide you play a spinner," Tufnell told BBC Test Match Special.

"I can understand not playing a spinner at Perth and perhaps not playing a spinner at Brisbane.

"To not play a full-time recognised spin bowler in Adelaide - I think there is a bit of clogging up with selection.

"I'm not having a go at Will Jacks because he has not got the tools to do it. But why has Bashir become unselectable?

"If Bashir is not going to play here, why is he here in the first place? No disrespect to Jacks, but Bashir would have bowled better than Jacks. He is a bowler, and it is in his blood."

Another former England spinner, Graeme Swann, agreed and said any excuses that the domestic system is to blame for a lack of options is wrong.

"The excuse is always rolled out that spinners can't bowl at the start and the end of the season," said Swann, speaking on TNT Sports.

"It's a soft excuse. If you can't bowl at all times, find a role for yourself as the spinner in the team or you won't get picked.

"They don't bowl but that is more to do with the way they're captained and fields are set that doesn't allow them to get overs under their belt.

"The way spin is viewed in England is fundamentally wrong in county cricket and has been for a long time.

"I grew up having to bowl early season and squeeze out 15 overs and try to find a way, not having the excuse of, 'It's April so we can't play spin'."