Australia captain Pat Cummins made an attacking early call on the morning of Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, introducing spin inside the first 10 overs as Nathan Lyon was brought into the attack with England at 41 for 1.
With England still trailing Australia by 330 runs, Cummins opted to apply immediate pressure by turning to Lyon in just the 10th over, a move that underlined Australia’s intent to dictate terms rather than settle into a defensive holding pattern. The off-spinner was welcomed with a packed catching cordon, including a slip and a short leg, as Australia looked to capitalise on any hesitation from the English batters.
At the crease, Ben Duckett continued to show positive intent, moving to 29 off 28 balls, while Ollie Pope struggled to find rhythm early. Lyon’s first delivery resulted in a single, but the presence of spin so early added a new dimension to the contest, especially on a surface expected to offer increasing assistance as the Test progresses.
Australia had earlier posted 371 in their first innings, built around Alex Carey’s counterattacking century and key contributions from Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc. England, already under scoreboard pressure, now face the challenge of navigating not just Australia’s pace attack but also Lyon’s control and subtle variations from the outset.
The early introduction of spin reflects Cummins’ aggressive captaincy approach and signals Australia’s intent to press for wickets rather than merely contain, even this early in England’s reply.
