Another day of 'what ifs' in England's Ashes summer

Ben Stokes finally dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, who was caught in the gully after flashing at a wide delivery. Until then, Labuschagne had been in his best touch of the series, playing a fluent innings alongside Travis Head and threatening to put Australia in a commanding position as bad light loomed.

The dismissal followed a heated exchange between Labuschagne and Stokes. The England captain was heard telling Labuschagne he had held him up multiple times before telling him to "shut the f@#k up," with umpire Ahsan Raza eventually intervening. The next over, a distracted Labuschagne flashed at a wide ball from Josh Tongue and fell shortly after.

Stokes had won the battle, but his frustration was evident. It stemmed not only from Labuschagne but more so from his bowlers, who let him down on a deteriorating SCG pitch—a surface Australia's Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser had exploited brilliantly to trigger England's late collapse.

England's start was poor. Brydon Carse and Matty Potts struggled with the new ball; Carse lacked consistency, while Potts looked overwhelmed, conceding four boundaries in his first three overs to a proactive Travis Head. By the time Stokes turned to Josh Tongue, Australia was off to a flier.

Once again, England built momentum only to hand it back to Australia—a recurring theme this Ashes summer, leaving the visitors to reflect on missed opportunities where they lacked the discipline, courage, and quality to capitalize.

With the bat, Joe Root scored his second century of the tour at the SCG, a statement innings where he played with familiar fluency, caressing deliveries behind square and adapting seamlessly to the pitch. However, like at the Gabba, he lacked lasting support.

Harry Brook and Jamie Smith built notable partnerships with Root, with the Root-Brook stand being the highest of the series. Yet, when it mattered, the middle order faltered. Brook fell to a lazy shot off Boland, and Smith's dismissal was a misadventure for the ages.

After surviving a chaotic over from Cameron Green, Smith chose to attack a short ball from Labuschagne with the second new ball imminent, skying it straight to Boland at deep extra cover. The reckless shot left Root stranded and cost England a likely 400+ score, instead leaving the door ajar for Australia.

At stumps, Australia, led by a century-bound Travis Head, had batted their way back into the contest. Play ended under gloomy skies as a light drizzle arrived, with Stokes throwing his hands up in dismay—his exasperation likely directed less at Australia or the umpires, and more at his own team for another opportunity blown away.