When is the Next Ashes Test? TV Channel, Date, Start Time for Australia vs England

The Ashes urn is glowing red-hot for Australia and ice-cold for England. After two devastating defeats in Brisbane and Perth, England’s tour is in a state of emergency. A ruthless Australian side, excelling with bat, ball, and in the field, has secured a commanding 2-0 lead, leaving England’s hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads. The series now pivots to a critical juncture, a day-night spectacle under lights, where England must summon a historic revival or face the grim reality of the urn slipping away. Here is your complete guide to the next, potentially decisive, chapter of the 2023-24 Ashes.

The State of Play: A Mountain to Climb for England

The numbers are stark and the history is ominous. To win the series from here, England must triumph in three consecutive Test matches on Australian soil—a feat accomplished only once in the long, storied history of the Ashes, by Don Bradman’s Australia in the 1936-37 series. For England, the task is Herculean. In Brisbane, their batting frailties were exposed on a green-top, while in Perth, a combination of relentless Australian pace and a monumental double-century from Marnus Labuschagne sealed their fate inside four days. England’s batting lineup has failed to post a single total over 300, and their much-vaunted pace attack has struggled for consistent penetration against a deep and in-form Australian batting order. The pink-ball Test in Adelaide now presents a unique challenge and, perhaps, a final opportunity for redemption.

Next Test: All the Essential Viewing Details

The series moves to the picturesque Adelaide Oval for a day-night contest, a format where Australia boasts a formidable unbeaten record. Mark your calendars and set your alarms.

Date & Venue: The third Test begins on Thursday, December 14th, 2023, at the Adelaide Oval.

Start Time:

• Local Time (ACDT): 2:30 PM
• UK Time (GMT): 4:00 AM (Thursday morning)
• Eastern US Time (EST): 11:00 PM (Wednesday night)

TV Channel & Live Stream:

• In the UK: Live coverage will be broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available on the Sky Go app.
• In Australia: The Seven Network holds the exclusive free-to-air rights, with live streaming on 7plus. Fox Sports and Kayo Sports will also provide comprehensive coverage.
• In the US: Willow TV is the primary broadcaster for the series.

Expert Analysis: What England Must Change in Adelaide

The post-mortems from Perth have been brutal. For England to stand any chance, radical improvement is non-negotiable. The day-night conditions in Adelaide offer a slight unknown. The pink ball can swing prodigiously under lights, which should, in theory, suit England’s seamers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were curiously overlooked in Perth. Their experience with the Kookaburra ball in twilight will be crucial.

However, the real crisis is with the bat. Captain Joe Root has carried the lineup, but his support has been vanishingly thin. The top order, including Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, looks technically ill-equipped for the extra bounce and pace. A change in personnel seems inevitable. The middle-order, barring Root, has been porous. The tourists must find a way to blunt the Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, who have hunted as a devastating pack.

For Australia, the formula is simple: continue. Their batting is deep and confident, their bowling attack is arguably the world’s best, and their catching has been spectacular. The potential return of David Warner from injury would only strengthen their hand. Their strategy will be to exploit England’s fragile confidence early under the Adelaide lights and secure the urn with two Tests to spare.

Predictions and Series Outlook

The cold, hard prediction is that Australia will secure the Ashes in Adelaide. They are a team operating at near-peak efficiency, while England are searching for answers in all departments. The Adelaide Oval pitch is typically good for batting for the first two days before offering more to the bowlers, and the night session will be a lottery England cannot afford to lose.

If England can somehow rally, win the toss, and post a mammoth first-innings total—a huge “if”—they could apply scoreboard pressure. But based on the evidence of the first two Tests, Australia’s attack is too disciplined and their batters too resilient to let such a scenario unfold. The most likely outcome is another comprehensive Australian victory, wrapping up the series and retaining the Ashes before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

For England, the goal may have to shift from series victory to salvaging pride. Avoiding a 5-0 whitewash, a result that would echo the disastrous 2013-14 tour, must now be a primary objective. The character of this team, and the leadership of Root and coach Chris Silverwood, will be tested like never before.

Conclusion: A Last Stand Under Lights

The third Ashes Test in Adelaide is not just another match; it is England’s last stand. The date, time, and channel are set for what could be the coronation of a dominant Australian team or the beginning of a miraculous sporting fightback. All evidence points towards the former. Australia have been clinical, powerful, and utterly superior. England, wounded and on the ropes, must find a level of performance they have not shown on this tour to delay the inevitable. Tune in early on Thursday morning (UK time) to witness whether the Ashes narrative takes a dramatic twist or reaches its foregone conclusion under the iconic Adelaide lights.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.

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