The hosts ensure they would retain the Ashes urn until they next tour England in 2027.

Australia won the first two Tests by eight wickets in Perth and Brisbane.

Cummins is the only addition to an otherwise unchanged squad from Brisbane, where Australia won by eight wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The story of England’s tour so far has been one of flashes -- brief moments of belief, quickly swallowed by pressure.

Four years on, Bazball is now in the firing line, with former players and pundits decrying the high-risk game on Australia's spicy pitches.

The team's every move is being scrutinised on the five-Test Ashes tour, with players followed through the airport, on golf courses and on a trip to an aquarium.

England fell 1-0 down in the five-match series following a humiliating eight-wicket loss to Australia inside two days in last month's first Test in Perth.

Under the governing body's four-tier rating system "very good" is the highest possible, characterising a pitch with "good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match".

"It is simple. Brainless batting and bowling lost England the match."

"Little bit shell-shocked, it was pretty phenomenal from Head," Stokes said.

It is the first time Australia have chosen multiple debutants in a Test since early 2019.

In-form batsman Marnus Labuschagne was recalled, but young opener Sam Konstas was dropped.

Inglis hammered an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls as Australia pulled off the biggest chase in a men's tournament held by the International Cricket Council.

The current ODI world champions suffered huge blows ahead of the 50-over tournament when they lost fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to ankle and hip injuries respectively and Mitchell Starc, who is out due to personal reasons.

Warner bowed out of international cricket with Australia's exit from the T20 World Cup, and the hard-hitting Fraser-McGurk has been seen as his natural successor following his sensational Indian Premier League campaign.

The defending champions have just one win from six matches and a loss to Australia in Ahmedabad on Saturday will confirm that their meek title defence is over.

Stokes took to social media in the middle of the night to make it clear there was no snub intended because England players eventually met up with their Australian counterparts at a nightclub.

"Another wonderful game, right down to the wire," Cummins said. "Stokesy gave us a few heart-stopping moments and the crowd seemed to enjoy it."

Batting in partnership with fast bowler Mitchell Starc, Lyon, playing in his 100th consecutive test match, looked like a sitting duck as he fended off some hostile bowling

Usman Khawaja was the pick of the batters, racking up 58 not out, while England's bogeyman Steve Smith was on six when the rain brought the day's play to an end