Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports
The Lions have history on their minds as they head into the third and final Test against the Wallabies determined to sweep a series for the first time in living memory, with Lee Calvert keeping the updates flowing. No Lions team has even gone unbeaten since Willie John McBride’s Invincibles in South Africa in 1974, when a controversial draw in the fourth match denied them the sweep. The Lions did sweep Argentina 4-0 in 1927 and also beat the Wallabies 2-0 three times in the 1950s and 1960s as part of losing tours of New Zealand, but you would need to go back to 1904 for the last 3-0 triumph on a trip solely to Australia. For Australia, Saturday is all about salvaging some pride after losing the second Test, and the series, to a last-minute try in Melbourne last week. The Wallabies have proved they can play by “winning” the second half of the opening Test 14-10 in Brisbane and taking a 23-5 lead after half an hour of the second in Melbourne. Reporting from Sydney are Robert Kitson, Gerard Meagher and Angus Fontaine.
After two weather-affected days of play at the Kia Oval, day three gets underway, with Tanya Aldred and Rob Smyth your over-by-over hosts. India have faced England in 14 matches at the Oval, and seven have ended in a draw. India only have two wins, and those came 50 years apart. In 1971, and more recently in 2021’s fourth Test. The tourists were then indebted to Shardul Thakur’s twin half-centuries that rescued a 100-run first-innings deficit. Our reporting team at the Oval is Ali Martin, Barney Ronay and Simon Burnton.
