Adelaide is set to reach temperatures of 39C during day two of the third Ashes Test on Thursday. That is a soaring 14 degrees higher than the December average for the Australian city.

The record temperature for December in Adelaide is 45C, with Thursday's peak heat not far off that record, according to BBC Weather's Carol Kirkwood. Temperatures on day one hit 37C, with the final three days of the Test all set to peak below 30C.

As per clauses 2.7 and 2.8 of the ICC's Test Match Playing conditions, should weather conditions cause play to be deemed too dangerous by the match referee and umpires, the match will be suspended until conditions become safe enough to continue. The extreme heat will pose challenges to players in the sun for long periods of time.

England start day two just two wickets away from going into bat for their first innings, meaning they will want to take early wickets to be able to shelter the majority of their team from conditions for as long as possible.

"It feels like you are running into a hairdryer," former England bowler Isa Guha told BBC's Ashes debrief. She said she has previously played in hotter temperatures than Thursday's forecast - in both India and Australia. "You have got a bead on by the time you get to the crease. It is going to be tough work. It is easier for batters."

During day one, which came close to emulating day two's heat forecast, the stands at the Adelaide Oval contained significantly large sections of empty seats towards the close of play - possibly indicating fans leaving early or seeking shelter due to the heat. With even hotter temperatures scheduled for Thursday, it could limit the ability of the crowd to watch a full day's play.

The sun and heat makes batting much more favourable, so this could benefit England, who will start their innings on day two. But given how hot conditions are set to be, it could mean the pitch will deteriorate at a quicker rate, with big cracks being created by the dry heat of the soil.

That may see a bigger reliance on spin bowling, which will benefit Australia and spinner Nathan Lyon, who is seventh on the all-time leading Test wicket-takers list with 562 Test wickets.

Further on in the Test, England will have to turn to spin more than they would have done during the second innings. Their squad for the Third Test contains only part-time spin options in Will Jacks and Joe Root, rather than a frontline spinner.

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