Hazard man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Assessments at Adelaide Oval on Friday as Australia constructed a 356-run lead over England to face on the point of retaining the Ashes.
The host was 271-4 at stumps on day three of the third Take a look at with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey not out 52, taking the five-match collection out of England’s attain.
England should win after crashing inside two days on the first Take a look at in Perth and inside 4 in Brisbane, each by eight wickets.
Nevertheless it seems to be an unimaginable job with the best run chase on the floor 316 by Australia towards England in 1902.
Head’s essential ton, his eleventh, got here off a composed 146 balls though he nearly didn’t get there, dropped on 99 by Harry Brook as impatience received the higher of him.
He has now scored a century in 4 consecutive Assessments on his residence floor, following 140 towards India final 12 months and 119 and 175 towards the West Indies.
“The way in which Head has batted is subsequent degree, and he has proven us the way to go about it,” conceded England spin coach Jeetan Patel.
“Each recreation of Take a look at cricket we play, particularly out right here in Australia, requires heroes.
“And we haven’t had them simply but, however perhaps we can have them tomorrow and the day after.”
Australia suffered an early setback in a tense 20 minutes earlier than lunch after England was all out for 286 on the again of Ben Stokes’ gritty 83 in response to Australia’s first innings 371.
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Brydon Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one and he walked with out reviewing after the umpire lifted his finger, though replays confirmed the ball was pitching outdoors leg stump.
It gave England a glimmer of hope, however after the break, Head slammed the door shut, slicing and chopping boundaries to all corners of the bottom.
Marnus Labuschagne went for 13 when he edged Josh Tongue to Harry Brook at slip, with opinions displaying it carried.
Usman Khawaja, who hit a defiant 82 within the first innings after his last-minute call-up for the unwell Steve Smith, was an ideal foil for the extra aggressive Head.
However on 40, he was undone by the spin of Will Jacks, caught behind, and Cameron Inexperienced adopted quickly after for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.
After getting by the nervous 90s, Head lastly introduced up his century with a 4 off Joe Root, taking off his helmet and kissing the turf earlier than pumping his fists.
Whereas not in the identical vein as his match-winning 69-ball century in Perth, it was a vital knock, supported by Carey and aided by Stokes not bowling after his exploits with the bat.
Gutsy Stokes
Patel mentioned Stokes, who batted for 2 classes on Thursday in 40 Celsius warmth, didn’t have any harm.
“From what I perceive he’s match to bowl,” mentioned Patel.
“He’s simply knackered, he’s taken quite a bit out of himself to get so far within the recreation.”
On Friday’s resumption, Stokes and Jofra Archer stored England’s goals alive with a stirring 106-run ninth-wicket stand.
They resumed at 213-8 in muggy circumstances with Stokes not out 45 and Archer on 30.
Stokes, who suffered leg cramps and dehydration throughout his gutsy rearguard motion in sweltering 40 Celsius warmth on Thursday, introduced up his slowest ever 50 in Assessments, off 159 balls.
He stored plugging away however lastly fell when Mitchell Starc took the brand new ball and bowled him, with Stokes one of many few gamers who confirmed the struggle he had demanded earlier than the sport.
Archer was one other, ably serving to his captain.
The quick bowler was the final man out when caught by Labuschagne off Scott Boland for 51 — his highest Take a look at rating and a maiden half-century
Boland ended with 3-45 whereas Pat Cummins took 3-69 in his first Take a look at since July.
Printed on Dec 19, 2025