Travis Head continued his Adelaide dominance with a brilliant century to power Australia to a commanding position on the third day of the third Ashes Test. Head’s unbeaten 142, combined with Alex Carey’s 52*, saw the hosts reach 271 for 4 in their second innings, extending their lead over England to 356 runs and leaving the tourists on the ropes.
England had shown fleeting hope early in the day. A resilient 106-run stand between Ben Stokes (83) and Jofra Archer (51) briefly brought the deficit below 100, providing a glimpse of the kind of aggressive batting that has defined the Bazball era. But once Mitchell Starc dismissed Stokes, the tail failed to sustain the fight. Archer fell soon after, and the partnership dissolved, handing Australia control.
For Head, this was yet another chapter in a remarkable Adelaide story. His second century of the series marked his fourth in just six innings at the ground, joining legends like Don Bradman, Michael Clarke, and Steven Smith in the rare feat of scoring hundreds in four consecutive Tests at the same venue. Head was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook at gully but made no mistake thereafter, punishing loose deliveries and dispatching part-time spinners like Will Jacks and Joe Root over the ropes to reach his milestone off 146 balls.
Australia’s innings had its moments of uncertainty. Marnus Labuschagne laboured before edging to slip, while Cameron Green struggled early, edging a half-volley to complete a disappointing outing with the bat. Yet Head and Carey’s unbroken 122-run partnership extinguished any hope of a late England revival, allowing Australia to accumulate 152 runs in the final session alone.
England’s bowlers offered glimpses of fightback but were unable to maintain pressure. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse had brief successes, but Head and Carey punished any loose deliveries with precision. With Cummins, Starc, and Lyon operating in tandem, Australia’s bowlers remain poised to wrap up the series, and England now face an uphill task to salvage pride in the remaining sessions.
As Australia march toward a likely 3-0 Ashes retention, Head’s Adelaide fortress shows no sign of faltering, and the hosts are firmly in control heading into the weekend.
Scorecard snapshot:
- Australia 1st innings: 371
- England 1st innings: 286
End of Day 3: Australia 2nd innings – 271/4
- Travis Head 142*
- Alex Carey 52*
Australia lead by 356 runs.
