Travis Head once again proved England’s tormentor-in-chief, smashing a commanding century to push Australia into an overwhelming position in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide and leave the visitors’ hopes of salvaging the series in tatters.
Head’s unbeaten 142 powered Australia to 271 for four in their second innings by stumps on day three, stretching the lead to a daunting 356 runs with six wickets still in hand. With two Tests remaining, the hosts are now firmly on course to retain the Ashes in emphatic fashion.
England arrived in Adelaide already under pressure after a chastening defeat in the day-night Test in Brisbane, and their task became steeper following another batting collapse. In reply to Australia’s first-innings total of 371, England slumped to 213 for eight by the end of day two, undoing much of their work on a surface well suited to batting.
Ben Stokes once again led by example, compiling a resolute 83 and sharing a spirited 106-run stand for the ninth wicket with Jofra Archer, who struck a fluent 51. That partnership briefly revived England’s hopes on the third morning, closing the gap to just 85 runs.
Australia quickly reasserted control. Brydon Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw in a testing spell before lunch, and Josh Tongue struck soon after the break to remove Marnus Labuschagne cheaply. But any sense of momentum for England evaporated as Head settled in.
On a true batting track, Head capitalised fully, registering his 11th Test hundred — his fourth against England and remarkably his fourth consecutive century in an Adelaide Test. He found valuable support from Usman Khawaja, who made 40, and Alex Carey, who followed up his first-innings century with another assured unbeaten 52.
England did manage a brief burst of success when Will Jacks dismissed Khawaja and Tongue removed Cameron Green in successive overs early in the evening session. However, by then the damage had largely been done, with Australia’s lead already approaching 300.
Head and Carey then shut the door completely, adding an unbroken 122-run partnership to carry Australia to stumps in total command. As the lead ballooned to 356, England were left staring at a near-impossible task — and a series slipping rapidly beyond their grasp.
