Swashbuckling opener Travis Head smashed his fourth century in as many Test matches at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, giving Australia a 356-run lead over England and putting them in pole position of retaining the Ashes.
On day three of the third Test, the hosts were 271-4 at stumps with Head unbeaten on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey not out 52, taking the five-match series out of England’s grasp.
After losing the first Test in Perth in two days and Brisbane in four, both by eight wickets, England needs to win. However, Australia’s highest run chase at the stadium (316) against England in 1902 makes it seem like an impossible task.
Head’s crucial 11th Test century came from a composed 146 balls, though he very nearly fell short after Harry Brook dropped him on 99 as impatience momentarily crept in. The hundred also underlined his dominance at home, marking a century in four consecutive Tests there — following his 140 against India last year and scores of 119 and 175 against the West Indies.
“The way Head has batted is next level, and he has shown us how to go about it,” conceded England spin coach Jeetan Patel.
“Every game of Test cricket we play, especially out here in Australia, calls for heroes. And we haven’t had them just yet, but maybe we will have them tomorrow and the day after.”
Australia’s first innings 371 was met with an early setback in a nervous 20 minutes before noon when England were all out for 286 thanks to Ben Stokes’s gutsy 83.
Even though replays revealed the ball was pitching outside leg stump, Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one, and he walked without reviewing after the umpire lifted his finger.
If England had a glimmer of hope, Head slammed the door shut after the break, slashing and hacking boundaries to every area of the field.
Reviews indicated that Marnus Labuschagne’s edge off Josh Tongue carried to Harry Brook at slip.
The more aggressive Head was a perfect foil to Usman Khawaja, who scored a defiant 82 in the first innings after being called up at the last minute to replace the sick Steve Smith. However, Will Jacks’ spin caught him off guard on 40, and Cameron Green quickly followed for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.
Head eventually reached his century with a four off Joe Root, removing his helmet, kissing the turf, and pumping his fists after overcoming the nervous 90s. It was a crucial knock, supported by Carey and helped by Stokes not bowling, even though it was not in the same style as his game-winning 69-ball century in Perth.
Stokes batted for two sessions on Thursday in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, but Patel said he had no injuries.
“From what I understand he is fit to bowl,” said Patel. “He’s just knackered, he’s taken a lot out of himself to get to this point in the game.”
With a thrilling 106-run ninth-wicket partnership on Friday’s resumption, Stokes and Jofra Archer kept England’s hopes alive.
In muggy conditions, they started at 213-8, with Stokes not out at 45 and Archer on 30. Stokes reached his slowest-ever 50 in Tests, off 159 balls, despite experiencing leg cramps and dehydration during his valiant rearguard battle in the oppressive 40°C heat on Thursday.
Stokes was one of the few players who put up the fight he had asked for before the game, but he eventually fell when Mitchell Starc bowled him with the new ball.
Another was Archer, who skillfully assisted his captain.
When Labuschagne caught the fast bowler off Scott Boland for 51, his best Test score and first half-century, he was the last man out. In his first Test since July, Pat Cummins finished with 3-69, while Boland finished with 3-45.
England’s problems started on Thursday when Cummins and Nathan Lyon dismissed openers Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and the underperforming Ollie Pope in a 15-ball blitz. With 45, Harry Brook offered some resistance, but the Australian assault remained unrelenting.
