Head century crushes England’s hopes as Australia eye victory

Travis Head proved England’s nemesis once again as he scored his second century of the Ashes to carry Australia toward a seemingly inevitable series triumph on day three at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Head’s unbeaten 142 in front of an adoring home crowd of 53,696 helped Australia to 271 for four at stumps and a 356-run lead after the hosts bowled England out for 286 in the morning.

Australia lead the five-match series 2-0 after comfortable victories in Perth and Brisbane, and need only a draw in Adelaide to retain the urn as holders.

Head’s fellow South Australian Alex Carey also cashed in, adding an unbeaten 52, as the local heroes combined in an unbroken 122-run partnership to bang another nail into England’s coffin.

Head’s century was unwelcome deja vu for the tourists following his sensational 123 off 83 balls in the fourth innings in Perth.

The second ton nearly eluded him, though, when he slashed Jofra Archer low to the gully when on 99, only for Harry Brook to spill a second, costly catch of the test.

The following over, Head smashed Will Jacks over his head for four to bring up the hundred in 146 balls.

The boundary sparked one of the warmest ovations of his sporting career, the 31-year-old getting down on his knees to kiss the pitch where he made his career for state side South Australia.

STOKES NOT AMONG THE BOWLERS

With England captain Ben Stokes looking tired and opting not to bowl, the tourists had no answer to Head despite plugging away for some reward against the other batters.

“From what I understand he’s pretty fit to bowl,” England bowling coach Jeetan Patel told reporters of Stokes. “I know he’s pretty knackered.”

Opener Jake Weatherald (1), number three Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Cameron Green (seven) fell cheaply but stand-in number four Usman Khawaja joined Head in an important 86-run stand after Australia were 53 for two.

Khawaja was caught behind for 40, slicing at the part-time spin of Jacks, a bonus wicket for England given it was a poor delivery.

Green then nicked Josh Tongue to the slips where Brook took an excellent catch just above the grass, leaving Australia wavering at 155 for four.

With Australia’s lead only 240 runs at that point, England briefly had hope of limiting the damage.

But it was not to be.

Carey came to the crease in the form of his life having scored 106 in the first innings and 63 in his previous knock in the second test in Brisbane, and he added another half-century as shadows crept across the ground.

It ended another largely fruitless day in the field for England following some brave batting early on.

They had resumed on 213 for eight, their wafer-thin chances pinned on Stokes and tail-end partner Archer. Both raised half-centuries in a 106-run partnership in one of England’s better hours of the series.

Archer celebrated his first test fifty with a single off Pat Cummins, adding to his five-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings.

It took Mitchell Starc and a lethal, wobble-seam delivery with the second new ball to break the partnership, the ball veering sharply off the seam to bowl a driving Stokes through the gate for 83.

A furious Stokes exited with England still 97 runs short of Australia’s first innings 371.

Archer (51) and number 11 Tongue (seven not out) trimmed the deficit by another 12 runs before Archer became Scott Boland’s third wicket with a nick to the slips.