A century partnership between skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer had kindled England’s hopes of a comeback, but Australian opener Travis Head dashed all those hopes with a sparkling century that put the hosts in the driver’s seat in the third Ashes Test at Adeliade on Friday.
By stumps, Australia were 356 runs ahead and England’s chance of a fightback are really bleak. That means Australia are on solid ground to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Head’s magnificent run on home ground, where he brought up the fourth of his 11 Test centuries, continued unabated. The southpaw has got all of them in his last six knocks at the ground.
Head’s second century of the series, after the blazing hundred in the previous game, was also his fourth against England. Head, who was dropped by Harry Brook at gully on 99, is also heading towards his career-best knock of 172, which, incidentally, was also at Adelaide.
In the morning, England had put up quite a resistance with Stokes and Archer dwindling down Australia’s lead to just 85. But by the evening, Australia, who had scored 152 in 35 overs, had a firm grip on the game as Head and another South Australian Alex Carey, who struck a century in the first innings, had added 122 for the unbroken fifth wicket.
Stokes and Archer had added 106 for the ninth wicket. The duo showed impressive character and looked to keep the Australians in check. Stokes, who threatened to change the course of the game, fell to Mitchell Starc for the 12th time in Tests. Stokes’ 83 came off 198 balls with eight fours. The English innings closed when Archer fell for 51 (105 balls, 5×4, 1×6). England had made 286, in reply to Australia’s 371.
In their second essay, Australia lost Jake Weatherald before lunch. He was lbw to Brydon Carse, who produced his best spell since the first day in Perth either side of the break, although Weatherald would have been saved with a review as the ball pitched outside leg.
Head and Khawaja steady the innings
But after Josh Tongue removed an out-of-sorts Marnus Labuschagne, England were unable to apply any pressure on Head and Usman Khawaja. The duo added 86 in 113 balls. Khawaja and Cameroon Green fell in quick succession but any sense of vulnerability soon vanished as Head and Carey set about their partnership. Carey continued his outstanding match with a half-century to follow the first-innings hundred.
Jacks, a part-time spinner, managed to remove Khawaja with a short, wide delivery when the left-hander edged a cut shot. But by the end of the day his match figures read an eye-watering 3 for 212 from 39 overs. Stokes, meanwhile, did not bowl himself at all while Archer sent down 10 economical, but largely unthreatening, overs.
Australia’s batting was not without its blips. Labuschagne laboured through 45 balls before being squared up by Tongue and edging low to slip in a manner that revived memories of the struggles that led to his omission earlier this year. However, perhaps more significant in the shorter term was the dismissal of Green who edged a half-volley from Tongue to slip to complete a poor match with the bat.
Having clipped limply to midwicket in the first innings, Green avoided a pair with a well-timed drive first ball against Jacks, but did little to quell concerns over being a poor starter when he was beaten on the drive by Tongue before edging the next delivery. His Test average in Australia now sits at 28.62 from 18 matches.
Brief scores: Australia 371 & 271/4 (Travis Head 142 batting, Usman Khawaja 40, Alex Carey 52 batting; Josh Tongue 2/59) vs England 286 (Ben Stokes 83, Jofra Archer 51; Pat Cummins 3/69, Scott Boland 3/45, Nathan Lyon 2/70).
