Danger man Travis Head yesterday crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at the Adelaide Oval as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.
The hosts were 271-4 at stumps on day 3 of the third Test with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey 52 not out, likely taking the five-match series out of England’s reach.
England must win after crashing inside two days at the first Test in Perth and inside four in Brisbane, both by eight wickets. It appears to be an impossible task to win this one, with the highest run chase at the ground being 316 by Australia against England in 1902.
Photo: AFP
Head said the job was not finished yet and Australia had to “rock up again” today.
“We’ve had another really, really good day today. “Tomorrow will be another huge day, the wicket is deteriorating and starting to spin,” he said. “The goal is to try and put on as many as we can in the morning and get to work and try to win the Test match.”
Head’s ton, his 11th, was almost missed when he was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook as impatience got the better of him.
Photo: EPA
He has now scored a century in four consecutive Tests on his home ground, following 140 against India last year and 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,” England spin coach Jeetan Patel said. “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 suffered an early setback in a tense 20 minutes before lunch after England were all out for 286 on the back of Ben Stokes’s gritty 83 in response to Australia’s first innings of 371.
Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald LBW for one and he did not review, although replays showed that the ball was pitching outside leg stump.
It gave England a glimmer of hope, but after the break Head slammed the door shut, cutting and chopping boundaries all around the ground.
Marnus Labuschagne went for 13 when he edged Josh Tongue to Harry Brook at slip. Usman Khawaja was a perfect foil for the more aggressive Head, but on 40 he was caught behind off Will Jacks and Cameron Green followed soon after for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.
After getting through the nervous 90s, Head finally brought up his century with a four off Joe Root, taking off his helmet and kissing the turf before pumping his fists.
NZ V WINDIES
AFP, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand
Brandon King and John Campbell comfortably negotiated 23 overs in fading light before stumps to take the West Indies to 110-0 at the end of day 2 of the third Test after New Zealand declared on a mammoth 575-8 in Mount Maunganui.
The Windies, with King unbeaten on 55 and Campbell 45 not out, were 465 runs behind.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway’s epic 227 and some late hitting from Rachin Ravindra, who had six fours and two sixes in his 72 not out, and Ajaz Patel (30 not out) allowed captain Tom Latham to give his bowlers more than an hour at the West Indies openers.
However, King and Campbell were more than up to the task, seeing off the new ball and scoring freely on a flat Bay Oval wicket as New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to find a good length.
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