Danger man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at Adelaide Oval Friday as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The hosts were 271-4 at stumps on day three of the third Test with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey not out 52, taking the five-match series out of England's reach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England must win after crashing inside two days at the first Test in Perth and inside four in Brisbane, both by eight wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But it appears to be an impossible task with the highest run chase at the ground 316 by Australia against England in 1902.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Head said the job was not finished yet and Australia had to "rock up again" on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We've had another really, really good day today.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Tomorrow will be another huge day, the wicket is deteriorating and starting to spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Head's crucial ton, his 11th, came off a composed 146 balls although he almost didn't get there, dropped on 99 by Harry Brook as impatience got the better of him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'It calls for heroes' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The way Head has batted is next level, and he has shown us how to go about it," conceded England spin coach Jeetan Patel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Every game of Test cricket we play, especially out here in Australia, calls for heroes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"And we haven't had them just yet, but maybe we will have them tomorrow and the day after."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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 371.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one and he did not review although replays showed the ball was pitching outside leg stump.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It gave England a glimmer of hope, but after the break Head slammed the door shut, cutting and chopping boundaries all around the ground.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marnus Labuschagne went for 13 when he edged Josh Tongue to Harry Brook at slip, with reviews showing it carried.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Usman Khawaja, who hit a defiant 82 in the first innings after his last-minute call-up for the ill Steve Smith, was a perfect foil for the more aggressive Head.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But on 40 he was caught behind off Will Jacks and Cameron Green followed soon after for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While not in the same vein as his match-winning 69-ball century in Perth, it was a critical knock, supported by Carey and aided by Stokes not bowling.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Gutsy Stokes -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Patel said Stokes, who batted for two sessions on Thursday in 40 Celsius heat, was not injured.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"From what I understand he is fit to bowl," said Patel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He's just knackered, he's taken a lot out of himself to get to this point in the game."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Friday's resumption, Stokes and Jofra Archer kept England's dreams just about alive with a stirring 106-run ninth-wicket stand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They began at 213-8 in muggy conditions with Stokes not out 45 and Archer on 30.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes, who suffered leg cramps and dehydration during his gutsy rearguard action on Thursday, brought up his slowest ever 50 in Tests, off 159 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He finally fell when Mitchell Starc took the new ball and bowled him, with Stokes one of the few players who showed the fight he had demanded before the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Archer was another, ably helping his captain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The fast bowler was the last man out when caught by Labuschagne off Scott Boland for 51 -- his highest Test score and a maiden half-century<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Boland ended with 3-45 while Pat Cummins took 3-69 in his first Test since July.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Travis-head-ashes-century.jpeg", "alt_img": "Travis head ashes century", "alt_title": "Travis Head Powers Australia to Commanding Lead in Ashes Test", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Travis Head Powers Australia to Commanding Lead in Ashes Test On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Danger man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at Adelaide Oval Friday as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.", "seo_keywords": "Travis Head, Ashes 2025-26, England Vs Australia, Adelaide Oval", "tag": null, "tagging": "Travis Head,Ashes 2025-26,England Vs Australia,Adelaide Oval,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "travis-head-powers-australia-to-commanding-lead-in-ashes-test", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "748", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2025-12-19 14:13:22", "updated": "2025-12-19 14:13:22", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Travis Head, Ashes 2025-26, England Vs Australia, Adelaide Oval", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "19", "jio_date": "2025-12-19 14:13:22", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/travis-head-powers-australia-to-commanding-lead-in-ashes-test-184327" }