Travis Head piles on pain with hometown hundred as Australia tighten their grip on the Ashes

"There were flickers of hope for England on the third day in Adelaide but like some of the murmurs thrown up by Snicko during this pivotal third Ashes Test, they were never entirely convincing. Instead, courtesy of Travis Head's hometown hundred, Australia manoeuvred their way into a position of outright dominance. At stumps the hosts had reached 271 for four and a lead of 356 runs."

"They had watched Head only further his cult hero status: an unbeaten 142 from 196 balls that meant England would need a record chase on this ground to prevent going 3-0 down. Exactly an hour earlier the packed stands had been positively humming in anticipation. The village green out the back was deserted and the grass bank at the Cathedral End resembled a mosh pit. Head was on 99 and, after a less eventful day than the two that preceded it, no one was going to miss the big moment."

England experienced brief moments of hope on the third day in Adelaide that never fully materialised. Travis Head produced an unbeaten 142 from 196 balls to cement Australia's control and put the hosts on 271 for four, leading by 356 runs at stumps. A crowd of 53,700 celebrated as Head reached his century, including a near-miss catch and a celebrated straight six off Joe Root. England's batting remained unsettled, their reply of 286 all out to Australia's 371 exposing confusion despite a ninth-wicket stand of 106 between Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.

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