We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
1 of 2
Travis Head was on the attack and he was racing towards 200.
But he skied a lofted shot against the bowling of Josh Tongue and was caught in the deep.
Crawley had to look into the sun as he followed the ball down to the ground and he had to dive at the last minute. Quality catch from him.
Now Inglis will join Carey who is on 63.
Carse’s last over was a nightmare for England as they made fielding blunders, then over-pitched their bowling to Head who cracked him for two boundaries.
Head has powered to 168 and Stokes will need to consider bringing on one of his spinners.
England’s Ben Stokes bowls during play on day four.Credit: AP
But neither Jacks, nor Root have been all that impressive in this Test.
England just can’t put this pair under pressure but Stokes did almost outsmart Head when he dropped a slower yorker to Head who had to crunch down and block it.
Australia are 4-308 with Head on 168, Carey 62 – the lead is 393 runs.
So Ben Stokes into the attack, 65 overs or so in after battling away in the field yesterday and keeping himself out of the attack.
The saying goes with this English side that the calibre of ‘talent’ put up for media at a day’s play is a reflection of how their travelling.
Travis Head runs out to start day four.Credit: Getty Images
Good day, the journos get a big-name player.
Bad day, we get an assistant coach.
It’s been three days of assistant coaches in a row here in Adelaide and yesterday spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel uttered those instantly immortal lines on the skipper.
“From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl… I think he’s just pretty knackered … and might be a bit tired and just needs a bit of time to himself right now.”
Travis Head just reached his 150 with a boundary and he raised his bat once again. But he was pretty quick to get back to business and helping Carey build Australia’s lead.
Head almost chopped onto his stumps from Stokes’ second over as the England skipper bowled a full length and attacked the stumps.
Head frantically looked behind his legs after hitting a full-blooded inside edge that went just behind his pads, rather than hitting the stumps.
Zak Crawley of England looks on during day four.Credit: Getty Images
Stokes had hands on his head, Head turned his eyes towards the sky in relief.
Great start to the morning as Head, on 145, approaches his 150.
Australia are 4-281 with a lead of 366 runs.
Carey is on 53 and Ben Stokes is bowling the first over of the morning after questions were raised about him not bowling at all yesterday.
Head is on 142.
Alex Carey bats on day three.Credit: Getty Images
Could Carey get his ton? Or Head his 200?
It should be a fun morning either with wickets falling or two South Australian stars bringing up major milestones.
As for Stokes, England claimed he wasn’t injured and he is bowling today. Whether he was just tired, sore or too frustrated to bowl – only he will know for sure.
Australia are 4-272 with the lead at 357 runs.
Pristine day here in Adelaide, and we’re greeted by the sight of Steve Smith back in the Adelaide Oval nets, before joining his teammates out in the middle – all smiles too, great to see.
Apparently, those dizzy spells and vertigo symptoms that ruled him out of the Test are abating, but not quite completely gone yet.
Australia are increasingly confident he’ll back in Melbourne, which means all eyes are on the middle-order.
To my eye, it’s Josh Inglis who drops out, and it’s rather clear-cut. But runs today could swing that.
Always something on the line. Not to mention the Ashes.
Australian superstar Travis Head admits he was exhausted late on day three and credited partner and friend Alex Carey for guiding him through the last part of play.
Head and Carey will resume this morning with Carey chasing hundreds in both innings while Australia has a lead of 356 and will look to push it well past 400.
Best mates Head and Alex Carey leave the Adelaide Oval turf on day three, arm in arm.Credit: Getty Images
But Head said he felt fresh and good to go this morning.
“We don’t talk much in the middle but he just kept saying ‘keep going, keep going’ and I was like ‘I’m trying’,” Head told Fox Cricket before play today.
“I’m trying to stay with him. There was a few sore spots, it was a long day added onto day two when we fielded in 40-degree heat.
“I’m still getting used to this fielding into batting caper. But he looked after me in the last few overs facing [Josh Tongue] Tonguey and those bouncers as I was pretty fatigued at that stage.
“We got there, now we have an opportunity to come back today feeling good.”
Head added that he hoped to help Carey bat on but they had to establish themselves early.
“In a perfect world, we will bat as long as we like but we have to earn the right and then try to be relentless,” Head told Fox Cricket.
“We have a lot of batting behind us. It’s up to us to turn up this morning and be ready to go.”
Adelaide: Ben Stokes knew what Mitchell Starc was doing. And Starc knew what Stokes was doing.
Without getting too deep into it, they both knew the other knew, as well.
Set aside, just for a moment, the 198 balls Stokes had painstakingly Baz-walled his way through, desperately trying to keep England and the Ashes alive. Leave aside the cramp, dehydration, sunburn and increasing exasperation of day two of the third Test.
Stokes v Starc GIFCredit: Seven Cricket
Stokes knew exactly what Starc was doing with yet another in-ducking delivery destined for his stumps. This is why the English skipper was bellowing like a banshee in the middle of Adelaide Oval.
Quite literally hopping mad with himself, ruefully tossing his bat and swearing for most of the 66-metre trudge to the boundary.
It’s so easy, and so right, to admire Stokes for his wholehearted refusal to yield because it’s so obvious. He wears his emotions so openly.
Click here to read the story.
The temperature has again dropped slightly in Adelaide with the BOM forecasting a max of 28 and sunny conditions once again.
It’s hard to ask for better conditions but one thing to note for fans of both sides is that showers are forecast for tomorrow, only 0-5 millimetres of rain, but that rain could foil Australia’s attempts to bowl out England if they bat too long today.
Adelaide Oval on day three.Credit: Getty Images
1 of 2
Copyright © 2025
