The South Australian duo of Travis Head and Alex Carey has effectively buried any chance of England winning back the coveted Ashes urn on day three of the Adelaide Test.
The duo have combined for a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket to extend Australia’s lead beyond 300 runs, with Head celebrating a century. It’s the left-hander’s 11th Test hundred, it’s his fourth in Ashes contests.
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Earlier, Head was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook, albeit a difficult chance low to his left.
The tourists had a glimmer of hope of mounting a comeback when veteran Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green fell in quick succession, but England’s chances of victory are approaching zero.
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Australia has consolidated their control on the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, as their second innings lead over England extends beyond 200.
After the preventable loss of Jake Weatherald on the stroke of lunch, opener Travis Head (68 not out) and Usman Khawaja (27 not out) rebuilt to see the hosts enter the tea break at 2/119.
Their unbeaten 66-run partnership came after the loss of Marnus Labuschagne, who looked scratchy throughout his 45-ball stay before edging to second slip on 13.
Head’s half-century marks the second time this summer in the opening role that he’s passed 50, and the first since his whirlwind 69-ball ton that won Australia the first Test in Perth.
His current partner-in-crime Khawaja, who turned 39 yesterday, picked up where he left off on day one by playing patient, yet proactive cricket shots.
With a pitch still showing limited movement, the Poms now face a daunting task of still taking eight more wickets, before chasing down a total that at this stage could easily surpass 400.
Only one target beyond 300 has ever been chased at the Adelaide Oval (315 by Australia, 1902 vs Eng), and only one higher than 200 since 1982. Australia’s highest chase at the venue in the last 123 years is 187 against New Zealand, which was also the first-ever day-night Test match.
Will Jacks’ off-spin was bravely introduced into the attack just 13 overs into the innings, however he did manage to extract a notable amount of turn off the Adelaide Oval surface despite disheartening bowling conditions.
Oddly, captain Ben Stokes is still yet to bowl after 31 overs in the field this innings in a sign that could suggest his workload with both bat and ball is becoming a burden.
Earlier in the day, a DRS blunder between Australia’s opening partnership capped off a massive first session victory for England
After eventually bowling the visitors out for 286 and holding an 85-run lead, the hosts were dealt an early blow that saw Jake Weatherald adjudged leg before for one on the stroke of lunch, despite Hawk-Eye later revealing the ball pitched outside leg.
Weatherald, in his third Test, looked to be somewhat reluctant to review the decision, walking off after briefly consulting his opening partner in Head.
It was a defiant 106-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Stokes and Jofra Archer that swung momentum England’s way early on day three.
The aforementioned duo got through the first 70 minutes of day three unscathed, before Mitchell Starc finally dismissed Stokes, bowled for 83.
Stokes’ frustration upon his departure was evident, though the skipper’s fighting knock couldn’t have come at a better time. The exact same could be said for Jofra Archer, who hit his first professional half-century in over eight years.
Archer’s stellar knock finished on 51, edging Scott Boland to first slip and putting a full stop on his first red-ball fifty at professional level for over eight years.
Stokes registered his first runs of the morning with a glorious cover drive to the boundary, which quickly forced Alex Carey to come up to the stumps when wicketkeeping to Boland.
In the ultimate ‘Bazball’ contrast, Stokes as of today now holds the record for the two slowest half-centuries in the Brendan McCullum era, as well as the fastest off just 24 balls, as per SEN’s Tom Morris.
LUNCH REPORT
A DRS blunder between Australia’s opening partnership has capped off a massive session victory for England in the morning on day three of the third Test.
After eventually bowling the visitors out for 286 and holding an 85-run lead, the hosts were dealt an early blow that saw Jake Weatherald adjudged leg before for one on the stroke of lunch, despite Hawk-Eye later revealing the ball pitched outside leg.
Weatherald, in his third Test, looked to be somewhat reluctant to review the decision, walking off after briefly consulting opening partner Travis Head.
Both Head (five not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (four not out) managed to negate the new ball until the break, Australia sitting 1/17 with a lead of 102.
It means the hosts will still need to bring their best with the bat in their second innings at Adelaide Oval, after a defiant 106-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer swung momentum England’s way.
The aforementioned duo got through the first 70 minutes of day three unscathed, before Mitchell Starc finally dismissed Stokes, bowled for 83.
Stokes’ frustration upon his departure was evident, though the skipper’s fighting knock couldn’t have come at a better time. The exact same could be said for Jofra Archer, who hit his first professional half-century in over eight years.
Archer’s stellar knock finished on 51, edging Scott Boland to first slip and putting a full stop on his first red-ball fifty at professional level for over eight years.
Stokes registered his first runs of the morning with a glorious cover drive to the boundary, which quickly forced Alex Carey to come up to the stumps when wicketkeeping to Boland.
In the ultimate ‘Bazball’ contrast, Stokes as of today now holds the record for the two slowest half-centuries in the Brendan McCullum era, as well as the fastest off just 24 balls.
Archer wasn’t afraid to take on Nathan Lyon’s off-spin bowling either, depositing the 38-year-old veteran for a six over cow corner early into his spell.
