Head takes charge in Adelaide with England under pressure

The hometown hero scored his fourth ton at the venue, putting Australia in a commanding position at the end of Day 3.

19 December, 2025

Travis Head was in fine form for Australia once again on home turf as he further embodied the role of an enforcer at the top of the batting order. The southpaw played a defiant innings as he took on the England bowlers despite wickets falling around him.

“I was just going to bide my time. Went through it well. We got there eventually. Wasn’t probably too long,” he said.

He secured a fourth century at the Adelaide Oval, equalling David Warner, David Boon and Allan Border’s tally at the venue.

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The 31-year-old had some frantic moments prior to reaching his century as it took him nine deliveries to get to triple-figures which included being dropped by Harry Brook at gully.

“Could have been there for a while,” Head said on keeping his cool white batting on 99.

He sealed his century with a boundary after stepping down to Joe Root’s off-spin and followed with a kiss to the deck, where he averages a mammoth 87.33 on. He ended the day batting on 142* off 196 balls, with 13 fours and two maximums.

“I didn’t think I’d get one (hundred at Adelaide Oval), so to get four is not too bad… I felt all right.”

Travis Head celebrates a magnificent ton against England in Adelaide (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Head then addressed Alex Carey and himself walking off together enjoying the crowd’s cheers. Carey, who made a brilliant 106 in the first innings, backed it up with an unbeaten 52 as Day 3 ended in Adelaide. The duo have forged 122 runs so far for the fifth wicket after taking over from 149/4.

“Anywhere I go I try to take the atmosphere in. You’re not going to play forever,” he said.

“Especially at home, take that in. When I’m walking out to bat, I always take it in.

“As your innings goes on, you’re sort of looking into the crowd, you’re pretty close here in Adelaide, so I can normally see my mates on the terrace.

“You can feel it,” he added on the atmosphere at Adelaide.

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The day started with England batting, fending off their final two wickets, with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer at the crease still trailing by 158 runs.

However, Archer’s knock of 51 off 105 showed more resilience alongside his skipper as the pair put up 106 runs for the ninth wicket, their highest in this Ashes series, offering England a glimmer of hope.

Ben Stokes, pushing himself to the absolute limit in the searing Adelaide heat finally saw his resistance broken off a jaffa from Mitchell Starc, the 12th time the left-arm pacer has had the England skipper’s scalp in Ashes Tests.

Jofra Archer soon followed his skipper as he was caught in the slip cordon off Scott Boland as England were bowled out for 286, still trailing the hosts by 85 runs.

The visitors started off well with the ball, with Brydon Carse trapping Jake Weatherald (1) in front of his stumps, while Josh Tongue picked off Marnus Labuschagne (13).

However, Usman Khawaja, coming in for Steve Smith put in an impressive showing as he steadied the ship along with Head. The 39-year-old put up an 86 run partnership with Head as England’s troubles worsened with Ben Stokes off the field.

“Not surprised, played really well again today, a calm head, with a lot of experience", said Head on Khawaja’s resilient knock.

Khawaja (40) was picked off by a half-tracker off Will Jacks as Cameron Green (7) soon followed, nicking one off Tongue as Harry Brook held on, leaving Australia at 149-4.

First innings hero, Carey teamed up with Travis Head as they pulled the game further out of England’s grasp with an exceptional batting display as they put up an unbeaten 122-run-stand. Carey found himself at 52* at the end of the day’s play as Australia had a massive lead of 356 runs as they closed the action at 271/4.