Travis Head has now hit centuries in four consecutive Tests on his home ground, following knocks of 140 against India and 119 and 175 against the West Indies last year. (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Danger man Travis Head smashed his fourth century in as many Tests at the Adelaide Oval on Friday as Australia surged to a 356-run lead over England and came close to retaining the Ashes. The hosts reached 271 for 4 at stumps on the third day of the third Test, with Head not out on 142 and first-innings centurion Alex Carey on 52*, effectively putting the five-match series out of England’s reach.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!England must win the match after suffering heavy defeats over two days in Perth and over four days in Brisbane, both by eight wickets. However, the task appears to be monumental, with the highest successful run chase at the venue being 316 achieved by Australia against England in 1902.
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Head’s crucial 11th Test hundred came from a composed 146 balls, although he almost fell short after being dropped by Harry Brook for 99. He has now hit centuries in four consecutive Tests on his home ground, after last year’s knocks of 140 against India and 119 and 175 against the West Indies.Australia had an early wobble in a tense passage before lunch after England were bowled out for 286, led by Ben Stokes’ gritty 83 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 371. Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one, with the batsman going unchecked despite replays suggesting he hit the ball on outside leg.The moment gave England a brief lift, but Head shut the door after the break, peppering the boundary with cuts and chops. Marnus Labuschagne departed for 13 and edged Josh Tongue with Brook at slip, while Usman Khawaja, fresh from a defiant first innings 82, fell for 40, falling behind Will Jacks. Cameron Green followed soon after on seven.After negotiating a nervous 90s, Head reached his century with a Joe Root four, taking off his helmet to kiss the turf before celebrating. Although not as explosive as his 69-ball ton in Perth, it was a vital innings that Carey supported well.Gutsy Stokes After poor batting on Thursday, Stokes and Jofra Archer revived England with a 106-run ninth-wicket fightback. Stokes returned to 213 for 8, battling cramps and dehydration to bring up his slowest Test fifty off 159 balls before being bowled by Mitchell Starc with the new ball.Archer provided admirable support and was last man out on 51, his first Test half-century caught by Labuschagne off Scott Boland. Boland finished with 3 for 45 while Pat Cummins took 3 for 69 on his return to Test cricket.England’s troubles began earlier when Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope fell in a quick burst, with only Harry Brook’s 45 offering brief resistance as the Australian attack kept the pressure relentless.
