The Ashes Recap: Follow the latest from Day 3 of the Third Test from Adelaide Oval
Ben Stokes did his best to hold England together, but Australia were far too good on a day that all but wraps up the Ashes as a contest.
England were bowled out for 286 before Travis Head hit his fourth Test century at the Adelaide Oval in his past four matches there.
Alex Carey also added another handy knock.
Recap the day in our blog below.
Mr Adelaide!
Head does it again!
He has two Test hundreds as an opener in just five attempts and makes it four Test hundreds at Adelaide Oval in his past four Adelaide Tests.
Root made him wait with darts and then he got dropped by Brook at backward point off Archer on 99 cutting.
He finally got there in Root’s next over with a smash over mid-off for four.
The superstar kissed the pitch in celebration!
That’s a wrap
That brings to an end another day of domination for the hosts.
Join us again tomorrow from 7.30am for day four!
ANALYSIS
Are England’s batters weak men like Ben Stokes hinted? Or are they being asked to bat in a way that doesn’t best suit their skills, only for the captain to defend for his life and attack when it suits him?
Hits and Misses
England threatened to fight back on day three in Adelaide but were ultimately proven pretenders as Travis Head put them to the sword again.
STUMPS
What a day for Australia!
They ripped the game open yesterday but today they made sure they didn’t let England back in.
Head is the star of the day but Carey was also impressive.
The opener ends the day on 142 not out with Carey unbeaten on 52.
4-271, lead by 356
Attendance
Another big crowd in Adelaide. 53, 696!
Half century, ton up
Alex Carey reaches a brisk half century on the same ball Jacks brings up his second bowling hundred of the match. Of. the. match!
This is dross from England with the Ashes on the line.
AUS 4-265, lead by 350
Nightwatchman
If a wicket were to fall in the final 10 minutes here, Nathan Lyon is padded up to come in.
He might be quietly frothing a chance to come in up the order and bat on this pitch!
AUS 4-256, lead by 341
Ouch!
David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd had a brutal response on Seven when Ricky Ponting asked him if Will Jacks is England’s best spinner.
”Absolutely not. He’s a net bowler. He bowled 250 overs in red ball cricket in three years. So no. But his length in the batting, they must have been so concerned about the batting,” he said.
“(Shoaib) Bashir was going to play in Australia, going to play. There has been a complete change in that regard in putting Will Jacks in because he lengthens the batting. Bashir doesn’t bat.
“Especially spin and nothing more than that, so they jettisoned that, and they had the Lions here as well with one or two likely spinners in that side. There are two brothers, the Ahmed brothers who are good cricketers.”
AUS 4-251, lead by 336
Prowess
Carey is beginning to show another impressive sode to his game, his fitness.
On day one, he made a century to rescue a score for his side. On day two, he kept almost all day in 40-degree heat, including up to the stumps against Scott Boland.
He did another hour or more in the field to start day three. But when he came out to bat again not long after, he still looked as fresh as a daisy. He hared between wickets to help Travis Head to his century and keep the foot on England’s throat.
Not to mention his brilliant shot-making. He has moved to 33 with ease.
AUS 4-239, lead by 324
Doing the double
Head has knuckled back down here.
The South Australian tends to go all guns blazing once he reaches triple figures but he must know there is a genuine chance of a maiden double hundred on this pitch.
AUS 4-215, lead by 300
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails