After Head’s heroics, Cummins-Lyon propel Australia closer to 3-0 Ashes lead

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon tightened Australia’s grip on the Ashes on Day 4 of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, leaving England staring at defeat and the hosts on the brink of an unassailable 3-0 series lead. After Australia set a daunting target of 435, the captain and his senior spinner combined to dismantle England’s resistance, sharing all six wickets to fall as the visitors closed on 207 for 6 at stumps, still 228 runs adrift.

Australia resumed the morning on 271 for 4, with Travis Head and Alex Carey continuing the work that had defined Day 3. The pair added a further 40 runs before England finally made inroads, but not before Head marched on to another landmark.

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Resuming on 142, the left-hander brought up his sixth Test score of 150 or more and raced to 170, striking boundaries with ease to take Australia beyond 300. His innings eventually ended when Josh Tongue bounced him out with a sharp short ball, halting a stand of 162 for the fifth wicket.

England capitalised briefly thereafter. Ben Stokes removed Carey with a well-directed short delivery that resulted in a leg-slip catch, while Tongue continued his fine spell by dismissing Josh Inglis for his fourth wicket. Brydon Carse then struck twice in quick succession, accounting for Cummins and Lyon in the same over, before Jofra Archer finished the innings with a sharp return catch to remove Scott Boland. Australia lost their final six wickets for just 38 runs and were bowled out for 349, giving England a slender boost after a long chase in the field.

That optimism faded quickly once England began their pursuit. Cummins struck early, removing Ben Duckett in the second over, and the visitors reached lunch at a precarious 5 for 1. Ollie Pope struggled to settle in the afternoon session and was undone by Cummins, with Marnus Labuschagne pulling off a stunning one-handed catch at second slip to leave England 31 for 2.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root then mounted England’s most assured resistance of the day. They batted with intent, sweeping and reverse-sweeping Lyon and punishing anything loose to lift England past 100. Crawley, in particular, looked fluent, and the pair added a half-century stand to reach 106 for 2 at tea, giving England a flicker of belief.

The momentum shifted again early in the final session. Root survived briefly on umpire’s call but fell in the next over, edging Cummins to the keeper for the 13th time in Tests. Crawley brought up a fighting fifty, but support was limited. Harry Brook struggled for fluency and was eventually bowled by Lyon attempting a reverse sweep.

Lyon then dealt two decisive blows, dismissing Ben Stokes for the 10th time in Tests and stumping Crawley for a well-made 85. With England sliding to 194 for 6, Will Jacks and Jamie Smith saw out the closing overs, but Australia remain firmly in control heading into the final day.

Brief scores: Australia 371 & 349 (Travis Head 170, Alex Carey 72; Josh Tongue 4-70, Brydon Carse 3-80) lead England 286 & 207/6 (Zak Crawley 85, Joe Root 39; Pat Cummins 3-24, Nathan Lyon 3-64) by 227 runs.