Ashes 2025: Home boy Travis Head’s fourth Adelaide hundred puts Australia firmly in control

Travis Head once again underlined his growing reputation as Australia’s tone-setter at the top of the order, producing another commanding innings on home soil to tighten his side’s grip on the Adelaide Test. With wickets falling at the other end, the left-hander batted with authority and composure, absorbing pressure before steadily turning the screws on England’s attack on Day 3 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.

“I was just going to bide my time. Went through it well. We got there eventually. Wasn’t probably too long,” Head said, reflecting on the tempo of his knock.

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Head brought up his fourth Test century at the Adelaide Oval, drawing level with David Warner, David Boon, and Allan Border for the most hundreds at the venue. The milestone did not come without drama. Stranded on 99, he endured a nervy passage that stretched to nine deliveries, including a life when Harry Brook put him down at gully.

“Could have been there for a while,” Head said of the tense wait before reaching three figures.

He eventually sealed the hundred in emphatic fashion, stepping down the track to Joe Root’s off-spin and driving a boundary, before kissing the turf where his average now stands at a staggering 87.33. By stumps on day three, Head was unbeaten on 142 from 196 balls, an innings studded with 13 fours and two sixes.

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

Head also spoke about soaking in the atmosphere as he and Alex Carey walked off together to loud applause. Carey, who had struck a superb 106 in the first innings, followed it up with an unbeaten 52 as the pair added an unbroken 122 for the fifth wicket after Australia had slipped to 149 for 4.

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

Earlier, England had resumed still 158 runs in arrears, with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer attempting a last stand. Archer showed resolve with a 105-ball 51 as the pair added 106 for the ninth wicket, England’s highest such partnership of the series, briefly delaying the inevitable.

Stokes’ defiance ended when Mitchell Starc produced a beauty to dismiss him for the 12th time in Ashes cricket, before Archer fell to Scott Boland as England were bowled out for 286, still 85 behind.

England struck early in Australia’s second innings through Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, but Usman Khawaja, drafted in for Steve Smith, steadied matters alongside Head with an 86-run stand.

“Not surprised, played really well again today, a calm head, with a lot of experience,” Head said of Khawaja. From there, Head and Carey took firm control, carrying Australia to 271 for 4 at stumps and a commanding lead of 356 runs.