Travis Head’s Century Puts England’s Ashes Hopes in Tatters

Australia on the Verge of Unassailable Lead

England faces a grim prospect of a devastating Ashes defeat after Australia’s Travis Head scored his second century of the series on day three of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. With an unassailable lead of 2-0, Australia is just one more win away from retaining the Ashes, potentially as early as the fifth day of this match.

Head’s Match-Winning Hundred

Head, who has been Australia’s accidental opener due to injury crisis, scored a magnificent 142 not out in the first innings, guiding his side to 271 for four by stumps. This puts England 356 runs behind, with their run chase set to dwarf the unforgettable 332 they made at Headingley in 2019.

Head took the game away with another excellent counter-punching knock at his home ground, where he now has four hundreds in his last four appearances.

England’s Fading Hopes

• England’s captain, Ben Stokes, and fast bowler, Jofra Archer, put up a resilient stand of 106 to keep the first-innings deficit down to 85.
• Brydon Carse removed Jake Weatherald, offering a slight glimmer of hope for England.
• However, England is now fighting to avoid a record defeat, quicker than any other Ashes series.

Dropped Chances Haunt England

Head was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook in the gully, summing up England’s luckless and error-ridden campaign.

Q&A

Pro Tip

Did you know?

This is the first time since 1921 that Australia has had two centuries in a single Test innings at the Adelaide Oval.

England’s chances of a remarkable comeback are slim, but as the saying goes in sports, “It’s not over until it’s over.”

Article written by a sports journalist at 247Sports News.