Travis Head and Steve Smith delivered remarkable performances as Australia took a commanding lead over England on day three of the final Ashes Test. Head scored an explosive 163 runs while Smith contributed an unbeaten 129, helping Australia establish a 134-run advantage at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Head’s century marked his third of the series, complementing his earlier successes in Perth and Adelaide. Smith also recorded his first hundred in this series, helping propel Australia to a total of 518-7 in response to England’s 384. At close of play, Beau Webster stood alongside Smith, not out on 42.
Although Australia has already retained the Ashes with a 3-1 series lead, England sought redemption following their recent victory in Melbourne. Reflecting on his innings, Smith remarked on the supportive environment created by Head’s batting. “Nice batting wicket out there… it worked out well today,” he stated, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the match.
Head reached his century off just 105 balls and seemed set for a double century. However, he fell in the early stages of the afternoon session to part-time bowler Jacob Bethell, who claimed his wicket with a simple lbw decision. In stark contrast, Smith aggressively attacked Bethell, showcasing his prowess with a six and marking his 13th Ashes century, surpassing the legendary Jack Hobbs.
Usman Khawaja experienced a bittersweet farewell in his 88th Test, dismissed for 17, while Alex Carey managed to score 16 runs before falling to Josh Tongue’s delivery. Nightwatchman Michael Neser added 24 and Cameron Green scored 37 runs, though his run out raised questions about his form and selection in the team.
Bethell noted the challenges of the day, emphasizing the need for England to regroup and capitalize on early opportunities in the next session. “It was a tough day, but we’ve got to come out tomorrow, take those three wickets early on,” he commented, aiming to reverse the series’ fate.
Starting the day, Head was on 91 and Neser on 1 after the dismissal of both Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne on Monday. Head quickly crossed the century mark, celebrating with a flurry of boundaries and strengthening his reputation as a key batsman. His promotion to the top order in the first Test coincided with Khawaja’s injury, and he has settled into the role admirably.
Despite securing his hundred, Head faced a slip in concentration when he was dropped on 121, allowing him to flourish further alongside Neser, who batted diligently despite England’s persistent bowling. Despite some missed opportunities from England in terms of catches and reviews, Smith continued to build momentum, showcasing exquisite strokes as he capitalized on every scoring opportunity.
All-rounder Cameron Green entered the match facing scrutiny over his recent performances but displayed flashes of brilliance with both bat and ball. Nonetheless, he later made an unnecessary error, relinquishing his wicket to Carse, which raised further concerns regarding his consistency and place in the team.