Travis Head’s unbeaten ton put Aussies in command

Travis Head thumped a century in a session to rip the game away from England after they briefly clawed their way back into the contest following another morning of self-destruction.

Head made the joint third-fastest Ashes century, off 85 balls, and became the first to score a Test century in a session at the Gabba, to torch any hopes England had after Australia had lost 4 for 29 in the afternoon to lead by just 48 with five wickets in hand. Australia finished the day with a lead of 196 and three wickets in hand with Head still unbeaten on 112.

Head’s century came on the back of a supreme 156-run stand earlier in the day from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, with Warner making an eventful 94, while Labuschagne a masterful 74 in difficult batting conditions to set the game up. Ollie Robinson bowled superbly to take 3 for 48, but limped off with a hamstring injury late in the day while Ben Stokes also battled a leg issue and a host of no-ball problems, including bowling Warner on 17 when he overstepped. Mark Wood also bowled whole-heartedly all day for little reward. Halfway through the day, Australia were ready to make England pay as their calamitous start to this series had turned from bad to worse. Australia were 1 for 166 with Warner and Labuschagne having passed England’s first-innings total on their own, with Warner having survived being bowled off a no-ball, dropped at slip, and missed being run-out.

But a rare mistake from Labuschagne opened the door for England to keep the door ajar thanks to a superb spell from Robinson, only for Head to all but slam it shut. He tore into England’s weak links, thumping a struggling Stokes for three boundaries in an over to get his innings going.

He then latched onto Jack Leach, just as Labuschagne and Warner had earlier in the day, hammering him with lofted strikes over long-on and powerful cuts and pulls. Leach took 1 for 95 from 11 overs, which did include four overthrows as England unravelled. Head brought up his third century against the second new ball with a superb drive down the ground and celebrated to a standing ovation.

Head had entered the Test as the last man picked for Australia, having beaten Usman Khawaja for the No. 5 spot, and might have cemented his place long term. England only have themselves to blame for their predicament. Warner could have been out on 17, 48 and 60. Cricinfo