Travis Head took off his helmet and gloves after scoring a century in his fourth consecutive Test at his home ground, the Adelaide Oval, and then knelt down and kissed the pitch.
By the close of play on the third day, Australia had strengthened its grip on the match, reaching 271 for four for an overall lead of 356 runs.
Head was given a major reprieve on 99 when he drove a delivery from Jofra Archer firmly and Harry Brook dropped the catch at gully. Earlier, he had played a spin ball from Joe Root to the on-side and ran for a single, but his batting partner Alex Carey sent him back.
On 99, this fearless Australian batsman decided to take a risk after facing eight balls. He charged down the pitch to a delivery from Joe Root and lofted it over the bowler’s head for a boundary to complete his 11th Test century.
It was his second century in five innings since being promoted to open in Perth. His match-winning innings there had secured Australia an eight-wicket victory in the series’ first match.
At stumps on day three, Head was unbeaten on 142. He had forged an unbroken 122-run partnership for the fifth wicket with his South Australian teammate Alex Carey (52).
Earlier, Brook had taken brilliant slip catches off Josh Tongue’s bowling to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Cameron Green (seven), but dropping Head’s catch proved costly for his team.
Australia had built a strong lead in their second innings after bowling England out for 286 in the morning session.
Ben Stokes had tried to revive England’s Ashes campaign by adding a record 106-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Jofra Archer in the morning session. This partnership reduced Australia’s first-innings lead to just 85 runs. It is the highest ninth-wicket partnership for England in Adelaide.
Stokes walked off the field cursing himself in frustration after being bowled by Mitchell Starc for 83. He hit eight boundaries in a patient 198-ball knock, while Archer contributed 51 runs.
Australia lost Jake Weatherald (one) just before lunch, caught off the bowling of Brydon Carse. Weatherald would have survived had he reviewed the on-field umpire’s lbw decision. Australia went to lunch at 17 for one.
In the second session, Australia added 102 runs but lost Marnus Labuschagne (13). After the tea break, Usman Khawaja (40) helped maintain Australia’s firm grip on the match with an 86-run partnership with Head for the third wicket.
Green, who failed to score in the first innings, could not make an impact in the second either, dismissed for seven.
England had begun the day at 213 for eight.
Australia wanted to take the last two wickets quickly, but Stokes and Archer held firm. Archer had also taken five wickets in Australia’s first innings.
Stokes charged down the pitch to hit Scott Boland for a boundary, bringing up the 50-run partnership in 89 balls. He then completed his 37th Test half-century off 159 balls. It was his slowest half-century in Test cricket but a crucial one for his team.
Both English batsmen then began to play more aggressively against the older ball, with Archer hitting veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for a six over long-on. Stokes played a superb cover drive off Boland in the 73rd over for four.
Archer completed his maiden Test half-century off 97 balls with a single off captain Pat Cummins. That run also brought England’s deficit under 100.
Stokes, however, was bowled by an inswinger from Starc, after which Boland had Archer caught behind to end England’s first innings.
