Head saves Australia, but England have whip hand
A swashbuckling Travis Head knock has kept Australia in the third Ashes Test, but Pat Cummins’ men must conjure their own Headingley fightback to secure the urn.
England went to stumps after a wet day three at 0-27 in pursuit of 251, holding all the cards but still far from assured of a victory that will keep them in the series.
Australia will be left to rue their own bad luck on Saturday, after being asked to resume batting after tea following almost five hours of rain and no play in the first two sessions.
But ultimately they must also wear some blame, after poor shots on Friday evening exposed their middle and lower order to the conditions.
Under gloomy skies and with the rose-shaped Headingley light towers in operation, the tourists lost six wickets in 20.1 overs to be all out for 224 at Headingley.
England were then able to survive the five overs to stumps on Saturday night and get the required runs down to 224, with Zak Crawley on nine and Ben Duckett 18.
Australia have already burned a review when they thought Crawley edged Mitchell Starc down legside.
But the situation could have been far worse if not for Head and his 77 against an England attack that had Mark Wood firing and Chris Woakes (3-68) taking wickets.
Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey were both out trying to leave, and when Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins fell for 16 and one respectively, Australia were at risk of setting a target of below 200.
Travis Head’s lone hand may not save Australia. Getty
But then Head took over.
Playing a Ben Stokes-like innings, the counter-attacking left-hander managed the strike and targeted the boundaries despite England having nine men on the ropes.
He hit seven fours and three big sixes that sailed over the legside and well into
Read more on afr.com
