Australia 518 for 7 (Head 163, Smith 129*) lead England 384 (Root 160, Brook 84, Neser 4-60) by 134 runs
After Head’s belligerent 163 off 166 balls, his third century in what has been a remarkable series, Khawaja – batting at No.6 – could not produce a fairy tale innings against a flagging England attack in the Sydney sunshine.
In what might prove to be his final Test innings, Khawaja fell for 17 in an ungainly dismissal – a low full toss from Brydon Carse – and left the ground to more hearty applause.
Australia appear to have broken England’s spirit in an innings stretching 124 overs. Their first innings lead has ballooned to 134 runs and looks particularly significant with uneven bounce becoming notable and cracks set to widen amid warm weather in Sydney.
Smith wasn’t at his most fluent, but looked locked in from the get go with his usual theatrics at the crease on full display. He even at one point asked Carse at mid-off to put his sunglasses on the back of his hat due to the reflection.
Smith feasted on wayward England bowling and also made a point to be aggressive against spinners Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell. A 37th Test century and 13th against England almost felt inevitable as he ended a relatively lean series in style, kissing his helmet in celebration late in the day.
His first home Ashes hundred since the 2017-18 series has tightened Australia’s grip on the match. They were aided by shabby bowling and fielding from England, who dropped four catches in the first session with Smith being reprieved on 12 by Zak Crawley at leg-slip just before lunch.
The early part of the day was dominated by Head, who had only just fallen short of scoring a century in an elongated final session on day two, but it didn’t take him long to reach his 12th Test ton.
After resuming on 91, Head completed his 105-ball century just 25 minutes into the day’s play and he celebrated by sticking the helmet on top of the bat handle as he once again had the crowd in the palm of his hands.
It ended Head’s modest record at the SCG as he became the fifth player to score tons at seven different venues in Australia.
Neser showed off his batting credentials, having made 4000 career runs in first-class cricket with five centuries. He frustrated England with solid defence and the occasional boundary to grind down the beleaguered tourists.
A new day did not bring an improved showing with Potts immediately smashed for three consecutive fours by a ruthless Head. England continued to persist with short-ball plans, even to Neser, and it almost paid off when Head skied Carse to deep midwicket only for Jacks to drop a sitter, taking his eyes off the ball and seemingly worried about the nearby boundary cushion.
Not only did it prove costly for England, Jacks had the further ignominy of receiving mocked cheers from the Australian fans when he subsequently fielded.
Head in the next over had another lucky escape when Carse dropped a much tougher chance at deep third but it only left Potts feeling even more aggrieved.
For all their focus on hitting a shorter length, Carse finally dislodged Neser with a superb outswinger that was caught behind to end the 72-run partnership.
Potts’ century was brought up when Head launched him into the crowd as England’s miserable session continued. Head did attempt to settle himself down having not quite recaptured his formidable batting from the previous day while Smith started in scratchy fashion.
Capping a forgettable morning for England, Smith was dropped at leg-slip by Crawley in a sharp chance down to his left to deny Josh Tongue another wicket against the Australia captain. Jacks’ woes continued when he could not hang on to a bullet from Head that was rifled back to him in the final over before lunch.
Head eyed a maiden double century but his hoodoo of getting out between 150-175 continued shortly after the interval when he missed a premeditated sweep and fell lbw to Bethell with his review proving unsuccessful.
After letting Head get his moment in the sun as he acknowledged the fans, Khawaja stepped onto the field amid a loud ovation but the game then went through a rare lull this series.
Khawaja and Smith played watchfully, with Ben Stokes pushing his battered body in a lionhearted spell with the old ball. Having been the most consistent and threatening bowler of an inexperienced attack, it was curious that Stokes decided not to have a breather until the second new ball.
Having sprayed the ball to start the innings, Potts and Carse were thrown the second new ball which did offer some swing as Australia closed in on England’s first innings total.
Khawaja made just 10 off his first 40 deliveries before briefly winding back the clock with a gorgeous drive down the ground off Potts. England once again appeared to be unravelling with Carse curiously bowling over the wicket despite Khawaja’s last 12 dismissals to right-arm pace being from around the wicket.
But Khawaja missed a full toss from Carse and then unwisely decided to review with ball-tracking confirming it was smashing the bottom of the middle stump. The crowd again rose, but there was no big wave of the bat for Khawaja and time will tell if he bats again in his Test career.
Alex Carey looked in glorious touch before on 16 glancing Tongue to leg-slip – the third time in four innings he has fallen in that manner. Cameron Green, batting at No.8, entered under enormous pressure having found himself being unable to convert starts and repeatedly falling in unusual ways.
Green started well with a glorious drive then pulled Stokes into the crowd as he moved to 37 in good time. But the critics will again be lining up after Green threw it away when he spooned a short Carse delivery straight to deep square leg.
Beau Webster, often competing with Green for a spot in the team, looked composed in his Ashes debut as he and Smith ensured England’s tired bowlers will have to back up for a third consecutive day.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
