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Centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head put England on the backfoot, Australia took charge on the third day of the Sydney Ashes Test.

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travis head And steve smith Scored a brilliant century on the third day 5th Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket GroundGuiding Australia to a dominant position. His flexibility and aggressive approach with the bat put England under serious pressure as the hosts took a good lead. Australia reached 518/7 by the end of play, leading England by 134 runs, giving them a firm grip on the game. England struggled to build on the lead that day as both Head and Smith held their own with determination, leaving the visitors with limited counter-attacking options. Australia’s lead in the third session, aided by these two centuries, put England in a position where they needed to pull together quickly to avoid an overmatch.

Travis Head’s unbeaten 163 and Steve Smith’s calm 129 provide stability as Australia dominate

Head’s blistering innings of 163 (166 balls, 24×4, 1×6) was a masterclass in attacking cricket. His innings included 24 fours and demonstrated his ability to accelerate the scoring when needed. Head came out with intent and quickly found his rhythm and dominated the bowlers with flair and composure. His aggressive but calculated approach meant he never panicked, even when the pressure mounted to take Australia’s innings forward. His partnership with Smith was vital, and together, they pushed Australia from a strong foundation to a strong position.

While Head provided the aggression, Smith’s 129 (205 balls, 15×4, 1×6) provided the right balance to Australia’s innings. Known for his meticulous technique and unwavering concentration, Smith faced 205 balls and hit 15 fours along with one six. There was patience in his innings and a keen sense of how to produce long, effective innings. While others around him lost their wickets, Smith stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking. Smith’s calmness, coupled with his ability to rotate the strike and build partnerships, ensured that Australia continued to dictate the flow of the match.

Also read: Ashes 2025-26: Fans go wild as Steve Smith lights up SCG with 37th century in Test cricket

England’s bowling attack is struggling with pressure and inaccuracy

The England bowlers were largely ineffective in stemming the flow of runs despite their best efforts. The day belonged to Australia’s batsmen, but England’s attack had a lot to do in reply. ben stokesDespite his reputation as a match-winner, he struggled to find breakthroughs and ended the day with figures of 2/87 from 26 overs.

Similarly, braydon carseJoe had been effective in previous seasons, finishing with figures of 3/108 from 23 overs. He was the best performer for England so far in the series. passion tonguetook the important wicket of alex carey But otherwise failed to trouble the batsmen much. With the ball frequently hitting the hitting zone and limited seam movement, it became difficult for the England bowlers to apply sustained pressure. As a result, they were unable to take advantage of any moments of weakness, leaving Australia in the driver’s seat. With their bowling attack under pressure, England would need a major effort to stop Australia’s further progress in the match.

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Also read: Ricky Ponting names Australia’s 16-man squad for Ashes 2027; Two uncapped players selected

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