NEW DELHI: Travis Head produced another memorable innings at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, celebrating his fourth successive Test century at his home venue in trademark fashion by removing his helmet and gloves, dropping to his knees, and kissing the pitch. The knock epitomised the aggressive "Travball" approach on Day 3 of the third Ashes Test.

The left-hander enjoyed a major slice of luck on 99 when he slashed hard at a Jofra Archer delivery, only for Harry Brook to spill a sharp chance at gully. Moments earlier, Head had survived a mix-up after nudging a Joe Root delivery into the leg side and setting off for a quick single, before being sent back by Alex Carey. He then endured a tense period, facing eight deliveries without adding to his score.

Breaking free, Head charged down the track to Root and lofted him straight back over his head to the long-on boundary to bring up his hundred, moving to 103 in emphatic style. The century was his 11th in Test cricket and his second in five innings since being promoted to open the batting in Perth, where his match-winning effort had powered Australia to an eight-wicket victory in the series opener.

By stumps, Head remained unbeaten on 142, sharing an unbroken 122-run stand with fellow South Australian Alex Carey, who was on 52. Australia closed the day on 271 for 4, stretching their overall lead to a commanding 356 runs.

Brook took two excellent catches in the slips to remove Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Cameron Green (7) off Josh Tongue's bowling, but the one he missed against Head was costly.

Stokes and ArcherThe Australians went in to bat after dismissing England for 286 just before lunch, after Ben Stokes and Archer helped cut the first-innings margin to 85 with a record 106-run ninth-wicket stand.

Stokes walked off the field yelling at himself and shaking his head after being bowled for 83 by Mitchell Starc, bringing an end to a defiant, 198-ball innings that dragged his team back into the contest.

After losing the first two tests in Perth and Brisbane and allowing Australia to post 371 in the first innings here, England's chances of keeping the five-test series alive seemed remote when Stokes went to the crease on Day 2 with the total at 71-4.

With England on the verge of collapsing at 168-8, Stokes joined forces with No. 10 Archer to bat out the evening session. The pair resumed Friday with England at 213 for eight, still 158 behind.

Australia wanted to clean up the last two wickets quickly but Stokes and Archer, who took a five-wicket haul when England was bowling, dug in.

Stokes stepped down the wicket to Scott Boland for a driven boundary to bring up the 50 partnership off 89 balls, then raised his half-century with a single off 159 deliveries. It was his slowest 50 in test cricket - his 37th - but vital for his team.

Reducing the deficit

Not long after, Archer took a single off Cummins to reach his first test half-century off 97 balls, bringing England's deficit under 100.

But the innings ended relatively quickly after left-armer Starc bowled Stokes with a delivery from over the wicket that angled back. The Stokes-Archer partnership was the highest ever for the ninth wicket for England at Adelaide.

All that time in the sun had an impact on England's bowling attack, though. Archer, who took five wickets in the first innings, took 0-15 in 10 overs. Stokes, England's highest wicket-taker this year, didn't bowl.

England is capable of chasing a big target in the fourth innings, chasing 370-plus against India twice in the last three years, so Bazball won't be completely dispensed with despite Stokes' stoic first innings.

(With AP Inputs)