Travis Head takes advantage of England’s short stuff to keep Australia in fight | Geoff Lemon

In the most testing of circumstances and when his team needed it the most, Travis Head rescued Australia again

Two and a half Ashes Tests into the series, this was the real quiz. The third day at Headingley involved a lot of waiting, the covers coming on and off in a damp cold dance of the seven veils. An extra two sessions for England to leave Mark Wood floating in the plasma tank, soothing his mind with a tropical VR experience while infusing his fast-bowling muscles with restorative calf’s blood.

Then, it was on. Some distance after an early tea break, Australia got ordered out to bat, already four wickets down, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head to the middle. Throughout the contests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, England’s bowling has not quite done the deed. Here in Leeds, Wood rocketed through Australia in first-day sunshine, before this second-innings stanza under cloud.