Travis Head Masterclass Buries Bazball. Test 3 Day 3 Review!
Tom Gallop and Moises Henriques dissect a dominant Day 3 for Australia in Adelaide, where Travis Head’s century all but secured the Ashes, leaving England staring at a record-breaking mountain to climb.
Travis Head: The King of Adelaide
Travis Head delivered what Gallop calls a "pub sing-along" masterclass, scoring his fourth century in four years at the Adelaide Oval. Henriques, a self-proclaimed "massive Travis Head fan," notes that while the innings was more measured than his usual high-octane knocks, it was perfectly suited to the flatter Adelaide pitch. Head’s unique ability to hit the ball late and dominate square of the wicket makes him "the king of South Australia." Even a late scare on 99, where Harry Brook dropped a "missile" of a catch, couldn't stop the hometown hero.
The "Cult" of Bazball Under Pressure
Henriques observes that the England dressing room has become "a bit like a cult" where no negative energy is allowed. While this creates a high-energy environment, he argues it has backfired strategically. England’s "one-gear" approach and lack of a specialist spinner to hold down an end—unlike Nathan Lyon for Australia—has left their bowlers exhausted. Henriques believes England's selection was flawed from the start, essentially picking a "white-ball squad" for a Red-ball series in Australia.
England’s Improbable Mountain
With Australia’s lead pushing past 350 (and likely toward 500), Gallop and Henriques debate if England has any hope. While Henriques acknowledges that the "Bazball" spirit means you can never completely rule them out, he admits the best they can realistically hope for is a grit-and-determination draw similar to Faf du Plessis’ legendary stand years ago. However, facing a fresh and well-rested Australian bowling attack on a wearing pitch makes even a draw seem impossible.
The "Selfless" Captain and the 99 Club
In a lighter moment, Henriques shares his own heartbreak of being stranded on 99 not out in a first-class game after his tail-end partners (including Nathan Lyon) were given out to poor decisions. He jokes that Travis Head should have let Alex Carey enjoy the spotlight for at least 48 hours after Carey's own century, but Head’s dominance was simply too much to contain.
Tactical Reshuffles: Where Does Everyone Fit?
The hosts discuss Australia's selection dilemmas once Steve Smith returns. Henriques suggests that Australia’s most balanced side would see Cameron Green and Alex Carey move down to six and seven, regardless of Carey's incredible batting form. He advocates for an "out and out batter" like Usman Khawaja or Marnus Labuschagne to occupy the top five, giving the all-rounders more time to recover between their bowling spells.
The Magic of Adelaide
Gallop, having attended the match in 40-degree heat, praises the "outstanding" atmosphere of Test cricket in Adelaide. Whether it's the pink ball or the red ball, the 50,000-strong crowd and the post-match culture make it the premier destination for cricket in Australia. Both hosts agree that while the "fat lady" is warming up her vocal cords for the Ashes series, the spirit of the game in Adelaide is alive and well.
See the full episode on Fanatics TV.
