England stand on the brink of a crushing Ashes defeat after Travis Head's magnificent unbeaten 142 left Australia 356 runs ahead at stumps on day three in Adelaide.
The left-hander's commanding knock propelled the hosts to 271 for four in their second innings, placing them firmly in control of the third Test and within touching distance of an insurmountable 3-0 series lead.
Should England succumb to their third consecutive loss when play resumes on Saturday, the Ashes will have been decided in merely 10 days of cricket.
Such a swift conclusion would mark the fastest series defeat for England in over a century, surpassing even the 11 days Nasser Hussain's 2002-03 side endured against Australia.
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Head's century was his second of the series, following his match-winning hundred in the opening Test at Perth where he stepped in as an emergency opener.
The 31-year-old's remarkable affinity with his home ground continued, extending his record to four centuries in his last four appearances at the Adelaide Oval.
His path to three figures was not without drama, however.
Harry Brook put down a difficult chance in the gully when Head was on 99, adding to England's growing catalogue of dropped catches throughout the series.
England stand on the brink of a crushing Ashes defeat
|REUTERS
The batsman spent eight nervous deliveries stuck on 99 before dispatching Joe Root over the top for four, prompting a thunderous ovation from the Adelaide crowd.
The morning session had offered England a glimmer of optimism as Ben Stokes and Cameron Archer combined for a defiant ninth-wicket partnership worth 106 runs.
Their stand represented the highest by an England ninth-wicket pair on Australian soil since 1924.
They pushed the tourists' total to 286 all out, limiting the first-innings deficit to 85.
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Travis Head's magnificent unbeaten 142 left Australia 356 runs ahead at stumps on day three in Adelaide.
|REUTERS
Stokes ground his way to 83 from 198 balls, recording the slowest half-century of his Test career.
Archer contributed a maiden Test 50 with an innings of 51.
The captain fell to Mitchell Starc, bowled between bat and pad as he sought to accelerate with the second new ball, before Archer edged Scott Boland to slip.
The physical condition of England's captain emerged as a significant worry after Stokes failed to send down a single delivery during Australia's second innings despite the urgent need to dismiss Head.
Stokes ground his way to 83 from 198 balls
|REUTERS
Having spent more than five hours at the crease and battled cramp and dehydration in Thursday's 40-degree heat, Stokes appeared unable to contribute with the ball when his team needed him most.
Archer was also deployed sparingly as the Australian total mounted, placing considerable strain on England's depleted bowling attack.
Will Jacks struggled to fill the role of frontline spinner, conceding 107 runs from 19 overs on a surface that Nathan Lyon had exploited expertly, while Root was pressed into service for eight additional overs.
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