Adelaide: If this match is henceforth to be known as the Christmas Test, then Friday afternoon became Travis Head’s Christmas party at an enraptured Adelaide Oval.

The day’s play became both a farewell bash for England’s Ashes hopes and a funeral for “Bazball”, with Ben Stokes unable to conjure a miracle with either bat or ball.

Travis Head kisses the pitch.Credit: Getty Images

Head started the touring team’s rot with a Perth hundred that “knocked the wind out of us” in Stokes’ words; he was duly in place to effectively end the contest with another century. A lead of 356 with six wickets in hand can only grow to world-record dimensions.

By stumps, Head’s innings had swelled to 142 from 196 balls with the promise of more to come on day four. Alongside him was Alex Carey (52 not out), who has the chance to make a hundred in each innings. Whatever happens, it’s hard to see Pat Cummins declaring early.

Upon getting to three figures, Head dropped his bat, helmet and gloves and kneeled to theatrically kiss the oval’s drop-in pitch. As was occasionally said of Brian Lara after a big innings, Head would be happy to roll this pitch up and take it everywhere.

He was watched proudly by his wife, Jess, who sat in the red members’ seats a few metres away from the SACA directors who can comfortably now lay claim to possession of the finest and best-loved cricket ground on the planet. With 53,696 spectators........

© The Sydney Morning Herald