The Ashes best bets for day three and odds: Head century puts Aussies in control

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for the Ashes between Australia and England.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 11.30pm Thursday

Scoreboard
Australia 343-7 (Head 112 not out, Robinson 3-48) lead England 147 (Buttler 39, Cummins 5-38) by 196 runs

Best prices
1-18 Australia, 25-1 England, 16-1 Draw

Story of day two

With a measly first-innings total of 147 to defend, England needed early wickets and the impressive Ollie Robinson removed opener Marcus Harris in the sixth over of the day.

The visiting pace bowlers created plenty of other chances but David Warner rode his luck, being bowled off a no-ball and dropped at slip by Rory Burns, and England also fluffed a couple of clear run-out opportunities.

That enabled Warner (94) and Marnus Labuschagne (74) to take Australia past England's first-innings score for the loss of only one wicket. The hosts slipped from 189-2 to 195-5 as England got rid of Steve Smith (12), Warner and Cameron Green (0) but number five Travis Head counter-attacked superbly.

The South Australia captain reached his century off just 85 balls and finished the day unbeaten on 112 in partnership with Mitchell Starc.

The scoreboard probably flattered the Aussies but England were not ruthless enough in the field and skipper Joe Root has plenty on his mind. Star all-rounder Ben Stokes appears to be struggling with a knee injury and spinner Jack Leach was viciously targeted by the home batsmen, conceding 95 runs in just 11 overs.

Star of the day

Travis Head rewarded the Australian selectors' faith by cracking the third-fastest Ashes century of all time, just when England were battling their way back into the contest.

There was pressure on Head, with the experienced Usman Khawaja waiting in the wings, but he is a classy player with a Test average five runs higher than any England batsman bar Joe Root and his blistering start to the series is a huge positive for Australia.

Moment of the day

In the 13th over of the day England thought they had the big wicket of David Warner, bowled by Ben Stokes, but a no-ball was called. Stokes overstepped regularly in the morning session and Warner, reprieved on 17, went on to make 94.

View from the camp

'It came out well today. I was consistent and had a lot of plays and misses. I sort of felt like I was going to get Warner out every over. He left well at times but there were times when I thought he was going to nick it.'

Ollie Robinson, England bowler

Day three preview

Rain disrupted the first day of the Brisbane Test but, unfortunately for England supporters and draw backers, the forecast looks brighter for the remainder of the match.

England's first task is to wrap up Australia's innings before they can significantly add to their 196-run lead and Coral and Hills quote the Aussies' first-innings runs line at 400.5.

Given the opportunities created by Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes on the second morning, England should be confident of bowling out Australia for less than 400 especially as the second new ball is only four overs old.

Travis Head, unbeaten on 112, remains a huge threat in this situation and Hills go 11-8 that he reaches 150. He scored 230 off 127 balls in a one-day match in October and, batting with the tail, has complete licence to go for his shots.

The new ball has caused problems in both innings of this Test so England middle-order man Ollie Pope looks a big price to top-score second time around.

Coming in with the score at 11-3 on the first morning, Pope faced more balls than any of his teammates in the first innings and only Jos Buttler (39) eclipsed his bustling knock of 35.

Skipper Joe Root is 9-4 favourite despite a duck in the first innings but he has struggled against Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in recent Ashes series and is yet to make a Test century in 18 innings in Australia.

Best bet

Ollie Pope top England second-innings runscorer
1pt 6-1 Coral

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