Running machine Travis Head hit a stunning 163 and Steve Smith an unbeaten 129 as Australia built a 134-run lead over England to take control on the third day of the fifth and final Ashes Test on Tuesday.
It was the third ton of the series for Head, who opened the series in destructive fashion, to go along with the phenomenal 123 wins he made in Perth and 170 in Adelaide.
Smith was equally impressive, with his first hundred of the series taking the hosts to 518-7 by stumps at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground in response to England’s 384.
Beau Webster was alongside him on 42 at the close.
Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another victory to boost morale following their previous Test victory in Melbourne.
“Nice batting wicket there. Nice to start my innings after a great innings from Travis Head,” Smith told Fox Sports.
“When you’re there with him, they forget about you and I was able to get on with my work. It worked out well today.”
Head scored three figures off just 105 balls and looked destined to score 200.
But he was undone in the third over after lunch by the part-time spinner of Jacob Bethell, who was bowling for the first time in the series.
In his second over, Bethell trapped the 32-year-old heavyweight by attempting a sweep shot to end a magnificent shot.
Skipper Smith treated Bethell with contempt, bowling him for a big six en route to a 37th Test hundred.
It was the 13th century of Smith’s Ashes to overtake English legend Jack Hobbs. Only Donald Bradman with 19 has more.
Usman Khawaja, in his 88th and final Test after announcing his retirement, fell in weight to Brydon Carse for 17 while Alex Carey made 16 before Josh Tongue took the lead.
Night watchman Michael Neser had 24 and Cameron Green 37.
“It’s now proper Test cricket in terms of graft and things you have to put in,” said Bethell, as the tourists attempt to end a dismal series on a high.
“Yeah, it was a tough day, but you know, that’s what it’s about. We’ve got to go out tomorrow, take those three wickets early and go back.”
Abandoned catches
Head took over at 91 and Neser at 1 after the absence of Jake Weatherald (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (48) on Monday.
Head smashed a maiden boundary at midwicket off Ben Stokes and reached three figures with his 17th four, running through Tongue’s covers, reeling his bat in celebration.
It was his 12th century and the first in Sydney to cement his reputation as one of the game’s most versatile batsmen.
Head only moved to the top spot in the second innings of the first Test in Perth due to Khawaja’s back injury, but he made that position his own.
With his hundred secured, he hit three consecutive fours off Matthew Potts, then had a huge release on 121 when he pulled Carse and Will Jacks dropped a keeper near the ropes.
Neser ably stayed on for 90 balls to thwart England, who wasted their last two reviews on him.
Batting like a top-order batsman, he hit four boundaries before taking a slight advantage over wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Carse.
Smith, on 12, was dropped by Zak Crawley at a leg slip, but he arrived safely at lunch and passed 50 with a ground drive.
When Khawaja departed, Carey produced a series of textbook shots before being dismissed in the same manner as in his last two Tests.
Unfazed, Smith slammed Stokes into the ropes for four to put Australia in the lead for the first time and, steely-eyed, continued towards another elegant century.
All-rounder Green came into the Test under increasing pressure after failing to shoot with a stick or ball throughout the series, with his automatic selection in question.
He produced a magnificent cover and a big six to show flashes of what he can do.
But he then needlessly sent Carse to Ben Duckett in the deep to throw away his wicket.
