Watch, Ashes | Brook does exact opposite of leading from front by dropping Head on 99 while captain

Australia practically sealed the Ashes on Day 3 of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval by securing a first innings lead of 85 runs before piling on 271/4 by Stumps. The tourists gave themselves a foundation to push back by reducing the hosts to 53/2 in the third innings but Travis Head and Usman Khawaja countered back with a quick 86-run stand. However, England struck back twice again to edge closer to parity even as skipper Ben Stokes remained in the dressing room leaving deputy Harry Brook in charge, but when the time came to convert they once again faltered. To make matters worse, it was the stand-in skipper himself at the heart of the blunder.

Head had made his way to 99 with Australia 201/4 when Jofra Archer took the ball in hand to bowl the 51st over. The right-arm quick steamed in from over the stumps and hit a widish length with the angle, tempting his counterpart into a cut, only for the Kookaburra to seam in significantly after hitting the deck. Cramped for room, all Head could managed was a top edge that went flying to Brook at gully and after a frenetic piece of action he emerged with the ball in hand, but his sullen expression told the real story. Brook had done well to get low to his left and get his palms underneath the ball but unfortunately for the youngster, he could not hold on as the red cherry popped straight back out to hand Head a reprieve. The Aussie had his mouth agape with a guilty grin on it, knowing he had just escaped the fate he suffered in 2022 against the West Indies. Archer hung his head back in frustration and exhaustion while Brook sheepishly got to his feet and looked around ashamed.

Head went on to pile 43 more runs on the day and remain unbeaten, his stand with Alex Carey well past the three-figure mark.

Celebration!