Sydney: Travis Head continued his dominant form with a third century of the Ashes series on Tuesday, powering Australia to 281-3 at lunch on the third day of the fifth and final Test.

The left-handed opener reached the interval at 162 not out, having dismantled the England attack at the Sydney Cricket Ground to leave the hosts trailing by 103 runs in their first-innings response to England's 384.

Head, who moved to the top of the order earlier in the series due to an injury to Usman Khawaja, reached his hundred off just 105 deliveries. The milestone marks his 12th Test century and his third of the summer, following match-winning performances in Perth and Adelaide. He celebrated by windmilling his bat before holding his helmet aloft on the handle of his bat.

Australia added 115 runs to their overnight score of 166-2 for the loss of only one wicket. Nightwatchman Michael Neser provided stubborn resistance, facing 90 balls for his 24 runs before being caught behind off Brydon Carse. His departure brought Steve Smith to the crease, who remained 16 not out at the break.

England’s frustration was compounded by missed opportunities in the field. Head was dropped on 121 when Will Jacks grassed a chance near the boundary, and Smith received a reprieve on 12 when Zak Crawley put down a catch at leg slip.

Earlier in the match, England's total was anchored by Joe Root’s masterful 160. However, the visitors now find themselves under pressure as Head accelerates Australia toward a potential first-innings lead. Australia has already retained the Ashes with a -1 lead in the five-match series.

Head’s prolific run has seen him pass the 500-run mark for the series, becoming the first Australian opener since Matthew Hayden in 2002-03 to record three centuries in a single Ashes campaign.

With inputs from AFP