Head, Smith centuries put Australia in control after 3 days of the final Ashes test

SYDNEY (AP) — Travis Head's third century of the series and Steve Smith's first guided Australia to a 134-run first-innings lead over England by stumps on the third day of the fifth and final Ashes test.

Head resumed Tuesday at 91 and was out for 163 from 166 balls, a masterful innings to follow his match-winning 123 in the second innings of the first test at Perth and his 170 in the second innings of the third test at Adelaide.

Smith was 129 not out at stumps, elevating a relatively disappointing series with the bat. His previous highest score in the series was 61 in the first innings at Adelaide.

The century was Smith's 13th in Ashes tests, the 37th of his career and his fifth at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With it, he moved up to sixth on the all-time list of most test centuries.

At stumps, Australia was 518-7 in reply to England's first innings of 384.

Beau Webster was unbeaten on 42 and had put on 81 runs with Smith for the eighth wicket, expanding Australia's lead.

“It was a really nice day today with a couple of nice partnerships,” Smith said. "Hopefully, we can put a little partnership together, get up over a 200 lead and the wicket starts to play a few more tricks.

“I just love batting here, obviously it's my home deck. I know the ground really well and when I get in here I really like batting here."

While Head and Smith's centuries elicited huge cheers and Head's departure earned a standing ovation, the greatest cheers of the day were reserved for Usman Khawaja when he arrived at the crease in his 88th and final test for Australia. Khawaja will retire at the end of the series.

He made 17 from 49 balls at the ground where he made his test debut 15 years ago, and he departed also to a standing ovation. Khawaja is an Australian fan favorite for his dogged nature and, as a Pakistan-born Muslim, for his courage to discuss issues of race and belonging.

Head reached triple figures from 105 balls, becoming the first Australian opener since Matthew Hayden in 2002-03 to post three centuries in an Ashes series.

The 32-year-old left-hander reached the milestone with the 17th boundary of his innings.

His two previous centuries contributed heavily to Australia retaining the Ashes in 11 days of action. In Sydney, he's helped the home team rebound after England's drought-breaking win last week in the fourth test in Melbourne.

Head had a big reprieve when he was dropped on 121 by Will Jacks from Brydon Carse’s bowling. He hit a short ball out to mid-wicket where Jacks put down a regulation chance.

He slowed his run-rate for a while but then accelerated after nightwatchman Michael Neser (24) was caught behind off Brydon Carse, ending a 72-run third-wicket stand.

Head hit the first six of the innings and then surpassed 150 with another boundary to take him to 153 from 152 balls. His tally was up to 24 boundaries and a six by lunch on Day 3. When he was out for 163 in the second session, Australia was 288-4.

Smith then shared partnerships of 51 with Khawaja, 27 with Alex Carey (16) and 61 with Cameron Green, who threw away a good start and was out for 37 when he was caught trying to pull a short ball from Carse. Green's single off Ben Stokes in the 94th over brought Australia level with England's total, then Smith's boundary in the same over took the home side into the lead.

Smith reached his century from 166 balls with 11 fours and a six.

He has always been hyperactive at the crease and hypersensitive to movement in the crowd even well away from the bowler’s arm. On Tuesday he was especially energetic, hopping, bouncing, gesturing, wandering away from the crease, turning somersaults as he evaded short-pitched balls and ending the day bedaubed in dirt from pitch.

At one point he asked Carse to turn his sunglasses around because the reflection was distracting.

“It just kind of happens when I'm out there and when I'm doing those things it means I'm in a good zone,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we can see a few more of them.”

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Australia's Steve Smith reacts during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Steve Smith gestures during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

=Australia's Steve Smith celebrates after scoring a century during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Steve Smith reacts as he avoids a bouncer during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

England's Brydon Carse reacts after having a video review denied by the third umpire during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Michael Neser walks from the field after he was dismissed during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Travis Head is congratulated by teammate Michael Neser, right, after scoring a century during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Travis Head celebrates after scoring a century during play on day three of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

PARIS (AP) — Brigitte Bardot's funeral will be held Wednesday with a private service in Saint-Tropez and a public homage at the French Riviera resort where she lived for more than half a century after retiring from movie stardom at the height of her fame.

The animal rights activist and far-right supporter died Dec. 28 at age 91 at her home in southern France.

Once one of the world’s most photographed women and a defining screen siren of the 1960s, the ceremony will take place at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church in the presence of guests invited by the family and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals.

The service is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., according to the foundation.

Local authorities said the ceremony will be broadcast live on large screens set up at the port and two plazas in the small town, allowing residents and admirers to follow the farewell.

After the church service, Bardot is to be buried “in the strictest privacy” at a cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Saint-Tropez town hall.

She had long called Saint-Tropez her refuge from the celebrity that once made her a household name.

A public homage will take place at a nearby site for admirers of the woman whose image once symbolized France’s postwar liberation and sensuality.

“Brigitte Bardot will forever be associated with Saint-Tropez, of which she was the most dazzling ambassador,” the town hall said last week. “Through her presence, personality and aura, she marked the history of our town.”

Bardot settled decades ago in her seaside villa, La Madrague, and retired from filmmaking in 1973 at age 39, during an international career that spanned more than two dozen films.

She later emerged as an animal rights activist, founding and sustaining a foundation devoted to the protection of animals.

While she withdrew from the film industry, she remained a highly visible and often controversial public figure through decades of militant animal rights activism and links with far-right politics.

She will be buried in the so-called marine cemetery, where her parents are also interred.

The cemetery, overlooking the Mediterranean sea, is also the final resting place of several cultural figures, including filmmaker Roger Vadim, Bardot’s first husband, who directed her breakout film “And God Created Woman,” a role that made her a worldwide star.

People walk in. Street leading to Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church before Brigitte Bardot's funeral ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Saint-Tropez, southern France. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

A police officer signs the condolence book outside Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church before Brigitte Bardot's funeral ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Saint-Tropez, southern France. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

A woman carries a bouquet of flowers reading" BB, memory of an eternal animals lover" outside Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church before Brigitte Bardot's funeral ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Saint-Tropez, southern France. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Flowers lay at actor Brigitte Bardot's home in Saint-Tropez, southern France, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 after the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has died. She was 91. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

A woman lays flowers at actor Brigitte Bardot's home in Saint-Tropez, southern France, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 after the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has died. She was 91. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

FILE - Former French film star and animal right activist Brigitte Bardot acknowledges applause prior to a press conference, Sept. 28, 2006 in Paris. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File)

FILE - French actress Brigitte Bardot poses with a huge sombrero she brought back from Mexico, as she arrives at Orly Airport in Paris, France, on May 27, 1965. (AP Photo/File)