The Ashes

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Travis Head wants to remain at the top of Australia's batting order after a run-laden Ashes.

Pressed into service when Usman Khawaja was injured in the first Test, Head has not looked back and has now scored 600 runs in the series against England.

That milestone was brought up in the first innings of the fifth Test as he made his way to 163 off 166 balls.

"I've enjoyed it, it's been good and very pleased to be able to contribute the way I have here," Head said, after hitting a 12th Test century.

"I'm not normally the one that's doing the heavy lifting. The likes of Marnus (Labuschagne) and Smudge (Steve Smith) over the last period of time have been the heavy-lifters and the guys that have really, really driven games, and Davey (Warner).

"I've been very lucky to bat around those guys. So it's nice to pull my finger out and help them out on the other side."

Asked if it was a no-brainer that he remains at the top, particularly with Khawaja retiring after the Sydney Test, he replied: "Probably likely.

"But again, this rolling order and where we think guys are going to match up and where we're going to fit guys in is still where my head's at.

"And I think the leadership of the group, the selectors, we've been pretty open about that - how we match up and and how we want to best suit this team.

"I've always said I'm happy either way."

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Australia refused to provide a post-play interview with broadcaster ABC following comments made by Stuart Clark.

Clark, the former Australia fast bowler, is working for ABC on its radio coverage of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

He spoke about chairman of selectors George Bailey, Cricket Australia's chief of cricket James Allsop and high performance general manager Ben Oliver.

"James Allsopp who runs cricket in Australia, the head of cricket, community cricket, is a grade club cricket coach that throws underarm balls to kids," Clark said on the ABC.

"That's what his background is. He's a lovely guy, don't get me wrong. But he now runs the whole of cricket. He can't tell Australian coach Andrew McDonald or captain Steve Smith what to do.

"Ben Oliver runs high-performance cricket, but I'm not really sure what he does now.

"Then you have George, who is the chairman of selectors. Does he have the gravitas or the leadership skills to tell Andrew McDonald and Steve Smith or Pat Cummins what to do? He should do, 100%, but I don't think he does."

Travis Head performed Australia's media duties following play on Tuesday in Sydney.

Cricket Australia have been contacted for comment.

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Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath suggested England's resilience for Test cricket has been "found wanting" during the Ashes.

Australia ground the tourists into the dirt on day three of the fifth Ashes Test by reaching 518-7 with a lead of 134.

England took three wickets in the afternoon session but, rather than letting the position slip as their opponents have during the series, Australia batted on with Steve Smith ending the day 129 not out.

"It has been a very good for Australia and that pitch was hard work but it just shows that resilience, that mental toughness that Australia have for Test cricket which England have been found wanting a little bit this series," McGrath told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"England struggled bowling out there consistently.

"Steve Smith showed what he's capable of and we've seen it before.

"If the Australians come out tomorrow and keep batting, keep piling on the runs, every run hurts for England."