It was a day for heads at the Gabba.

England didn’t have theirs in the right place while bowling a string of no-balls in the morning, with main culprit Ben Stokes overstepping 14 times - with most undetected thanks to a technological glitch.

Travis Head later inflicted the most pain on the tourists by carving a fine quickfire century to turn the screw, with the 85-ball ton the third-quickest in Ashes history.

And then, the centurion almost lost his head thanks to a rarely-seen beamer that floored him.

Just minutes after an animated celebration for his third Test ton, Head faced up to Mark Wood as the English quick bowled his first delivery with the new ball.

It slipped high out of his hand and thundered toward Head’s upper chest and neck at more than 140km/h, leaving the batsman milliseconds to take evasive action.

Head’s left glove took the brunt of the blow, before the ball ricocheted into the grille of his helmet. He let out an almighty grunt before crumbling to the turf, as the Gabba crowd booed their disapproval.

“That’s hit me in the head! Got me one!” Head could be heard saying over the stump mike.

The South Australian was OK to continue and see out the remaining three overs of the day before stumps.

Head finished the day unconquered on 112no off just 95 balls, taking the game further away from England to lead a response of 7-343 following the tourists’ paltry 147 on Wednesday.

“It was entertaining cricket and we have smiles on our faces,” said David Warner, who was almost a centurion in his own right before a soft dismissal on 94.

“To play like that - that’s the Travis Head we know.”

Head’s ton trailed only Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball century at the WACA Ground in 2006 and a 76-ball effort from England’s Gilbert Jessop back in 1902 for the quickest in Ashes history.

“I think my technique and composure at the crease, I was really relaxed today and just trying to take that moment in,” Head said.

“I got opportunities to present themselves to score and I was able to take them and put pressure back on bowlers at certain periods.

“I felt like at moments they bowled really well and I took some chances as well on the way at the back end into the new ball, but I felt like I gave myself a great opportunity and I felt like my technique is in a really great space.

“Technically, mentally I feel really composed and relaxed in the environment, it’s a huge environment and they came extremely hard today, so to be able to be in the moment is a great feeling.

“I’m not always guaranteed runs and I know that and it was the same today, I found the first 20 runs really tough.

“The game opened up a little bit and I was able to take my opportunities, it’s not going to happen all the time but I put myself in that position which is pleasing.”