After Travis Head continued a blistering run of type that has made him close to undroppable with a barnstorming century at The Oval, he delivered an ominous Ashes warning to England.
Head, man of the collection within the final Ashes in Australia, pounded an unbeaten 146 in simply 156 deliveries on the opening day of the World Test Championship last in opposition to India.
It got here as a part of a 251-run stand with Smith, who completed the day on 95 not out, with one other century looming for a batter Head stated appeared immovable.
While his personal type, batting within the rapid-scoring “BazBall” fashion England has championed has made Head a severe Ashes weapon, it’s the sluggish construct of Smith that would trigger most concern.
Smith warmed up with some county cricket matches for Sussex and if not for a number of issues that “didn‘t go his way” could have piled on some big scores.
But the man who pounded an unforgettable 774 runs in the 2019 Ashes, at an average of 110, is warming to his task again and Head said England should be worried.
“He loves batting over here,” Head said of Smith.
“He played county cricket, I felt like there was moments where he probably could have got a couple of big scores there, a few things didn‘t go his way – but he prepared well.
“It seems like he’s in an ideal area, I understand how a lot he loves the atmosphere over right here, enjoying over right here.
“He performs fantastically and so it’s good to see him within the runs and hopefully many extra tomorrow.”
Head stated he felt like he batted within the “shadow” of Smith at The Oval and noticed important indicators of a grasp at work.
“He‘s our best batter and unbelievable in these conditions and he receives so much attention from the opposition in terms of plans and how difficult it is to bowl to,” he stated.
“So I’ve always said going out to bat with him, it feels like you’re in the shadow of that and you can sort of sneak under the radar and go about your business because he’s drawn so much attention.
“It felt like that again today, it felt like he wasn’t going to leave anywhere, he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He was at the other end and sort of got in that rhythm and just went about business.
“A lot of balls that he may play or play out is a lot different to me, so I think we complement each other completely differently but in the partnership it works really nicely.”
Head, who’s chasing his profession greatest rating of 175 that he scored in opposition to the West Indies in Adelaide final December, stated he was flourishing in an atmosphere that helps him it doesn’t matter what scores he makes.
“All I can do is try and be as consistent as I can be on the field, off the field, enjoy myself. It’s a bloody enjoyable team to play under and play with,” he stated.
“Obviously, I like to enjoy myself. We all know the right moments to do that, the right moments to knuckle down. I feel like it just plays really nicely into my game and the environment that I like to play under and what’s being created.
“I think I’ve flourished under this environment but also technically and everything in part of my game, the ownership around my own game, people I have around me.
“I think as you go on your career, turning 30 this year, you go through periods and I’ll fall back on them and I feel like I’m in a nice position all round.”
Australia reached 3-327 at stumps.
Source: www.news.com.au
