Travis Head has laid down a marker forward of the Ashes, proving he has the sport to work in England with a blazing century to assist Australia to 3-327 on day one of many World Test Championship ultimate in opposition to India.
On a dominant first day for Australia to open their tour, Head completed unbeaten on 146 whereas Steve Smith walked off beside him 95 not out at The Oval on Wednesday.
David Warner additionally did sufficient to make sure he’ll play in subsequent week’s first Ashes Test with a combating 43, earlier than being caught down legside when a giant rating beckoned.
But will probably be Head and Smith who may have commanded most consideration from England’s gamers on their golf journey in Scotland.
Australia’s personal model of England’s ‘Bazball’ phenomenon, Head once more scored at a fast price with one other counter-attacking hundred after arriving at 3-76.
Dropped for the final Test of the 2019 Ashes when he averaged 27.28, Head’s first abroad Test century confirmed he’s a distinct batsman now.
He flamboyantly flicked the ball off his pads, and upper-cut Mohammed Shami to after which over the third-man boundary off back-to-back balls.
When India adopted a barrage of brief balls after tea it briefly slowed him, however whereas he took a glancing blow to the helmet he introduced up his century hooking Shami.
The 29-year-old then took to Shardul Thakur late within the day with a swashbuckling cowl drive and one other uppercut amongst his 22 boundaries.
“Technically I’ve made those changes, not just for England, but all around,” Head stated.
“There are certain parts of your game you adapt to each conditions you go to. That’s the same going anywhere.
“But the foundations I’ve set with my approach have positively modified loads since 2019. I felt like coming right here I used to be in a greater place.”
Head hit two centuries in the 2021-22 home Ashes, but the only thing that could offer England more nightmares than him firing would be a merciless Smith.
In his first Test in England since his Bradman-esque 2019 Ashes, Smith looked just as determined in his 227 balls on Wednesday.
Australia’s vice-captain left outside his off stump patiently, and worked balls off his toes to the square-leg and mid-on boundaries as regularly as he did against England four years ago.
Between them, the pair put on an unbeaten 251-run stand, giving Australia the clear advantage after they were asked to bat.
The under-pressure Warner, meanwhile, would have been frustrated with what could have been.
He survived the difficult opening spell from Shami, who mimicked Stuart Broad’s tactics from 2019, coming around the wicket at the left-hander.
And after he watched Usman Khawaja perish for a duck to Mohammed Siraj and fought through a tricky period with the moving Dukes ball in gloomy conditions, Warner briefly looked ready to shine.
He pulled Shami for four when the Indian quick briefly went over the wicket to him for three balls, and took 16 off one Umesh Yadav over as he played with freedom outside off.
But as a big score that would have helped his plans to retire from Test cricket at the SCG in January loomed, Warner gloved a short ball down legside from Thakur and was out just before lunch.
Marnus Labuschagne followed soon after when bowled for 26 by Shami, after copping a painful morning blow to the thumb off Siraj that has since been cleared of causing damage.
But from there Head and Smith took cost, in an ominous signal for not solely India however for England and the summer time forward.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
