Australia has dominated the primary day of the World Test Championship Final after Travis Head made historical past in a exceptional innings.
After two years and 69 Test matches, Australia and India had been the 2 groups left to combat for world supremacy within the longest type of the sport.
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Sent in on a inexperienced prime, India pinned Australia down within the first hour, snagging Usman Khawaja for a duck.
But after the sluggish begin, the wicket stopped enjoying tips and Australia opened up earlier than shedding David Warner for 43 and Marnus Labuschagne for 26.
Usually it could be a Steve Smith rescue mission however as an alternative it was Travis Head who saved the day.
The South Australia turned the primary man to attain a century in a World Test Championship Final, racing to his maiden ton in England off simply 106 balls.
It was additionally his first Test hundred outdoors of Australia and his first century towards India.
Smith then again crawled to his half-century off 144 balls, however the efforts of the pair pushed Australia into the field seat within the conflict.
Justin Langer was blown away by Head’s innings.
“The thing that I find most fascinating is that Steve Smith, one of the greatest players of this generation, is playing second fiddle role to Travis Head,” he mentioned.
“I mean that is how well Travis Head is playing here. He is the one who is shining. Steve Smith has faced 160 balls for 57 runs. Travis Head, 105 runs off 114 balls.
“Just goes to show how well Travis Head has gone about his business today.”
Harsha Bhogle quipped: “I suspect Travis Head might be playing first fiddle and second fiddle and Steve Smith is down in the orchestra somewhere.”
Meanwhile, India made a daring resolution to not choose the world’s No. 1 ranked Test match bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, a transfer which a number of greats consider has already backfired.
1.35am: Aussie freak is enjoying a distinct recreation
Travis Head has introduced up his first century on international soil, belting 100 off 106 balls in a spectacular efficiency.
It’s additionally the primary ever century in a World Test Championship remaining.
His first abroad hundred and first towards India had been introduced up in an inning that was in contrast to something another participant might produce within the Aussie prime order.
While Steve Smith toiled his strategy to a 144-ball 50 on the different finish, Head introduced up the milestone with a streaky shot over the infield, however historical past will keep in mind the century slightly than the shot that introduced it up.
“That’s a brilliant moment for Travis Head,” Matthew Hayden mentioned in commentary.
“An important moment in this ultimate Test.
“He has been challenged. That’s why we love it. He has had conditions that haven’t been naturally in his favour but by gee, he has made some effort here today with an impressive strike rate. Just a tick under 100.
“A really exceptional performance. Here he is, amassing some sort of legacy for himself, Travis Head.”
Head has change into one in all Australia’s most aggressive and dependable batsmen in recent times.
After entering into an out of the Aussie Test aspect, Head has cemented his place because the Aussie No. 5.
Following a lean trot on the subcontinent in excursions of Pakistan and Sri Lanka final yr, which finally noticed Head dropped for the primary Test in India in February and March, he got here into this match with 760 runs in his final 13 innings, averaging 69.1 with a strike price of 85.2, together with 5 50s and a century.
1.19am: Steve Smith lastly brings up 50
It’s taken 144 balls however Steve Smith has lastly cracked the half century.
But it could simply be the appetiser as one other milestone looms on the different finish …
Although it did additionally deliver up a 150 run partnership between Smith and Travis Head.
12.12am: Aussie freak makes it ‘look like a T20’
Australia have scored 97 runs for the lack of only one wicket, going to tea on day one of many World Test Championship at 3/170.
Travis Head has charged to 60 off 75, whereas Steve Smith is about however sluggish on 33 off 102 balls.
Australia will need to go on with it from right here.
Justin Langer informed Channel 7 he was blown away by Head’s efficiency.
“It was the Travis Head show,” he mentioned. “It is like having Adam Gilchrist or Rishabh Pant in your team. Great freedom and aggression and he put it right back on the Indian bowlers.
“And Steve Smith playing second fiddle — one the all-time great players is playing second fiddle to Travis Head. He’s making it look like a T20.”
11.49pm: Travis Head hits 50
As Australian followers have change into accustomed, Travis Head seems to be like he’s batting on a distinct wicket.
While Steve Smith has been struggling to 31 off 75 balls, Head has raced to 52 off 61 balls.
He’s smashed 9 fours and has threatened to utterly flip the sport in Australia’s favour.
It was 3/160 on the finish of the forty fourth over.
11.15pm: Game within the stability
While there haven’t been a variety of updates, it’s been some gripping cricket because the match hangs within the stability.
At 3/125 off 36 overs, Australia solely misplaced Marnus Labuschagne whereas including 52 runs, primarily due to 32 off 28 balls from Travis Head.
Steve Smith is struggling on the different finish on 19 off 57 balls however one other wicket now would swing the sport in India’s favour.
There’s quite a bit to play for.
10.18pm: Marnus gone after lunch
Marnus Labuschagne is again within the pavilion with out troubling the scorers after lunch with Mohammed Shami bowling an absolute pearler of a ball.
Pitching up, he obtained a little bit of motion again into Labuschagne who performed excessive of the ball and was bowled.
“Back-to-back wickets, one before lunch and now one after lunch,” Matthew Hayden mentioned in commentary. “That’s really going to cost Australia here.
“Wonderful piece of bowling. They have gone back in there for lunch and said, ‘right, we’ve got to get the ball fuller. We have to hit the stumps, hit the top of stumps’. And they have done exactly that.”
9.33pm: ‘Good toss to lose’
Both groups wished to bowl first however Australia could have been the fortunate losers of the toss as they appear to money in at The Oval.
Stepping out in an overcast London to a inexperienced wicket, it seemed prefer it was going to be a quick bowling paradise however whereas there’s been some motion, it has not produced the anticipated fireworks.
Australia struggled to attain on the primary hour of the day, going to drinks at 1/29 off 12 overs however bounced again within the second hour, scoring 1/44 in 11 overs within the second half of the session.
Just earlier than the break, Matthew Hayden requested was it a “good toss to win or a good toss to lose”.
“I think it might turn out to be a good toss to lose, really,” his co-commentator mentioned on the time. “It’s a tough one, isn’t it, look at the pitch and then think oh, some of us get carried away and not think this is going to change over five days.”
Australia go to the lunch break at 2/73, with Dave Warner’s wicket with 5 minutes left within the session in all probability splitting the spoils within the opening session.
But with the solar shining, Australia could like its possibilities with Marnus Labuschagne transferring to 26 and Steve Smith on 2 on the crease.
9.25pm: Warner’s unfortunate blow
David Warner wanted to get some runs to make sure his SCG retirement plan involves fruition however he’s change into the second wicket to fall.
Warner was wanting … nicely, Warner-esque, with some up and over minimize photographs, punishing cowl drives and searching fairly snug within the center.
But on 43 off 60 balls, Warner has been strangled down the leg aspect, getting a backside edge which was caught well however Srikar Bharat off Shardul Thakur.
8.55pm: Ponting nails it as Australia flip the script
India took a bet into the World Test Championship remaining, leaving out one of many biggest bowlers of all-time in Ravichandran Ashwin to go for a four-man tempo assault.
And with all of the quicks salivating over the inexperienced monster of a pitch, either side would have bowled first.
But as predicted, after a troublesome first hour, the runs have began coming simpler — and Ricky Ponting as soon as once more nailed it in commentary.
After the primary drinks break of the match, Umesh Yadav was the primary change bowler utilized by India and Ponting mentioned that Yadav can be the quickest of the Indian bowlers.
But he completely nailed what would occur subsequent.
“What comes with that is leaking of runs,” Ponting mentioned. “The harder you try to bowl and you can gone for 12 or 14 off the first few overs and the pressure comes back on you. He has to do well here, Umesh Yadav.”
After a single and a 4 to start out his first over, David Warner cashed in in the course of the second over, taking 4 fours off Yadav.
While it was 21 off his first two overs slightly than “12 or 14”, the Aussie legend has nailed it once more.
Australia went from 1/29 at drinks to 1/54 in three overs after drinks, releasing the strain valve and permitting Australia to get the run price as much as 3.30 an over.
Ponting really is the Nostradamus of the commentary field — hopefully he can predict an unlimited Aussie rating or one other huge David Warner rating, like he did on Boxing Day.
8.35pm: Australia get by means of opening hour
Australia have misplaced only one wicket however basically survived the primary hour of the World Test Championship remaining.
At 1/29 off the primary 12 overs, Ricky Ponting mentioned that with the quantity the ball has been transferring: “That first hour has been pretty evenly shared.”
7:47pm: Khawaja goes for a duck
India have held Australia down within the opening 4 overs of the World Test Championship remaining, and now they’ve a reward with Usman Khawaja getting a nick of Mohammed Siraj.
It leaves Australia 1/2 off 3.4 overs.
Khawaja wasn’t satisfied he had edged it however Warner confirmed he’d hear the nick.
Ricky Ponting mentioned on Seven: “He (Khawaja) did just leave the bat out there.”
It’s tough on Khawaja who had been arguably one of the best batsman in the course of the World Test Championship sequence.
He scored 1608 runs at a median of 69.91 in 16 matches, together with six centuries and 7 half-centuries.
He was second solely in runs to Joe Root’s 1915 runs at 53.19 in 22 matches.
7:35pm: One over down
The first over of the match is completed however perhaps not the motion anticipated on such a inexperienced wicket.
David Warner face Mohammed Shami and survived with a maiden, though it will likely be a troublesome first hour of the match.
7:05pm: India win the toss
That’s not an ideal begin for the Aussies — India have gained the toss on the inexperienced monster.
Pat Cummins mentioned he would have bowled too however added it wouldn’t make an excessive amount of of a distinction.
We’ll see after the primary hour.
But whereas Australia was as anticipated, India have omitted Ravichandran Ashwin, the ninth most prolific wicket taker in Test cricket historical past, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja successful the spinners slot.
“It is tough to leave Ashwin out,” Indian captain Rohit Sharma mentioned on the coin toss.
“He has been a matchwinner for us, it is not a great occasion to leave him out, but you have got to do what is best for the team in the given conditions.”
Australian XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.
Indian XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Srikar Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
6:30pm: ‘Don’t look down’: Test remaining pitch stuns
Say what you need concerning the pitches in Australia’s final sequence towards India, it seems the World Test Championship Final goes to have probably the most English of wickets.
In overcast situations in London, the pitch seems to be a inexperienced monster as you may hardly inform the pitch from the encompassing subject in lots of pics.
But there could also be extra pitch drama to come back after experiences that curators have ready two wickets for the match amid fears of protesters.
The activist group “Just Stop Oil” has been energetic at sporting occasions this summer time and the ICC has ready a contingency in case the principle wicket can’t be salvaged.
The ICC has up to date its enjoying situations for the ultimate in case the wicket is broken or deemed harmful.
“It’s something we got in the security briefing a couple days ago,” Aussie captain Pat Cummins mentioned.
“I’ve heard that they’re aware of it and kind of keep an eye out. But that’s as much as we’ve heard.
“So hopefully, it doesn’t happen, obviously. But I’ve heard there’s a few different events that have been affected.”
But as but, it’s onerous to think about which pitch it could be because the pitch is simply barely a distinct shade of inexperienced than the remainder of the sq..
Generally inexperienced pitches and overcast situations will produce swing bowling, which Australia will get pleasure from for its quicks together with Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Cameron Green.
However, India quicks had been simply as damaging with their swing bowling in the course of the Border-Gavaskar sequence, notably Mohammed Shami, who took 9 wickets at a median of 28.22 in three Tests, whereas Cummins led the way in which for Australia with three wickets at 39.65 in two matches.
Source: www.news.com.au
