Travis Head puts Australia on front foot against India with first WTC final hundred
Displaying counter attacking brand of cricket, Travis Head rescued Australia after they lost an early wicket – their third – early after Lunch on the first day of the 2023 World Test Championship Final with his sixth Test Hundred. It was a fourth century for Head in the ongoing WTC cycle.
Laced with 14 fours and one maximum, Head reached the triple figure mark off 106 deliveries.
Coming in to bat following Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal off Mohammed Shami’s incoming delivery, Head partnered up with Steve Smith and had orchestrated a 150 plus run stand for the fourth wicket the time he scored his century.
“Travis Head just kept playing his shots. I felt the Indians, when in the early overs – they pitched up – didn’t get anything, they should’ve just bowled short at him for four-I five overs. I think he got out of jail very easily. He got a lot of easy runs square of the wicket,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly told Star Sports.
Earlier, Australia had lost two wickets for 73 at the end of the first session as Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur notched Usman Khawaja (0 off 10) and David Warner (43 off 60).
India captain Rohit Sharma would win the toss and opt to field first at The Oval. The runner ups of the 2019/21 WTC cycle opted for four quicks and just the sole spinner in their bowling attack.
The number one Test bowler in the ICC Rankings, Ravichandran Ashwin was left while Umesh Yadav and Thakur accompanied Shami and Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja made for the sole spin option in the XI.
India qualified for the 2023 World Test Championship Final second on the points table with 127 points and 58.8 Points Percentage System (PCT). While they lost the series in South Africa and drew a five-match series in England, India enjoyed a near perfect record at home with wins against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Australia and another away series triumph in Bangladesh.
Australia on the other hand, qualified top of the table with wins in all three home series during the 2021/23 cycle including a 4-0 Ashes thumping. Other than this, the Pat Cummins-led side regered a 1-0 in Pakan and a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka before losing 2-1 in India.
