Travis Head Makes History in WTC Final
Travis Head showcased a masterclass in cricket during the opening day of the highly anticipated World Test Championship final between Australia and India. The talented batsman, occupying the number five spot for Australia, displayed remarkable ease and consistency as he notched up his sixth Test century in just 106 balls. This achievement marked a historic moment as Head became the first cricketer to score a century in a World Test Championship final.
The first centurion in World Test Championship Final history 🥇
Take a bow, Travis Head 👏
Follow the #WTC23 Final 👉 https://t.co/wJHUyVnX0r pic.twitter.com/PFyd7UzcZX
— ICC (@ICC) June 7, 2023
Prior to Head’s remarkable feat, the Australian team faced a challenging situation. The aggressive Marnus Labuschagne fell for 26 off 62 balls, leaving Australia under pressure after the lunch break. Mohammed Shami, though not at his absolute best in the morning session, delivered a stunning ball to disturb Labuschagne’s off-stump. The full delivery swung back in from the fourth stump and clipped the off stump, showcasing Shami’s bowling prowess.
Travis Head, however, refused to let the pressure mount as he joined forces with Steve Smith in the middle. Head’s signature aggressive style came to the fore as he took on the Indian pacers, particularly targeting Shami and Mohammed Siraj. He confidently flicked anything directed towards his pads and executed precise cut shots with finesse.
Head’s 14th Test half-century arrived with a crisp backfoot punch off Shardul Thakur. Ravindra Jadeja, introduced into the attack in the 39th over, displayed excellent control over his bowling, conceding very few runs in his seven overs. Despite the efforts of Umesh Yadav towards the end of the session, Australia managed to score 97 runs in 28 overs.
The first session witnessed an intense battle between the Australian opening batsmen and the Indian bowlers. Mohammed Siraj’s fiery opening spell posed significant challenges, but it was Shardul Thakur who managed to dismiss the well-set David Warner, who had scored a promising 43 runs off 60 balls. Thakur cleverly targeted Warner’s rib cage with a short delivery, leading to a well-judged catch by wicketkeeper KS Bharat down the leg-side.
Opting to bowl in overcast conditions and on a pitch with a fair amount of grass, India made the bold decision to exclude Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing eleven, relying instead on a four-pronged pace attack featuring Shami, Siraj, Yadav, and Thakur. Both Siraj and Shami maintained tight control in the first hour, sharing six overs each and conceding only 29 runs.
Usman Khawaja, who has struggled in England in the past, had a disappointing start to the tour as he fell for a duck, edging a delivery from Shami that pitched outside the off stump and seamed away. Warner, determined to prove himself and secure his place in the playing XI for the upcoming Ashes series, displayed grit and capitalized on scoring opportunities whenever he was offered width.
As the session progressed, Labuschagne encountered a challenging moment when he suffered a painful blow to his left thumb from a sharp delivery by Siraj. However, he managed to survive two close DRS lbw appeals later in the session when Thakur was bowling.
True to the unpredictable English weather, the sun emerged during the second hour, making batting easier. Australia aimed to finish the session strongly, but Warner’s ill-fated pull shot off Thakur’s delivery disrupted their plans. Thakur cleverly angled the delivery into Warner, who was cramped for room, leading to a catch by Bharat, who justified his selection over Ishan Kishan with a sharp diving effort.
Travis Head’s extraordinary performance and historic century added great excitement to the World Test Championship final. The match continued to captivate fans around the world as the battle between Australia and India unfolded on the grand stage, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the subsequent days of intense cricketing action.
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