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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 Check Championship last towards 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 Check with a preventing 43, earlier than being caught down legside when an enormous rating beckoned.
However will probably be Head and Smith that may have commanded probably the 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 fee with one other counter-attacking hundred after arriving at 3-76.
Dropped for the final Check of the the 2019 Ashes the place he averaged 27.28, Head’s first abroad Check century confirmed he’s a distinct batsman now.
He flamboyantly flicked the ball off his pads at will, and upper-cut Mohammed Shami to after which over the third-man boundary off back-to-back balls.
When India adopted a barrage of quick balls after tea it briefly slowed him down, 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 these adjustments, not only for England, however throughout,” Head stated.
“There’s sure elements of your recreation that you just adapt to every situations you go to. That’s the identical going wherever.
“However the foundations I’ve set with my approach have undoubtedly modified quite a bit since 2019. I felt like coming right here I used to be in a greater place.”
Head hit two centuries within the 2021-22 dwelling Ashes, however the one factor that might supply England extra nightmares than him firing can be a cruel Smith.
In his first Check in England since his Bradman-esque 2019 Ashes, Smith appeared simply as decided in his 227 balls on Wednesday.
Australia’s vice-captain patiently left outdoors his off stump, and labored balls off his toes to the square-leg and mid-on boundaries as commonly as he did towards England 4 years in the past.
Between them, the pair placed on an unbeaten 251-run stand, giving Australia the clear benefit after they had been despatched in by India.
The under-pressure Warner, in the meantime, would have been pissed off with what may have been.
He survived tough opening spell from Shami, who mimicked Stuart Broad’s techniques from 2019 and got here across the wicket on the left-hander.
And after he watched Usman Khawaja perish for a duck to Mohammed Siraj and fought by a tough interval with a shifting Dukes ball in gloomy situations, Warner briefly appeared able to shine.
He pulled Shami for 4 when the Indian fast briefly went over the wicket to him for 3 balls, and took 16 off one Umesh Yadav over as he performed with freedom outdoors off.
However as an enormous rating that will have helped his plans to retire from Check cricket on the SCG in January loomed, Warner gloved a rank quick ball down legside from Thakur and was out simply earlier than lunch.
Marnus Labuschagne adopted quickly after when bowled for 26 by Shami, after copping a painful morning blow to the thumb off Siraj.
However from there Head and Smith took cost, in an ominous signal for not solely India however for England and the summer time forward.