By Razeen Gutta
Travis Head made a century on day one of the ICC World Test Championship as Australia finished on 327/3 after being put in to bat by India at The Oval on Wednesday.
After choosing to chase, the first hour went India’s way — with Mohammed Siraj picking up Usman Khawaja before Shardul Thakur got David Warner to leave the Aussies 71/2.
Even though Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed by Mohammed Shami immediately after lunch, Head found his stride and once Steve Smith joined him, the day could go in only one direction.
The pair put up a stand of over 250, with Head playing the aggressor for his first ever test 100 away from home, while Smith anchored on to an unbeaten score of 95 off 227 balls.
India took the new ball as soon as it became available to them in the closing phases of the day; though with the sun hitting the deck there would be no pre-stumps motivation.
Shami, Siraj and Thakur will need to try again on Thursday, with pressure on Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja as well if the Indians are to find a way back into the test match.
Day two gets underway at 11:30 am live on SuperSport.
Pictured above: Travis HeadÂ
Image source: @WasimJaffer14
