HOT HEAD START LIFTS AUSSIES TO HUGE SCORE
TRAVIS Head has been ordained the man who can lead Australia into battle against the Baz Ball revolution in next year’s Ashes.
Local hero Head smashed 175 against the legless West Indies on day two, with his 20 boundaries highlighting the South Australian’s unique ability to change the game with his turbo-charged stroke play.
Marnus Labuschagne also continued his extraordinary streak of form to carve his way to 163 and officially rise above Steve Smith with an average of 61.42 that now has the world’s No.1 batsman living amongst the greats as he flew past 3000 career runs in just 30 matches.
Midway through the second session on day two, Australia was flying at 6-473 and poised to set up for a declaration that was set to leave the West Indies to combat the pink ball under lights. As Head and Labuschagne combined for a bulldozing 297run partnership, England launched into their second Test against Pakistan in Multan scoring at six runs an over, to be 2-117 after just 19 overs.
Greg Blewett was the last South Australian to score a century on home soil at Adelaide Oval and indicated Head is the man to fight fire with fire when England’s fearless Baz Ball batters clash head on with the world No.1 Aussies in next year’s much-anticipated Ashes showdown.
“I think he’s realised what works for him and his style is great for the
Australian cricket team as well,” said Blewett. “Especially the way Test match cricket is going to go I think with scoring rates and who he’s batting behind. It’s just great to see him batting so well.”
Head has now matched Darren Lehmann’s record of five Test centuries, and surpassed Blewett’s mark of four tons. Labuschagne would have been eyeing off his second double century in as many weeks before his magic run was momentarily halted by Devon Thomas.
Having now finished his 51st innings in Test cricket, Labuschagne is breathing rare air.
Only Sir Donald Bradman (4490) and Everton Weekes (3077) have scored more than Labuschagne’s 3010 runs after that many knocks.