Travis Head has completed one of the great comeback in Australian cricket, overcoming a fierce selection battle and one of the most frightening beamers ever bowled to repay selectors with a ton of gold.
Travis Head copped it on the chin, but it was England who finished on the canvas after a devastating Ashes knock-out at the Gabba.
In an extraordinary comeback story from being dropped last summer, Head’s stunning 85-ball century was the first ever hundred scored in a session of cricket at the Gabba and the third fastest in Ashes history.
But shortly after celebrating a defining moment that could change the course of his enigmatic 20-Test career, Head was brutally clocked on the jaw by one of the most frightening beamers ever bowled by England’s Mark Wood.
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David Warner rode his luck to set the platform for Australia on day two with a heavy duty 94, but a mini collapse of 4-29 brought a fighting England storming back into the contest – that was until Head unleashed a masterpiece for the ages in the final two hours of play.
Head will resume at 112 not out with Australia holding an almost unbeatable 196 run lead at 7-343 and England in the midst of a full blown crisis with superstar Ben Stokes hobbling with a knee injury, frontline quick Ollie Robinson leaving the field clutching his hamstring and batsman Dawid Malan (hamstring) also under a cloud.
“I'm still pinching myself, I can’t quite work out what transpired the last couple of hours," said Head.
So swashbuckling was Head’s strokeplay, Fox Cricket expert Brett Lee at one point compared him to his left-handed mate from South Australia – the late and great Phil Hughes.
“Bit of a reminder of Phil Hughes there. I know they were great mates,” said Lee on Fox.
Unnervingly, the moment Head was floored by Wood cast brought back more chilling flashbacks.
Already forced to swallow a pain killer early in his blitzkrieg innings following a nasty blow to his forearm, things got much uglier for Head when a head-high full toss from 150km/h English spearhead Wood knocked him flat to the ground.
“I saw it pretty much the whole way. Lucky I got a bit of hand on it. My hand took most of the blow," said Head.
"I was a bit surprised if anything. But within a couple of seconds I knew I was fine and Woody was good about it as well. Obviously he didn’t mean to do it. "Fortunately I’m fine so no stress.
"Woody bowled very aggressively today. We knew how he was going to come. I’ll look after (my elbow) tonight as much as I can. It wasn't comfortable but structurally no issue."
The tough as nails South Australian jumped to his feet and warmly accepted a heartfelt apology from an aghast Wood, with his physical courage matched in every way by the fearlessness of a hundred which heeded captain Pat Cummins’ call for Australia to regain its killer instinct.
When Head walked to the crease he was confronted by five slips and a steaming Robinson, after Australia let slip its stranglehold on the match when the world class Marnus Labuschagne (74) blew a shot at another hometown hundred before Steve Smith (12) nicked off. Warner also fell short of another famous hundred, although he had already done his job in putting Australia on the path to victory after surviving being bowled for 17 because of a Stokes front foot no ball and then getting further chances on 48 and 60 due to further England errors in the field.
Cameron Green then followed the procession with a golden duck shouldering arms to one that hit the stumps, and at that point Australia had just a 48-run lead to show for all their dominance.
Under enormous pressure, both with the situation of the game and also the context of his own career, Head produced courage under fire with an innings so significant it not only sniffed out any chance of an England fightback but might have killed them off for the series.
"I want to contribute to Australian wins and hopefully we’ve put ourselves in a nice position. That’s what I’m here to do," said Head.
"I was really relaxed through the game. Patty and the coaching staff have been great on how they wanted me to play - to play how I see it and I had great confidence in that.
"I wanted to take a bit of momentum out of the game and if a ball was presented to try and score."
As Head smashed 12 fours and two sixes to every part of the Gabba, England’s main strike weapons started dropping like flies as their most likely wicket-taker Robinson (3-48) limped off and Stokes reduced to half rat power for most of the day after pulling up sore chasing a ball to the fence early in the day.
Meanwhile, the fully fit Stuart Broad and James Anderson bowled at full tilt at the Gabba nets, with the decision to leave out England’s greatest ever wicket-takers becoming more mystifying by the moment.
Head was locked in a selection battle with Usman Khawaja up until a week ago when the call was made to back in the left-hander who already had two centuries to his name and a Test average of almost 40 – but yet had failed to announce himself as a consistent force.
The faith of George Bailey and the selectors was more than justified and Head may have just turned a major corner.
Cummins declared before the Test that he wanted Australia to rediscover its ruthless streak after last summer’s embarrassing loss to India was marred by the batters not jamming their foot on the throat when they had the chance.
But Head stepped up and along with Warner, made sure the effort of Australia’s bowlers to skittle England for 147 was consolidated to the fullest extent possible.
And that brings day two to a close, thanks for joining us on the blog today!
Another engrossing day of Test cricket with plenty of English comedy – you just love to see it.
We will be back tomorrow morning with all the UK reaction (ie. your daily dose of schadenfreude) and the latest news and updates before Travis Head tees off with the tail.
See you then!
A blistering Travis Head century has put the Aussies in an imposing position entering day three, seeing them reach a 196-run lead at stumps.
Head finishes the day on 112 off 95 deliveries, cementing his spot in the side and digging the Aussies out of a mini-hole, after David Warner and Cameron Green were dismissed in consecutive deliveries.
With the inclement weather out of the way (touch wood), Australia has the game in their hands – thanks in part to another dismal day from England.
There will be a big watch on Ben Stokes (knee) and Ollie Robinson (hamstring) tomorrow, but Stokes returned to the attack and Robinson's is believed to be just cramp.
A Mitchell Starc inside edge fell to grass in the final over of the day, with Jos Buttler getting his hands on a diving chance that would have been an absolute screamer.
A frightening blow has struck Travis Head on the chin after a firey beamer from Mark Wood, which saw the batter fall to the ground in a scary moment.
Replays showed the delivery hit his gloves before ricocheting onto his chin, with Head yelling "It hit me in the head."
Head got to his feet and tapped Wood – who immediately walked over to see if Head was alright – on the shoulder.
He continued his innings after being cleared by the Australian doctors on-field.
Take a bow Travis Head!
A massive statement from the South Australian, who came into the series under pressure, with some doubting whether he deserved a spot in the side.
He brought up the milestone with a crisp on-drive – his 13th boundary – after facing just 85 deliveries.
Head looked to be given a life by Rory Burns, who didn't reach a catch attempt, but replays showed it ballooned off his forearm.
FIRST SERIES TON!
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 9, 2021
Travis Head justifies the faith of selectors, belting a beautiful hundred from just 85 balls. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/HaGXktsYrq
He has batted incredibly well, but frustration got the better of Travis Head – and it was there for all to hear through the stump mic.
After missing a cut shot, Head appeared to utter a word we are not allowed to say in this blog, which was heard on the TV commentary to the amusement of Aussie cricket fans.
Could it leave him feeling lighter in the hip-pocket after this Test?
You don't hear the c-word too often in test cricket, but Travis Head was not impressed missing that ball.
— "686-days-into-the-pandemic-mildly-insane" Aaron (@TripperheadToo) December 9, 2021
Travis Head’s disappointment clear as a bell into that stump mic!! pic.twitter.com/J3mlAvpLqM
— Matt Brann (@MattBrannRURAL) December 9, 2021
It wasn't the captain v captain dismissal we were expecting!
Joe Root has dismissed opposing skipper Pat Cummins for 12, ending a 70-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Cummins looked to tuck Root around the corner, but instead found the hands of Haseeb Hameed at leg slip.
Mitchell Starc comes to the crease to join Travis Head, who has rocketed to 86 from 71 balls.
First it was Ben Stokes, now it is Ollie Robinson.
The pick of the English bowlers today, taking two wickets to begin the final session, Robinson clutched at his hamstring during an over where his speed dropped to under 120 km/ph.
He then walked from the ground slowly while grabbing at that same hamstring. You would have to assume he is done for the day.
Stokes has since re-entered the attack after a knee blow, but he has appeared sore.
Worrying scenes for the Poms, as Ollie Robinson exits under a fitness cloud.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/LB9JwLiLPj
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 9, 2021
Travis Head is going ham at the Gabba!
He has blitzed his way to 73 – and 67 of those have come from his last 42 balls.
And luck is on his side, gifted four runs by an errant throw in to the keeper.
It meant luckless spinner Jack Leach was hit for a six and then a five (four of those overthrows) in consecutive deliveries.
Head is closing in on his third Test century, rewarding the faith shown by national selector George Bailey.
Travis Head has helped dispel the doubters by bringing up his eighth Test half-century, reaching the milestone from 51 deliveries.
The No.5 batter was struck on the arm before the drinks break but it has had little effect on his stroke play, which has been classy on both sides of the wicket.
Head's knock has featured seven boundaries and a maximum straight down the ground, taking it to the English attack and helping arrest the momentum, after a strong start to the session from the visitors.
The drinks break came at the best possible time for Travis Head after being struck on the point of the elbow by a sharp Mark Wood delivery.
Drinks were called moments after the blow, which left Head grimacing in pain.
He had his elbow assessed by the Australian team doctors at the break and appeared to swig a couple of painkillers.
Will the blow hinder his batting?
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