Travis Head untouchable as Aussies match second-best streak in history

Travis Head smashed 154 not out against England to extend Australia’s ODI winning streak to 13 - the second longest in cricket history.

This current Australian one-day side is solidifying its reputation as one of the greatest teams in history after opening a three-match series against England in scorching fashion.

The Aussies needed just 44 overs to chase down England’s score of 315 as Travis Head went ballistic in a knock of 154 not out from 129 balls.

Australia has now won 13 consecutive one-day internationals stretching back to last year’s World Cup, where they reeled off nine straight wins before thumping the West Indies 3-0 in February.

Only Ricky Ponting’s 2003 World Cup winning team has gone unbeaten for longer - and their mark of 21 straight victories will take some catching.

Travis Head sends one back over the head of Adil Rashid. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Head shares a laugh with Jofra Archer, who leaked 53 runs from six wicketless overs. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

But the Aussies made the most impressive of starts at Trent Bridge despite fielding a second string bowling attack missing Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

England had won its past eight ODIs against the Aussies when without their veteran pace trio and the tourists looked to be in trouble as England appeared headed towards a score of 350-plus as Ben Duckett (95 from 91) and Will Jacks (62 from 56) put on 120 for the second wicket.

Australia was further hampered when debutant paceman Ben Dwarshuis (1/18 from four overs) left the ground with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

But Adam Zampa (3/49) and surprise spin twin Marnus Labuschagne (3/39 from six) put the clamps on and Head chipped in with 2/34 from 4.4 overs as England lost its last eight wickets for 102 runs.

Australian sub fielder Cooper Connolly took two catches. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

In all nine wickets fell to spin - an ODI record for Australia - and England’s total of 315 looked subpar on a batter’s paradise.

“I’d love to take credit for (Labuschange bowling) but it was a forced change,” Aussie skipper Mitch Marsh said. “The longer their innings went on we felt pace off was the better option.”

After Marsh fell for 10, Head combined with Steve Smith (32 from 28) and Cameron Green (32 from 32) to put the Aussies on pace at the halfway point of their innings.

But any hope England had was extinguished when Labuschagne (77 not out from 61) joined Head in the middle as they combined for a 148-run stand in less than 18 overs.

Head finished with the highest score by an Australian batsman in England, bettering Meg Lanning’s knock of 152 in 2017.

“Two for as well,” he joked post-match. “(I) got a bit lucky at the start of my innings but I know if you get through that there’s a lot of runs on offer.”

Originally published as Travis Head untouchable as Aussies match second-best streak in history