‘Bloody awful’: Terrifying moment Australian centurion Travis Head hits the deck

The Australian cricket team and the Brisbane spectators held its breath when Travis Head collapsed onto the Gabba deck on Thursday.

Since the tragic passing of Phil Hughes in 2014, cricket fans shudder whenever a batter drops to the deck after being struck on the field.

Amazon docu-series The Test showed how Steve Smith’s concussion scare at Lord’s two years ago rattled the Australian Test side, with the Hughes tragedy still fresh in their memories.

And on Thursday afternoon, Travis Head’s teammates would have felt just as anxious when a wayward beamer knocked over the No. 5 batter during the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

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In the 82nd over of Australia’s first innings at the Gabba, an exhausted Mark Wood delivered a 136km/h chest-high full toss at the unsuspecting left-hander, who had no time to evade the flying Kookaburra.

The ball struck Head on the glove before ricocheting into his chin — he yelped before collapsing onto the Gabba deck.

“Deary me!” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist cried on Fox Cricket. “I think he’s in real trouble here, Travis Head.”

Former Australian Test captain Allan Border muttered: “That is so nasty.”

Travis Head hits the deck. Picture: Fox Sports.

Boos echoed around the iconic Brisbane venue as Head returned to his feet, red-faced and rubbing his jaw.

“Ohh! Got me once!” he cried, referring to when Wood struck him on the elbow earlier in the session, following which Head needed a pain killer.

The England speedster offered an apology, which Head graciously accepted as team medics rushed onto the ground. Australian captain Pat Cummins watched anxiously from the dugout along with a handful of his teammates.

“Absolutely no doubt about it that that is a big accident and a mistake from Mark Wood,” Gilchrist said.

“Great to see (Head) back on his feet … that could have been horribly damaging.”

Australian great Brett Lee continued: “Bit of a reminder of Phil Hughes there. I know they were great mates.”

Travis Head accepts Mark Wood's apology.

Medics examine Travis head. Picture: Fox Sports.

Australian captain Pat Cummins looks on. Picture: Fox Sports.

David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: Fox Sports.

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh called it “one of the worst beamers I’ve seen”.

“Obviously Mark Wood didn’t mean it,” he said. “But that could have been very very nasty. He actually got out of that really well Travis, he cushioned the blow with his glove and it flicked him up under the chin.”

Code Sports reporter Daniel Cherny tweeted: “Just because his name is Head doesn’t mean you aim the ball at that part of him. Dangerous game to play when your name is Wood.”

Thank god for Travis Head’s glove, Jesus that was scary! 😬 #Ashes

— Holly Hazlewood (@HollyHazlewood) December 9, 2021

That looked bloody awful. Thank goodness it got him on the glove first

— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) December 9, 2021

That was one tired looking delivery from Mark Wood - poor Travis Head for copping it in the head via the hand. #Ashes

— Kevin Yam 任建峰 (@kevinkfyam) December 9, 2021

Head recounted the moment after stumps: “I saw it pretty much the whole way. Lucky I got a bit of hand on it. My hand took most of the blow.

“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.”

Ten minutes before Wood’s beamer, Head was celebrating his third Test century in front of 20,812 spectators at the Gabba.

It was not only the South Australian’s maiden Ashes ton, but ranks as the third-quickest century in Ashes history, bringing up the milestone in just 85 deliveries.

Head was on 29 when Australian No. 8 Cummins made his way to the middle in the 65th over, just after the hosts had lost 4/29 in a chaotic passage of play.

Instead of cautiously rotating the strike with the tail, Head relentlessly punished England’s fatigued bowlers as the sun set over the Brisbane skyline.

He would flash elegantly through point whenever the quicks offered any width, and he punched firmly back down the track if they overpitched.

Head cracked three powerful boundaries off one over from all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was bowling under an injury cloud at the Gabba.

The rampaging Head took a particular liking to the bowling of tweaker Jack Leach, who leaked more than eight runs per over on Thursday.

Not since 2006, when Gilchrist repeatedly smacked Monty Panesar into the WACA grandstands, has an Australian batter treated an English spinner with such disdain.

Travis Head celebrates after scoring his century. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Fastest Ashes centuries

57 balls — Adam Gilchrist (AUS), Dec 2006

76 balls — Gilbert Jessop (ENG), Aug 1902

85 balls — Travis Head (AUS), Dec 2021

The 27-year-old brought up his century with a classy on-drive past mid-on — he embraced teammate Mitchell Starc before saluting the Brisbane crowd. It was a wildly entertaining counter-attack.

Head’s blazing rearguard had not only resurrected the Australian innings, but once again proven to any lingering doubters that he deserved his place in the Test side.

Needless to say, he has well and truly repaid the selectors’ faith.

“I want to contribute to Australian wins and hopefully we’ve put ourselves in a nice position,” Head told reporters after stumps. “That’s what I’m here to do.”

Australia is 7/343 at stumps with a lead of 196 — Head remains unbeaten on 112 with Mitchell Starc at the other end on 10.

Play will resume in Brisbane on Friday morning at 10.30am AEDT.