‘Certified freak’: Travis Head blows cricket world away

Travis Head is the first player in history to score centuries in two ICC finals — and he’s done it in a span of under six months.

Travis Head has written his name into the history books after completing one of the great World Cup innings to guide Australia to World Cup glory.

Australia claimed a six wicket victory with 42 balls still remaining but it was a result that was anything but easy.

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After restricting India to 241 all out from their 50 overs, Australia faltered in their chase, losing 3/47 in the opening seven overs of the innings.

At that time, Head was on 10 off 15 balls and struggling for rhythm as he was joined by Marnus Labuschagne at the crease.

And it was the odd couple to save the day for Australia.

When the Australian squad was originally selected for the tournament, Labuschagne wasn’t in it, only sneaking his way in after Ashton Agar’s calf injury.

And despite starring on a pre-tournament tour of South Africa, he was constantly on the chopping block.

The first questions about his place in the team ironically came when Head himself returned to the fold after recovering from his broken hand in South Africa.

And yet the pair combined to win the whole thing for Australia.

Travis and Marnus go down in history. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

“I know you guys know I’m a man of faith, and believe in God. The way everything’s happened is unbelievable to me,” Labuschagne said.

“It’s just amazing; I’m lost for words. The amount of times I thought I’m done - even last night the team didn’t get named until about 10.10pm. Coaches went to the ground - might be dewy, I might be out. I’m very thankful to them for sticking with me.

“I don’t have many words to explain. Few months ago, I wasn’t even in South Africa in the one-day team; and to play 19 games straight is truly a miracle. I don’t know how; I give thanks to God for that.”

Head played the Batman to Labuschagne’s Robin, hammering an extraordinary 137 off 120 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes.

Labuschagne scored just 58 off 110 balls but the pair combined in a matchwinning 192-run stand, only broken with two runs required when Head holed out to the boundary.

Head’s remarkable inning was just the seventh World Cup Final hundred following Viv Richards in 1979, Clive Lloyd in 1983, Aravinda de Silva in 1996, Ricky Ponting in 2003, Adam Gilchrist in 2007 and Mahela Jayawardene in 2011.

Head further enhanced his reputation as a big game player, adding the World Cup Final player of the match to his player of the match in the semi-final against South Africa and the World Test Championship Final, which was also against India.

“What an amazing day. Just thrilled to be a part of it,” Head said.

Asked about how it feels to be on the list of Aussie World Cup Final centurions alongside Aussie legends Gilchrist and Ponting, Head laughed: “I’m definitely third on that list.

“It’s a nice one to join. Again, just nice to be here and it’s nice to contribute. Yeah, like I just said to the boys, I’m looking forward to the reunion.”

That was something special. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

While Head was understated about his incredible feat, social media was going berserk as the South Australian almost single-handedly saved the day for Australia.

Cricket commentator Geoff Lemon tweeted: “Travis Head is a certified freak. Seven days a week.”

Cricbuzz’s Bharat Sundaresan commented: “Twice in the same year, Travis Head has played an all-time innings in a big world final against India. If the WTC knock at The Oval was special, this one, is extraordinary & the quietest reception you’ll ever hear for a World Cup final century.”

Former cricketer turned commentator Pommy Mbangwe wrote: “My goodness! The impact of Travis Head has been colossal!! Courage. This is why they backed him despite his broken hand.”

Former Aussie star Tom Moody said: “Spectacular 100 at the most crucial time for Australia, Travis Head stands tall amongst the giants on the big stage.”

That's a Head knock you want to see!
Brilliance.
#INDvsAUSfinal

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) November 19, 2023

Big game big 💯 what an incredible innings Travis Head @CricketAus 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 you deserve all the applause #INDvAUSFinal#Worldcupfinal2023

— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) November 19, 2023

🚨Hundred in WTC Final.
🚨Hundred in World Cup Final.

" Travis Head " The Nightmare for India😢#INDvAUS#INDvsAUS India vs Australia #TravisHead#Panauti KL Rahul Umpire Congratulations Australia #INDvsAUSFinal#Worldcupfinal2023pic.twitter.com/4kDS3IhULw

— Crikut expert (@crikut_expert) November 19, 2023

Has a brilliant hundred on such a massive occasion
Been greeted with such ambivalence?

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) November 19, 2023

Have watched both Ponting 140* and Adam Gilchrist 149! I think the inngs Travis Head played today is better than both considering everything. Pressure of a run chase and when the team was 3-47 at one stage. https://t.co/uWaUYN2Qcv

— MA (@coverpoint_) November 19, 2023

It wasn’t just with the bat that Head made a stunning grab to keep India in check during the first innings as well.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had raced to 47 off 30 balls when he got a leading edge, which skewed out to cover.

Running after the ball, Head took the catch in a brilliant diving grab to shift the momentum in Australia’s direction.

“One of the greatest catches under pressure you will ever see,” Ian Smith said in commentary. “My goodness gracious. Is that a matchturner? Australia might believe so. Sensational.”

“It’s never easy running back over your shoulder, particularly when it’s Rohit Sharma. He’s made great ground here,” Shane Watson added. “That is a wonderful catch.”

At the break between innings, Brad Haddin added that the catch was “the turning point” of the innings.

“Rohit Sharma was seeing them beautifully and threatening to take the game away from Australia,” Haddin said.

Originally published as ‘Certified freak’: Travis Head blows cricket world away