Head stars, Siraj snaps, Smith fails: Biggest moments from Day 2 of the Adelaide Test

Travis Head scored a century on his home deck to put Australia in a commanding position, as Steve Smith failed again. ROBERT CRADDOCK’s biggest moments from day two the Adelaide Test.

A sensational Travis Head century on his home deck highlighted an outstanding second day of the Adelaide Test, as Australia presses its advantage.

Here’s the biggest moments of the day, according to respected cricket scribe Robert Craddock.

MARSH’S MARCH

Mitchell Marsh, what is going on?

Marsh mysteriously walked for his dismissal, caught behind for nine, when clearly his bat brushed his pad and not the ball.

Umpire Richard Illingworth saw Marsh starting to walk and raised his finger but neither bowler Ravi Ashwin or keeper Rishabh Pant appealed with any gusto.

Marsh wicket and snicko

The dismissal would have brought back memories for Aaron Finch who was commentating at the time.

One of the most compelling segments of The Test documentary was a furious Justin Langer following Finch into the dressing room at this very ground after he walked when, like Marsh, he was not out.

TRAVIS BEING TRAVIS

India must loathe the sight of Travis Head. He smacked them around in a World Cup and World Test Championship finals and here he was again on the charge.

Travis Head's massive six

Ravi Ashwin is one of the world’s finest off-spinners but it did not stop Head from going down on one knee and hoisting him into the western grandstand, not far from the David Hookes bar which was most appropriate.

The late Hookes was a player of similar derring-do and would have loved it.

THE KILLER PLAN

Steve Smith has changed his grip, his stance and his position in the order in 2024 but the more things change the more they stay the same.

Smith wicket and reaction

Smith is averaging 23 for the year after glancing a leg-side catch behind off Jasprit Bumrah, rocking back his head like a man in quicksand who finds the harder he tries the further his sinks.

The dismissal looked unlucky but India have a long-held plan to take the off-side out of play and bowl into his body.

THE BLOW-UP

Just when we thought cricket villains were gone for good along comes fiery-eyed Indian fast man Mohammed Siraj.

After ending Travis Head’s epic innings with a yorker, Siraj’s crazy man stare in Head’s direction would have burnt a hole in a dam wall. A few sharp words from Head prompted the fast bowler to twice wave him off the ground and offer a few x-rated words back.

Head v Siraj

The crowd jeered as loudly as this normally reverential gathering ever does, not just once when they saw it live but at least three other times when the exchange was played on the big screen.

Sledging Travis Head after he has scored a century in Adelaide is like bagging Santa on Christmas Day.

The locals were not happy. Siraj was in his element and playfully urged them to jeer as loudly as they liked when he walked near.

HEADS UP BABY

Test centuries are rare and precious gems for Australia these days.

Travis Head made his more memorable by rocking his bat like a cradle in salute of his new son Harrison.

Travis Head's baby celebration

His family were at the ground and he saluted them by putting his helmet on the end of his bat and raise it towards the western grandstand.

ON THE SPOT

Scott Boland could put the first of an innings on a postage stamp.

Scott Boland mania takes over Adelaide

He should have had a wicket his first ball of the match but it was a no-ball and in the second innings he was again pitch perfect with his first ball which enticed a tentative push from the normally assured Yashasvi Jaiswal and an edge behind.

SHOT OF GENIUS

Only Rishabh Pant would try it.

A reverse pull shot over the slip cordon for four to a length delivery on off-stump. And off the wrong foot too if you don’t mind.

Pant's audacious reverse pull shot

It was going to take an audacious shot to better Pant’s charge down the wicket to Scott Boland first ball, but you just knew there was more theatrics coming from one of cricket’s all-time great entertainers.

Boland was brilliant on night two, but Pant wasn’t about to hang around and let the Victorian dictate terms.

Originally published as Head stars, Siraj snaps, Smith fails: Biggest moments from Day 2 of the Adelaide Test