Cricket: Just when his team needed it Test batsman Travis Head plunders century for South Australia

With those wanting in the Test team scoring big runs, incumbent number six Travis Head has reminded everyone he deserves his spot.

Travis Head would have heard the hype as Cameron Green sounded a warning to Test selectors that he was ready for a step in to the big time.

But while the batting prodigy plundered 197 on a road in Adelaide, Head, the incumbent Test number six, dug in and produced arguably an innings of way more substance on the oval next door to save his team with one of the best hundreds of his career.

Test skipper Tim Paine watched on from behind the stumps as Head batted all day, for the first time, to score an unbeaten 171 and draw the clash with Tasmania in “good signs” for the upcoming series against India.

Having nearly been out after a huge appeal for caught behind when he was on 99, Head batted with the sort of stoicism the Test middle order needs.

“Trav played a pretty exceptional innings, and it was the difference between us getting through them and not,” Paine said.

“We just couldn’t get rid of Heady, if we had of a bit earlier it might have changed the game. He played a brilliant innings.

“It was good signs from an Australian point of view.

“He’s one of those guys, he always seems to be batting well, but it was pleasing, now we have finished the game, to see him go on and bat big and even in the manner he did. I thought he controlled the game and batted with discipline.

“Sometimes Heady can give you a chance, that’s what we were hanging on to as a group, but today he batted us out of winning the game.

“He’s still very young and he’s getting better and better and he will continue to.”

Head said he knew he had to “bat all day” and was happy to have put his team in the position they ended up in.

“All you can control is playing well for South Australia and today I was able to contribute,” Head said.

“I knew I had to bat all day, and it was nice to be able to do that.

“I was able to get a start and go on and get a good score for the team and most importantly put us in the position we were at the end of the day, that’s the most pleasing part.

“I feel like if I am able to bat the way I did today, and do it for long periods of time, runs will come.”

Trav found the boundary for his 1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ ⬇️

We're now 5/323 with 19 overs left in the match #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/cFmCLHkuk0

— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) October 22, 2020

Paine, who made his own century, said he had changed a few things in his batting and was planning on having a “big Test summer”.

“No matter your age I think it’s important you try and get better, and that’s something I am trying to do,” he said.

“For me to battle away and score a hundred like that was pleasing.”

What a pearler from Peter Siddle! 🍑

Watch #SheffieldShield live: https://t.co/LmnmH7pxym pic.twitter.com/YbNEWqhz5M

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 22, 2020