South Australian skipper make smost of his Test recall

Travis Head signalled his intent with a few ambitious swing and misses early in his innings but it came off a treat.

Travis Head hits during his century at the Gabba yesterday. Picture: Getty Images.

Recalled to the Test side after seeing off competition from the languid Usman Khawaja, Travis Head signaled his intent with a few ambitious swing and misses early in his innings.

The 28-year-old South Australian skipper was here for a good time and not a long one, but in no time at all found himself celebrating the first century in a session in a Test match at the Gabba.

It was not the most reassuring start from the number five given team had lost four quick wickets but nobody was quibbling when he raised his bat just over two hours later.

The South Australian’s third Test century came from just 85 balls and reasserted Australia’s dominance in the match this far.

“I’m still pinching myself, I can’t quite work out what transpired the last couple of hours,” Head said.

The home side has a lead of 196 runs going into the third day after a chaotic day where technology proved as fallible as the humans it was supposed to replace.

The system used for the third umpire to detect no balls is not working in the first Test. That information only came to light after David Warner was clean bowled by Ben Stokes but given a reprieve when replays showed it was a no ball — it is only being used when a wicket falls.

When broadcasters checked their tapes they found the bowler had transgressed at not been pulled up on at least a dozen occasions in his first five overs.

Warner’s wasn’t the only lucky escape.

Head was felled by a nasty full toss in the half light of the evening after the second new ball slipped from Mark Wood’s hand. The ball caught him on the bottom hand and cannoned into his chin, but the batsman was cleared of any concussion and continued.

Wood was quick to apologise, Head quick to forgive and the mood between the two teams is yet to strain but it is early days. Earlier, when Stokes bowled Warner, the batsman looked up and mouthed the words “well bowled”. Only later did he discover the bowler had cribbed.

England is in all sorts of trouble. The visitors have three days left to play with two bowlers under an injury cloud and Australia in control.

Stokes hobbled through his overs but stayed on. Ollie Robinson, the pick of the bowlers, limped from the field with what looked like a hamstring strain, before returning later.

David Warner (94) and Marnus Labuschage (74) did the heavy lifting in the first two sessions, advancing after the early departure of Marcus Harris thanks to good fortune and good intentions.

Warner had lives on 17, 48 and 60, but technology, poor catching and poor fielding allowed him to continue to within touching distance of what would have been his 25th Test century.

There are early signs he might not be the batsman he once was against out and out pace, but even with his skills slightly diminished he numbers among the best in the world. The young Warner picked up the ball early and dispatched it brutally, the older man advances with a little more caution and cunning.

Head’s knock was critical after a middle order collapse saw the home side lose four quick wickets.

Warner and Labuschagne put on 156 for the second wicket, the veteran opener was riding his luck, the fascinating first drop was 74 and looking good for 100 more.

Stokes was limping, spinner Jack Leach had been hit to all parts by both batters and was looking to be a serious problem for his skipper.

Labuschagne, however, lost balance trying to make room on the off side to cut the spinner and surrendered his wicket caught at backward point. It was a soft dismissal when you’ve got Steve Smith coming in next there’s always runs to come. Or almost always.

Smith was, unusually, out soon after and in a blink Australia had lost 4-29. England’s attack must be given credit. Wood bowled with some heat and was rewarded with Smith’s wicket. Ollie Robinson does not have the pace, but his height, seam movement and tennis ball bounce combine to remove Warner.

The opener was undone by a ball that sat up on the pitch, hit high on the blade and floated to mid off.

Robinson, 28, who took seven wickets on debut at Lord’s, served two years in Sydney grade cricket as part of his apprenticeship before breaking into the England team this year. Leading into this match he had 28 wickets at an average of just under 20. He had 3-48 in the last session but had been grabbing at his hamstring.