Test batsman Travis Head reached a new first class milestone with his first ever double-hundred for South Australia

Runs are and will always be the best currency for any batsman wanting to play Test cricket for Australia and Travis Head made 223 of them for SA, with one key onlooker

Travis Head took the WA bowlers down at the WACA to reach 200 (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

More than 300 runs in a week is the sort of scoring explosion Australian coach and selector Justin Langer wants from batsmen he desperately wants to pick and Travis Head delivered that in emphatic style.

The South Australian captain lifted his team with what could become a career defining Sheffield Shield double-century at the WACA, in front of Langer who was looking on from the stands.

His day one effort of 189 was good, and including scoring 183 runs in two sessions.

Then Head wasted no time reaching an all-new milestone on day two of the clash with WA.

It took just 10 more balls for Head to reach his first ever 200 for his state.

Head’s imperious innings of 223 - he was finally out after 245 balls with his team 6-416 - now stands as the second highest-score for any SA batsman at the WACA. Only 356 from the great Barry Richards stands as a better effort.

The double-hundred came on the back of an unbeaten century in grade cricket in Adelaide last weekend, which was where the 27-year-old SA captain said he found his batting “rhythm”.

As wickets fell around him, Head seemed impervious, going after the WA bowling attack with a fervor the WACA ground rewards.

“I enjoy batting here. It‘s a great place to bat, great wicket. You get value for shots,” he said after bludgeoning 26 boundaries on day one, then another six in the opening hour on day two including back-to-back fours to bring up the SA 400.

Dropped from the Test team after two matches against India, but recalled to the squad for the postponed tour or South Africa, Head, who now has 678 Shield runs this season, proceeded to display the leadership his team demanded, crafting his highest first class score.

“I’s a huge time for us as South Australia to look where we want to go in the next few years and make big steps,” Head said selflessly after finishing day one of the game not out on 189, off just 204 balls.

“It’s a huge opportunity for my leadership ... to dive in to the next four games, get some positivity around South Australian cricket.”

One of the great Redbacks innings comes to a close 👏 Trav is caught at slip for 223 (245). He hit 31 fours and one huge maximum during his marathon stay in the middle #SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/yUTHIvCqNX

— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) February 26, 2021

Head said his opening day effort was “nice”, particularly knowing Langer was in the stands at the WACA watching.

It’s been a 24-month process of “working on some things” and Head was happy to see rewards.

“It was nice to have a bit of time away and not play too much cricket (recently). I played a couple of Big Bash games, but I had a lot of time off and was working on a few things,” he said.

“Today could have been a duck, but luckily it was 189. I know these days don‘t come around too often, and you have to make the most of them.

“There were moments it wasn’t great ... I hit a few balls in the air. But all in all I feel like I am tracking the right way.”

Head said spending time in the middle for his club in Adelaide last week was the perfect warm-up for a massive second half the domestic season for himself, and cellar dwellers SA.

There it is! Travis Head reaches 200 for the very first time in first-class cricket! He gets there from just 214 balls with 27 fours and a six. Brilliant knock

WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/eAFYeYiXDs#SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/OlEZ9AaXTT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 26, 2021

“Grade cricket was great. I hadn’t had time out in the middle ... to have 160 balls out in the middle on Saturday helped, I got my rhythm back,” he said.

Head beat his previous highest first-class score of 192, which he posted in 2016.

He is also the clear leading run-scorer in the Shield this season and joined Victorian duo Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris, who both played Test cricket in the series against India, as double-hundred makers in the Shield this season.

Trav brings the 4⃣0⃣0⃣ up with back-to-back boundaries 🤝 #SheffieldShield

— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) February 26, 2021