Travis Head makes more Aussie cricket history as England call backfires in first T20 clash

Travis Head has blasted his way into the cricket record books again for Australia after scoring a stunning half century to help his side clinch a 28-run win over England in their opening T20 international in Southampton. The big-hitting opener blasted the fastest-ever T20i half-century by an Aussie batter against England, taking just 19 balls to reach his 50 before going on to make 59 off 23 balls.

England's decision to send Australia in to bat backfired badly as Head tore the home side's attack to shreds, taking a particular liking to England quick Sam Curran, who he smashed for 30 runs off one over. That also saw Head equal an Aussie cricket record for most runs in an over in T20is, moving him alongside Ricky Ponting (2005), Dan Christian (2021), and Mitchell Marsh (2024).

Head's heroics came just a week after he hit an Australian record-equalling fifty against Scotland off just 17 balls, and shared in a world record powerplay total of 113 runs with Mitch Marsh. The left-handed opener set the platform for his side in a stunning opening stand of 86 with Matt Short as the visitors made England pay for sending them in first by blazing their way to a formidable total of 179 all out from 19.3 overs. England managed just 151 all out in reply.

Short was preferred to young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was dropped after scoring just 16 - including two ducks - in his three knocks during the series win over Scotland. And Short made his opportunity count, hitting an impressive 41 off 26 balls. Short's unexpected recall saw him return from paternity leave in style, with the opener's knock including two successive sixes off Reece Topley in just the second over.

Travis Head hammers Sam Curran in record-equalling over

It came after a smart start from England fast bowler Jofra Archer, whose express pace had the Aussies on the back foot early. But Short's sizzling display in the second over provided a telling precursor of what was to come as Curran's introduction to the England bowling attack saw the left-hand quick pulverised by Head to turbo-charge the Aussie innings.

Head belted the hapless Curran for 30 runs in his first over after going four, four, six, six, six and four. Head then swatted his next ball from Saqib Mahmood into the stands at deep backward square leg to reach his 50 and got away with a couple more flukey boundaries before attempting one monster hit too many and skying it to deep square leg.

Travis Head lays platform and Aussie bowlers finish the job

Once Head was out on the final ball of the sixth over, Australia lost momentum and wickets just as quickly, with only Short's 41 and Josh Inglis's valuable 37 off 27 getting them to a decent target. It was a decent fightback from England to keep the Aussies under 180 when a score of over 200 looked more likely at one stage.

RELATED:

• Michael Clarke call backfires as Steve Smith set for Test switch

• Josh Inglis in never-before-seen act as Aussies hammer Scotland

Adil Rashid (1-23 off four overs) and Liam Livingstone (3-22 off three), who trapped Marcus Stoinis (10) and Tim David lbw in successive balls, started England's impressive repair job. Then Mahmood (2-21) and Archer (2-31) also both dismissed batters in successive balls as Australia collapsed, losing their last four wickets in the space of 10 deliveries.

England's chase started brightly but ultimately flopped after some terrific bowling from Josh Hazlewood (2-32 off four overs) and Adam Zampa (2-20 off four), plus a brilliant piece of fielding from David. Stand-in England captain Phil Salt was caught off the first ball of England's reply, only to be reprieved by a no-ball from Xavier Bartlett over-stepping.

But after the hosts powered their way to 1-40 in the fifth over, David made up for his golden duck with an astonishing running catch at deep mid-on at full stretch off Bartlett to get rid of debutant Jordan Cox. Zampa, described by former captain Ricky Ponting as Australia's most important player, was brilliant again with his economical leg-spin bowling, taking 2-20 off his four overs to stifle the England innings.

Hazlewood, recovered from a calf injury, took the key wicket of Livingstone, bowling him off an inside edge when the big-hitting allrounder had moved dangerously to 37 off 27 balls. The experienced pacer finished with 2-32, while allrounder Sean Abbott also impressed with his 3-28 off 3.2 overs.

with AAP