Travis Head takes down Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist after heroics in second cricket Test
A remarkable stat shows just how valuable Head has become to the Australian Test team.
Travis Head has barely played half the number of Test matches that Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist did, but the Aussie batter already has more player-of-the-match awards. Head blasted a brilliant 140 as Australia won the second Test against India by 10 wickets, levelling the series at 1-1.
Head was rightfully named player-of-the-match in Adelaide, and has now won the award eight times throughout his Test career. Remarkably, that's more than all-time greats like Clarke, Gilchrist, Mark Taylor and Mike Hussey ever won.
Head won his eighth player-of-the-match award in just his 51st match, while Clarke played 115 Tests, Taylor played 104, Gilchrist 96 and Hussey 79. When his career is finished, Head probably won't be held in the same regard as the likes of Clarke and Gilchrist. But he continues to show how valuable he is to the current Australian Test team.
Head came to the crease with Australia at 3-103 in their first innings, still trailing India by 77 runs. The tourists would have considered themselves a chance to knock over Australia cheaply if they could get Head early, but the Aussie batter took the game away from India and put the hosts firmly in control.
His innings of 140 came off just 141 balls and left India shell-shocked as he blasted the ball to all parts of the Adelaide Oval. It marked the third Test in Adelaide in a row in which Head scored a century at his home ground.
The 30-year-old came into the match as one of a number of Aussie batters in a lean patch of form. But his century has him primed for a huge series after returning to his best with three matches remaining. And it came at just the right time to silence the critics after Australia's loss by 295 runs in the first Test.
"I think criticism is due when you're not playing well, when you have a bad week, that's how it is," Head said after his knock. "I hope that works the other way, when we've had a really good week. We've had a really good build-up and what's spoken about over the next couple of days, and hopefully have a really good couple of days, and I guess, gain a bit of that positive chat around."
Scott Boland might be axed despite heroics in second Test
Aussie captain Pat Cummins said after the victory in Adelaide: "This week we were back to our best. That's the team that I remember and how we want to play our cricket, so really satisfying. I think being one down, no doubt there's a little bit more on it trying to level up the series."
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Cummins also heaped praise on bowlers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland after India were dismissed for just 180 and 175. Although he admitted Boland might be unlucky to be dropped if Josh Hazlewood is fit for the third Test in Brisbane.
"I thought it was a Herculean effort from Starcy and Scotty," Cummins said. "It was hot … humid, and basically just kept rotating the bowlers and bowling all day. Huge effort from those guys, who showed their class.
"I feel very lucky as a captain to have those guys, and then having someone like (Nathan Lyon), who we didn't even need to call on. It feels I've got a lot of tools at my disposal, so I feel very lucky. Fairly confident he'll (Hazlewood) be right for Brisbane. If someone needs to make way, they'll be pretty unlucky."
