Travis Head’s 140 Gives Australia Strong Lead Against India

By DTD- On Dec 7, 2024

ADELAIDE OVAL: Travis Head’s explosive 140 put Australia in a dominant position against India in the second day-night Test at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, with the hosts leading by 157 runs at the close of day two. After resuming their innings at 86-1, Australia posted a total of 337 just after tea, thanks to Head’s aggressive batting that included 17 fours and four sixes. Marnus Labuschagne added a solid 64, while India struggled to make inroads.

Head’s knock was a defining moment of the day, and despite being dropped on 76 by Mohammed Siraj, he accelerated after reaching his fifty, eventually claiming his eighth Test century before Siraj bowled him out. The dismissal led to a fiery exchange between the two, highlighting the intensity of the match.

India’s response was poor, with their top order crumbling under the pressure of a fast and furious Australian attack. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland wreaked havoc under the lights, reducing India to 128-5 at stumps, leaving them 29 runs behind. KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck, gloving a short ball from Cummins to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, and Yashasvi Jaiswal followed shortly after, edging Boland to Carey. Virat Kohli was removed for just 11 by Boland, while Shubman Gill was dismissed by Starc for 28. Rohit Sharma was also sent back by Cummins for a mere six.

Rishabh Pant was the lone bright spot for India, remaining unbeaten on 28, with Nitish Kumar Reddy on 15 at the close of play. Australia’s bowlers showed no mercy, and despite a spirited effort, India faced a daunting task to recover from their position.

Earlier, Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith fell cheaply to India’s seamers, with Jasprit Bumrah and Pant combining to dismiss them for 39 and 2, respectively. However, Australia’s resilience, led by Head and Labuschagne, set the stage for a strong performance, putting India in a precarious situation.

Reflecting on his century, Head said, “We are in a dominant position after two strong days.” India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel acknowledged the challenges his team now faced, knowing they had to produce something extraordinary to turn the game around.