Travis Head of Australia seems to thrive when he faces India. This series is shaping as the third match of huge significance that Head has defined against India. In last year's World Test Championship (WTC) final, he made a thrilling 163 off 174 balls at The Oval and then a few months later broke the hearts of a nation with a barnstorming display in the ODI World Cup final.
Head's history against India creates an interesting set of markers through his career.
In 2018-19, he made 72 in Adelaide in just his third Test as India narrowly prevailed, before another half-century in Perth where he was twice caught at deep third playing the type of attacking cricket that is now part and parcel of his make-up. At the time, however, he didn't appear to come naturally in the Test arena.
During India's visit in 2020-21, Head's career briefly hit the buffers when he was dropped after two Tests. In the end, his absence only lasted two games and he was back for the start of the Ashes the following summer. Since then, he has averaged 45.20 with a strike-rate of 79.68, instilled with the belief, confidence and backing to play in the style that was so evident in this innings. Of the 44 players to score at least 1000 runs in that period, only two Bazballers - Ben Duckett and Harry Brook - along with Rishabh Pant have a higher strike rate than Head.
This wasn't a title decider but it has carried similar importance for Australia after the heavy loss in the opening Test in Perth; where Head's second-innings 89 offered a rare bright spot. In the now concluded 2nd Test; in the 41 overs he was at the crease; runs came at five an over. Credit must be given to the previous night's work of Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne - the latter who went to make 64 in an innings where he looked much more like his old self - which meant the ball was 40 overs old when Head arrived.
As often, there was some living on the edge. Head was beaten second ball by a gem from around the wicket by Jasprit Bumrah but he drove the next delivery through the covers to get off the mark. The next over against Mohammed Siraj, he played and missed three times. When Ravi Ashwin was introduced, it took Head two balls to advance down the pitch and send him straight for six. A slog-sweep for six would follow. After dinner, he sent Ashwin straight over the sightscreen again and then came a life when he tried a repeat and Siraj couldn't hold a tough chance running back from mid-on. Next over, Head edged Rana between Pant and a wide slip.
Head's 50 had come from 63 balls, the century needed just a further 48. After that, he really turned on the afterburners. He had a strike rate of at least a run-a-ball against all the quicks including a notable 119 facing Bumrah. His rate of scoring meant Australia were 111 ahead when the second new ball arrived at 80 overs, so even though India claimed the last five wickets for 55; the lead was a healthy one (157).
Siraj didn't take kindly to being disdainfully whipped over backward square-leg for Head's fourth six and when he got one under the bat next ball, gave Head a verbal volley of a send-off - the first time in the series the spirit between the teams has been tested. The crowd made its feelings known and what followed was a theatrical passage of play where everything Siraj did was booed. He had, in fact, also been the bowler to remove Head in the WTC and World Cup finals. As on those days, this one felt about 100 runs too late.
Head has a tremendous record against India. In 13 innings under Rohit's captaincy, Head has amassed 853 runs at an average of 77.54, which includes three centuries and three half-centuries. His performances have often been the catalyst for Australia's dominance over India in key moments. His scores have been: 12; 43; 9; 49*; 32; 90; 51*; 33; 163; 18; 137; 76 and 140.
In contrast, when Rohit is not captaining, Head fails to dominate Indian bowlers. In 25 innings across 20 matches without Rohit's leadership, Head's average drops to just 29.25, with only three half-centuries.
This difference in performance is too big to be just coincidental. It suggests that Head may be able to read Rohit's field placements and strategies better, allowing him to find early boundaries and relieve the pressure.
Although Jasprit Bumrah was able to curtail his impact in the Adelaide Test, India will need to devise a better strategy in the upcoming matches to keep Head in check. Head's figures in matches without Rohit as India captain: 2; 26; 5; 39; 4; 29; 42; 9; 48*; 72; 14; 58; 19; 20; 34; 20; 7; 38; 17; 5; 35; 31; 28; 11 and 89.
Head's hundred on Saturday tied him with the great Donald Bradman and Matthew Hayden in the list of Australian batters with the most hundreds in Test cricket at the Adelaide Oval. With three hundreds and two fifties in just seven games, Head averages more than 80 at the Adelaide Oval.
Most Test centuries for Australia at Adelaide Oval
- Michael Clarke: Matches: 10; Hundreds: 7 (2004-2014)
- Ricky Ponting: Matches: 17; Hundreds: 6 (1996-2012)
- David Boon: Matches: 12; Hundreds: 4 (1984-1996)
- Allan Border: Matches: 16; Hundreds: 4 (1979-1994)
- David Warner: Matches: 10; Hundreds: 4 (2012-2022)
- Don Bradman: Matches: 7; Hundreds: 3 (1929-1948)
- Matthew Hayden: Matches: 10; Hundreds: 3 (1997-2008)
- Travis Head: Matches: 7; Hundreds: 3 (2018-2024)
- Dean Jones: Matches: 6; Hundreds: 3 (1986-1992)
- Marnus Labuschagne: Matches: 6; Hundreds: 3 (2019-2024)
Head's century skyrocketed him to stand alone at the top, becoming the first South Australian to score three tons at Adelaide Oval.
Another talking point of the 2nd Test was a verbal exchange between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj. Head was dismissed in the 82nd over of the match, bowled by a crushing yorker. After the dismissal, Head and Siraj appeared to have a brief confrontation before the pacer showed the left-hander the way to the pavilion. The Adelaide crowd also reacted strongly as Siraj was booed for confronting their local hero.
Head, speaking to Fox cricket after the end of day's play, said, "I said 'well bowled' but he thought otherwise…when he pointed me to the sheds he got a little bit back from me…I’m slightly disappointed with how that transpired, with a couple of the past innings. It is what it is. If they want to react like that and that’s how they want to represent themselves, then so be it."
However, Siraj rebuffed Head's comments. He accused the Aussie of abuse and lying. "What he said in the press conference wasn’t right, it’s a lie that he only said, 'well bowled' to me,” Siraj told the Indian broadcaster, Star Sports, in comments translated from Hindi.
"It’s there for everyone to see that that’s not what he said to me. I respect everybody because cricket is a gentleman’s game but what he did wasn’t right. I didn’t like it at all."
The batter had admitted swearing at Siraj during their tense flashpoint at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. While Siraj batted today (8 December), the Indian had a conversation with Head who was fielding at short-leg. "It was fine. He said: 'Why did you swear?' I sort of said, 'Look, I didn’t at first… [but] I definitely swore at you the second time round’," Head told ABC radio after Australia’s win.
"Sweet with it. He came out and just said [it was] a little bit of misunderstanding. We’ll move on. We’ve had a great week so let’s not let it ruin it."
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, was left unfazed by the incident. He said, "It’s heated. It’s a big series. It has been packed crowds all of the days so there’s a lot riding on it. To be honest, they [India] can do whatever they want. I am more worried about our boys and I thought our boys’ behaviour was excellent this week, like it seems to be every week."
India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, also brushed off the clash. "Two competitive teams are going at each other, these things happen."
Still, Sharma said there was a fine line for Siraj to tread with his behaviour. "He likes to get into the batters, as simple as that. It gives him success and as a captain it’s my job to back that aggression. Obviously there’s a fine line between that, we don’t want to cross anything that can bring disrepute into the game."
"But obviously having a word or two with the opposition isn’t a bad thing and he likes it and that is what gets him going. In the past we have seen so many cricketers who like that battle and Siraj is definitely one of them."
Siraj was roundly booed by Head’s hometown crowd at Adelaide Oval and will probably face similar treatment for the remainder of the five-Test series. "I don’t think it matters too much," Sharma said. "Siraj knows what he needs to do for the team. His job is to take wickets and he will do everything he can to try and get wickets."
"Guys are quite mature now to keep those things outside, not to let them affect their game, Siraj is one of them."
The 3rd Test will take place at the Gabba (Brisbane). It will be from 14 - 18 December.