NEW DELHI: In a stunning display of counter-attacking batting, Travis Head propelled Australia to a commanding position on the opening day of the World Test Championship final on Wednesday. His scintillating hundred left the Indian bowling attack bereft of ideas as Australia reached an impressive 327 for 3 under bright sunshine at The Oval.
After being sent in to bat first, Australia faced an out-of-sorts Indian attack that seemed to lack the necessary penetration. India's decision to leave out the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin backfired, as the pitch offered little assistance to their bowlers once the sun came out.
As it happened: WTC Final, Day 1
Head, with his aggressive stroke play, turned the tide in Australia's favour. Partnering with the ever-dependable Steve Smith, Head amassed an unbeaten 251-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their alliance lifted Australia from a shaky 73 for 3 to a position of dominance, leaving the Indian bowlers frustrated and searching for answers.
The day began positively for India, with Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami delivering a fiery opening spell. Both pacers showcased excellent control and kept Australia in check during the first hour of play. Siraj, in particular, bowled with a scrambled seam and extracted more from the surface than his counterparts.
1/10:WTC Final: Head, Smith put Australia on top against India on Day 1
AP
2/10:Travis Head
<p>Travis Head's dashing century was the centrepiece of an Australia fightback against India on the opening day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Wednesday. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Steve Smith
<p>Australia were in a commanding position on 327/3 at stumps after losing the toss, with Head 146 not out and Steve Smith 95 not out. </p>Getty Images
4/10:Mohammed Siraj
<p>India started strongly when Mohammed Siraj removed Usman Khawaja for a duck with an excellent wobble-seam delivery and Australia were 2/1. </p>Getty Images
5/10:David Warner
<p>David Warner's promising innings ended on 43 when a gloved pull off Shardul Thakur was well caught down the legside by diving wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Marnus Labuschagne
<p>Marnus Labuschagne fell early in the second session for his lunch score of 26 when he was bowled between bat and pad by a Mohammed Shami inswinger.</p>Getty Images
7/10:The rescue act
<p>Head and Smith then came together with Australia in trouble at 76/3 in bowler-friendly conditions, but as the sun burst through the clouds, the runs started to flow.</p>Getty Images
8/10:The counter-attack
<p>Head was troubled by Ravindra Jadeja but by counter-attacking from the start of his innings -- 24 of his first 27 runs came in boundaries -- he put the pressure back on the bowlers.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Smith at The Oval
<p>With Smith, who before this match averaged nearly 98 in Tests at The Oval, batting in more conventional fashion it gave Head freedom to keep playing his shots. </p>Getty Images
10/10:The short ball
<p>By the time India tested Head with the short ball, he was well set and a pulled single off Mohammed Shami took him to a sixth Test hundred in just 106 balls, including 14 fours and a six. </p>Getty ImagesThe big breakthrough for India came when Shardul Thakur dismissed the well-set David Warner for 43 off 60 balls, breaking his partnership with Marnus Labuschagne. Warner's dismissal came from a well-directed short ball, which he failed to keep down, and wicketkeeper KS Bharat took a sharp diving catch.
However, it was Head's aggressive approach that stole the limelight. Untroubled by fuller deliveries, the left-hander used his quick wrists to flick the ball away when the Indian pacers targeted his pads. He punished anything short and wide on the off side with disdain, finding the boundaries with ease.
Head notched up his fifty with a crisp back-foot punch off Shardul Thakur and grew even more audacious as his innings progressed. He reached the 90s with a spectacular six over third man off Mohammad Shami, displaying his fearless intent.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith played a supporting role to perfection, allowing Head to dominate proceedings. Smith's elegant stroke play and ability to manoeuvre the ball around the field showcased his class. He capitalised on the left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja and played some exquisite straight drives against the pacers.
India's decision to pick an extra fast bowler at the expense of Ashwin raised eyebrows, and the absence of the seasoned spinner was deeply felt as Jadeja failed to make an impact, going wicketless in his 14 overs.
As the day wore on, the Indian bowlers attempted to unsettle Head with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. However, once Head settled into his groove, the short-ball tactic lost its effectiveness, and he continued to plunder runs with confidence.
At stumps on day one, Head remained unbeaten on 146, while Smith was poised on 95. Their unbroken partnership not only steered Australia out of trouble but also solidified their dominance over a faltering Indian bowling attack.
With India left pondering the decision to exclude Ashwin and Rohit Sharma's captaincy coming under scrutiny, the second day of the World Test Championship final promises to be a critical one for the Indian team. They will need to regroup, rediscover their rhythm, and find ways to dismantle Australia's resilient batting duo to turn the tide in their favour.
(With inputs from PTI)
