Day 2: Head’s ton put Australia on top

Travis Head thrashed a magnificent ton in the last session and helped his side to put a big lead of 196 runs on the board.

Warner was dismissed in the nervous 90s as Robinson picked up two wickets in two balls after the tea break.

England   1st innings  147 all-out 

Buttler    39 (58)           Cummins     5-38                                                                                                                     Pope       35 (79)            Starc            2-35                                                                                                           Hameed 25 (75)            Hazlewood 2-42

Australia      1st innings       343-7

T. Head 112*(95)               Robinson 3-48                                                                                                                                                                     Warner 94 (176)                Root         1-29                                                                                                                Labuschagne 74 (117)      Woakes    1-56

England made a great comeback after Warner and Labuschagne’s brilliant start in the morning session.

But Head again put Australia on top and dragged the game away from England.

He smoked a brilliant 100 on just 85 balls with a strike rate of over 100, which is very rare in Test cricket. 

Australia lost their opener, Harris early on in their innings but Warner and Labuschagne played superbly to put up an outstanding stand of 156 runs.

But Labuschagne’s dismissal opened the gate for the English bowlers to come back in the match.

Australia lost 4 wickets for just 28 runs after Labuschagne’s wicket.

The star performer of 2019 Ashes, Steve Smith was dismissed by Wood for just 12 runs.

He nicked the ball towards the keeper Buttler. Warner fell just 6 short of a well-deserved 100. 

Head’s magnificent Ton

Australia was struggling on 195-5, but Travis Head played a superb knock to push the lead to 196 runs.

Head built up a small partnership with Alex Carey but after the dismissal of Carey, skipper Pat Cummins joined him and he contributed 12 runs in a 70 run stand with Head.

Travis Head shifted his gears after the dismissal of Alex Carey as he smashed a brilliant knock of 112 runs off just 95 deliveries including 12 fours and 2 sixes. 

He also scored the joint 3rd fastest Ashes ton, off 85 deliveries.

In fact, Head also became the first batter to score a Test hundred in a single session at the Gabba.

He is still unbeaten on 112 runs alongside Mitchell Starc who is batting on 10 runs. 

The Warner-Labuschagne stand

Travis Head has scored a hundred but the foundation for a big score was set by Warner and Labuschagne stand in the start.

Warner scored an outstanding knock of 94 runs before getting dismissed by Robinson.

Warner was totally out of form in the last Ashes but today he scored 94 runs which is just 1 run short of his total runs scored in the last Ashes.

Warner scored 95 runs in 10 innings in the last Ashes but today he smashed 94 runs in a single inning and proved that form is temporary but class is permanent. 

Labuschagne also played beautifully to continue his wonderful form in Test cricket.

He scored 74 runs off 117 balls including 2 sixes and 6 fours to laid the foundation for a big lead in the first innings for Australia.

Jack Leach dismissed him and ended his 156 runs stand with Warner. 

Robinson picked up 3 important wickets for just 48 runs while Woakes, Wood, Leach, and Root picked up 1 wicket each.

Australia will continue their innings tomorrow from 343-7 with a lead of 196 runs and with Head still on the crease.