146 runs from just 156 balls courtesy of Travis Head has the Australians in the drivers’ seat at 3-for-327 at stumps of Day 1 in the World Test Championship Final against India at London’s The Oval.
Head joined vice-captain Steve Smith at the crease with the Australians at a precarious 3-for-76 before the two combined for an unbeaten 251-run stand lasting nearly two full sessions.
India made the call to overlook spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel in favour of a four-pronged pace attack.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood’s injury paved the way for Scott Boland to earn his first opportunity in English conditions.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and sent Australia in to bat which appeared a sound decision early with opener Usman Khawaja dismissed for a 10-ball duck after getting a faint edge on a Mohammed Siraj peach.
David Warner – whose form has been a hot point of contention in the lead-up to Australia’s tour – and Marnus Labuschagne helped to steady the ship with a 69-run partnership.
The veteran opener looked in fine touch blasting Indian quick Umesh Yadav for a quartet of fours in the space of five balls before gloving one down legside off the bowling of Shardul Thakur to a diving KS Bharat for 43.
Australia went into lunch at 2-for-72 before Labuschagne was knocked over by Mohammed Shami in the second over after the break for 26.
Enter Head, who took just 60 balls to bring up his half-century thanks to a variety of classy strokes.
Head survived a chance on 71 after cannoning a Shami delivery through the hands of Ajinkya Rahane at gully before Smith reached 50 at a far slower rate.
A half-century soon became a century for Head – his first on foreign soil – off just 106 balls.
Their partnership surpassed 250 shortly before the close of play as the pair managed to drag their country into a dominant position heading into an important second day.
Head finished the day on 146* with Smith alongside him on 95*.
