That was Steve Smith’s one-word response to what Travis Head had shown us all at Perth Stadium. Not right then, but about an hour later. He continued to appear appropriately amazed and in awe of what Head had just accomplished.
The South Australian left-hander’s most recent knock will be the subject of thousands of words in the years to come. However, the Australian captain’s one-word outburst perfectly captured it. In particular, on the day that Australia had pulled off an incredible first Test victory, going from being at a loss to winning by eight wickets in two sessions.
Thanks to the most recent Travis Head symphony of destruction. England’s own batting self-destruction also helped.
We’ve become used to Head writing remarkable centuries in the most opulent environments by now. The 50-over World Cup final or the World Test Championship final, for example. However, his most amazing statement piece to date was perhaps the one he created in Perth on Saturday.
In every manner conceivable. First, how serious the matter is. In the first place, this is the first Test in the most anticipated Ashes series. Then came an English team that many considered to be this Australian team’s first true Ashes danger at home. Additionally, an England team that had made many of the decisions throughout the Test match likely gave itself the finest opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in forty years.
Next comes the task. An attacker who, only a day before, had intimidated and mistreated the Australian hitters. And who still had 205 to defend, the target for Australia 33 higher than the highest score of the three preceding innings, in spite of the cumulative shortcomings of their batsmen. Not to mention that Usman Khawaja had hobbled off the pitch, making it unclear who would bat first for Australia.
Travis Head may have delivered the most devastating punch to the English spirits on Saturday before he even became Jake Weatherald’s unexpected partner at the top of the order. When he would walk up in the dressing room and declare, “It can’t be that difficult,” he would take on the role of opening the batting, as Nathan Lyon would later disclose. In classic Travis Head manner, “I might as well go get ’em.”
The reasons why Travis Head is such a devastating batter are all too frequently reduced. Whether it’s the cliché that he simply “sees the ball and hits the ball” or that he’s a reckless cricket ball wielder.
If anything, he has repeatedly demonstrated that, among this Australian batting lineup, he is on par with Steve Smith as the best problem-solver. But also that Head’s use of the bat is more methodical than crazy.
In terms of how he can control the fields that are established for him, his hitting abilities are likewise much more intricate. Under bowling coach David Saker, England has made the decision to block the off-side square of the wicket this time and attempt to dismiss Travis Head by playing to his strengths. However, Travis Head ability to continue penetrating or even clearing those fields is evidence of how he uses his palms and wrists to nearly guide the ball into desired areas.
What makes him stand out even more, though, is his ability to understand the game scenario and respond appropriately.
Travis Head got off to a rather cautious start in his debut as an Australian Test opener. He had only scored three runs after 14 balls, but he was being cautious rather than defensive. Instead of merely assuming the right or power to do so, he allowed himself the opportunity to dominate the bowling, which is why he hit 97 off the next 55 balls he faced.
From that moment on, a bowling attack that had appeared to be the most dangerous to have ever landed on our shores from England since perhaps the Bodyline days was brutally destroyed. The loudest slap, both physically and figuratively, that Archer delivered to the visitors was likely the straight pull six he delivered over long-on.
In fact, Travis Head bats in Test cricket exactly as this English squad believes they do. even though they won’t acknowledge it.
Though he mainly takes calculated chances, he does take some. Even while he occasionally makes spectacular shots, they are always more based on probability than on merely telling the bowler something. As opposed to the English batters’ present brand, which we have witnessed, there is always a combination of impulse and thought.
As a batting unit, they have strayed so far from precedent that they plan to thrive on batting for too long on Australia’s most buoyant Test ground by repeatedly hammering at balls outside off stump on the up, with no regret or consequences. Furthermore, they are adamant about “batting the way they want to” and don’t listen to or accept any external criticism.
Over the past several years, Head has demonstrated that he doesn’t feed on his own ego; rather, he plays with the bowlers’ egos and frequently permanently crushes them. On Saturday, for example, Head bullied the Australian hitters and, at the end, played around with them after Archer & Co. had apparently roughed them up 24 hours earlier.
He embodies the values that England loves to constantly proclaim. He takes a swagger to the crease, bats freely, and thrives on providing entertainment. He is never careless, though.
Additionally, England’s best chance to have a significant effect with the bat in this series may lie in trying to emulate Travis Head strategy of taking down bowlers.
It’s not certain that it will look as good as it did for Head. Because few people are capable of doing what Travis Head does. And when he does compose one of his superhits, you’re left speechless and frequently have nothing to say other than to shout “Wowza” like Steve Smith.
India
