Australia’s aggressive left-hand opener Travis Head made a dashing return to ODI cricket earlier today here at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala. He was making his debut in the ICC Cricket World Cup for the Aussies against Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand and he chose a terrific way to announce himself.
Head was facing some substantial time in the sidelines after breaking his left hand last month during Australia’s tour of South Africa. There were heavy doubts regarding his participation in the World Cup as the period of his recovery was unknown.
HISTORIC:
Travis Head becomes the fastest to score a century on a World Cup debut. pic.twitter.com/Qkz8S5zgFc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 28, 2023
Yet Australian selectors decided against dropping him from the squad, hoping for his arrival mid-way in the tournament. It was confirmed last week that Travis Head has joined the Australian camp and has started practicing in the nets.
The 29-year-old was expected to be named in the Aussie playing XI against Netherlands on Wednesday but head coach Andrew McDonald gave him 4 days more of recovery for today’s clash against New Zealand. And it will be fair to say that Head totally repaid the trust and faith shown by the management as he smacked a 59-ball Century.
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He replaced All-rounder Marcus Stoinis from Australia’s playing XI and came on to open alongside the Pocket size dynamite David Warner. The Lefty duo were hitting the Kiwi bowling attack all over the park and stitched a partnership of 175 before Warner was Caught and bowled by Glenn Phillips for 81.
But it did not faze Head that much who completed his 4th ODI Century moments later. He mainly dealt in boundaries, scoring 82 runs off 4’s (10) and 6’s (7) with a strike rate of 162.69. However, Glenn Phillips once again gave New Zealand the break through by removing Head from the crease for 109 off 67.
Phillips bowled an unplayable length ball which remained low as it travelled towards the left-hand batter, who had no clue whatsoever. Following Head’s departure, out of form Steve Smith was also shown the exit door by Phillips for 18 and at the time of writing Australia are 240/3 with Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease.
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