Hobart Test: Travis Head, Cameron Green shine on rain-hit opening day
Travis Head scored a magnificent century to put Australia in command at stumps on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England as rain forced an early close in Hobart on Friday.
A spicy wicket, a fast hundred, sharp catches – day one had everything! #Ashes
Check out all the highlights here 🏏https://t.co/4OOntOb3YX
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 14, 2022
At the close of play, Australia were 241-6, with Alex Carey on 10 and Mitchell Starc on zero after being sent in by English captain Joe Root. Only 7.3 overs were possible in the night session, with a persistent misty rain falling on the ground.
Stumps called in Hobart! ☔
The rain prevents further play and Australia will start day two at 241/6.
Watch the Ashes live on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions)#AUSvENG | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/FBEPChTPWU
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2022
Head came to the crease with Australia reeling at 12-3, but counter-attacked brilliantly to reach his fourth Test century in just 112 balls, with 12 boundaries.
A hundred and gone! 👀
Travis Head gets his fourth Test hundred, but falls next ball.
Watch the Ashes live on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions)#AUSvENG | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/VADk34Y8q0
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2022
However, one ball after reaching his hundred in the day-night match, he chipped Chris Woakes to mid-off, where Ollie Robinson — who bowled only one over in the twilight session due to back soreness — took a simple catch.
It was Head’s second century of the series, a result he credited to a new attitude.
Head’s 101 was a superb response to a much-changed England’s complete dominance in the first 10 overs.
Root won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat in overcast conditions and on a real green-top of a wicket.
England, who have already lost the series, had Australia on the ropes at 12-3 after 10 overs, with Stuart Broad and Robinson almost unplayable in perfect bowling conditions.
Easy catch for Root – both opening bowlers Robinson and Broad begin with a wicket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/itfjfjsJKi
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 14, 2022
They removed David Warner and Steve Smith for ducks and Usman Khawaja for six, and should have had Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped by Zak Crawley, for no score.
“How’d you go today?”
“Yeah, just got a good one” 🤦🏼♂️ #Ashes pic.twitter.com/boca763O3h— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) January 14, 2022
However, the game swung back towards Australia when Head and Labuschagne launched a revival, attacking change bowlers Mark Wood and Woakes.