Travis Head struck like a twister with a counter-attacking hundred that left an out-of-sorts Indian assault bereft of concepts as Australia made hay below shiny sunshine by reaching 327 for 3 on the opening day of the World Take a look at Championship remaining.
The ploy of leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin backfired as soon as there was shiny sunshine as neither Umesh Yadav nor Shardul Thakur seemed under-cooked as India have been fully outplayed within the second and third session with Rohit Sharma’s captaincy leaving quite a bit to be desired.
India picked an additional quick bowler on the expense of Ravichandran Ashwin however that didn’t assist their trigger as Head (146 batting) and Smith (95 batting) amassed an unbeaten 251 run partnership off 370 balls for the fourth wicket, lifting Australia from a uncomfortable 73 for 3.
The third wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (26) got here within the twenty fifth over earlier than overcast skies made manner for shiny sunshine as Smith and Head made probably the most of batting pleasant circumstances by means of the afternoon and night periods. In all there have been 44 boundaries hit together with a most, depicting the plight of Indian tempo assault.
It was Head’s first century away from residence and sixth total. Mohammed Siraj was the choose of the bowlers for India, who’ve quite a lot of work to do going into day two.
India’s pacers tried the brief ball tactic to upset the rhythm of each Smith and Head however have been unsuccessful. Nonetheless the short-ball tactic to unsettle Head got here as soon as he was settled down.
Siraj bowled his coronary heart out however the likes of Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thalur lacked consistency.
Ashwin’s non-selection will likely be debated for the rest of the sport however not less than on the opening day, there was not a lot activate supply for Ravindra Jadeja who bowled 14 overs with out a wicket.
“Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence is baffling,” Sunil Gavaskar stated on Star Sports activities and his evaluation could not have been extra apt.
Head, who has constructed a repute of taking part in impactful innings in 36 Take a look at previous profession, single-handedly change the course of the sport together with his aggressive strategy. The fuller deliveries did not hassle him even one bit.
When the Indian pacers focused his pads, the southpaw used his fast wrists to flick them away and something brief and large on the off aspect was additionally duly dispatched.
Head introduced up his fifty with a crisp back-foot punch off Shardul Thakur. He obtained extra audacious within the second half of his innings and entered into the 90s with a six over third man off Shami.
Smith, alternatively, was glad to bide his time whereas Head went about his enterprise. India tried the leg slip tactic towards him earlier than testing him across the off-stump. Each to no avail.
Smith, who averages near 100 at The Oval, is on target to boost his enviable file on the venue. Australia’s batting mainstay performed some attractive straight drives off the pacers earlier than utilizing his ft towards the left-arm spin of Jadeja.
India took the brand new ball after the eightieth over however Shami and Siraj have been unable to supply the breakthrough. Indian followers who thronged to the venue in big numbers went again disenchanted.
Solely the morning session went India’s manner as Siraj breathed hearth in his opening spell earlier than Thakur removed a well-set David Warner (43 off 60) to cut back Australia to 73 for 2 at lunch.
Having survived difficult circumstances within the first hour at The Oval, Warner and Labuschagne have been on target to see off the session till Thakur dismissed the left-handed opener with a brief ball concentrating on his rib cage. Wicketkeeper KS Bharat took a well-judged catch down the leg-side.
Each Siraj and Shami saved Australia in examine within the first hour, sharing six overs six every and conceding solely 29 runs.
Siraj obtained extra out of the floor than Shami by bowling with a scrambled seam. Usman Khawaja (0 off 10), who has an peculiar file in England, started the tour on a disappointing word as he obtained a faint edge off a ball that pitched exterior the off stump and seamed away.
There was minimal ft motion and he paid the value for taking part in away from the physique and the nick was taken simply by Bharat behind the stumps.
Warner, who has a degree to show on this recreation and cement his spot within the taking part in XI for the upcoming Ashes, battled with grit and took his possibilities each time he was supplied width.
After an engrossing opening hour, India took the foot off the pedal with Umesh Yadav providing loads of scoring alternatives to Warner, who collected 4 boundaries off the pacer within the fifteenth over.
The going was a lot more durable for Labuschagne, who copped a nasty blow on his left thumb from a pointy supply by Siraj. Later within the session, he was in a position to survive two shut DRS lbw calls off Thakur’s bowling.
Because it typically occurs in England, the solar got here out within the second hour and made batting simpler.
Australia have been seeking to shut the session strongly till Warner went for a pull off a supply angled into him by Thakur who went large off the crease whereas coming around the wicket and the batter, cramped for room, could not maintain the pull down.
Bharat justified his choice over Ishan Kishan with a pointy diving catch.