Stamping his authority in Australia over the past two summers with counter-punching hundreds,Head has now become a game changer in England,scoring an unbeaten 146 in just 156 deliveries as Australia went to stumps at 3-327 on Wednesday with Smith 95 not out. It would have been more had India managed better than 85 of their scheduled 90 overs.
After Australia were asked to bat on a green pitch under dull skies,Head came to the crease with his side teetering at 3-76. He added 251 with Smith,who played the unobtrusive anchor on a ground where he averaged almost a hundred going into the match.
Smith has already scored six centuries in England,but no one else in the Australian squad had managed one,until Head came to the party in emphatic style.
“We don’t talk too much,” Head said about batting with Smith. “I’ve always said I do really enjoy batting with Steve because of how much attention he receives. Obviously,he’s one of the best players in the world,probably our best player. He’s our best batter and unbelievable in these conditions,and he receives so much attention from the opposition in terms of plans and how difficult he is to bowl to.
“Going out to bat with him,you’re in the shadow of that,and you can sort of sneak under the radar and go about your business because he’s drawn so much attention. It felt like that again today. It felt like he wasn’t going to leave,he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He’s at the other end and got in that rhythm and just went about his business.
“A lot of balls that he may play at are a lot different to me,so I think we complement each other completely differently. But in the partnership,it works really nicely.”