Watch: Travis Head hit an outrageous uppercut for six off Mohammad Shami, on his way to his maiden Test century outside Australia in the World Test Championship final at The Kia Oval today (June 7).
Head was closing on his three figures at the time of the shot, having reached 85 in the evening session. After he took a single from the first ball of Shami’s 13th over, Head attacked towards its end, bringing out the ramp shot. On his first attempt, he managed to get the ball over the slips for it to run away for four.
On the second attempt the very next ball, he went bigger. In almost identical fashion, he ran the ball late off the face of his bat, flicking it over the fielders and high enough this time for it to disappear over the boundary rope for six. It was the first maximum of the match and came at a time where Australia were looking to pile on the runs late in the day.
After losing Usman Khawaja for a duck in the morning session, and both David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne before the score passed 100, Steve Smith and Head came together for a huge partnership.
Head reached his century shortly after the six. It was the first century ever in a World Test Championship final and came off 106 balls. The innings also marks the continuation of a prolific period for Head, who averages 64.14 in Test cricket over the last 12 months. His strike rate in that time is 83.14 and he has registered five fifties and two hundreds.
As well as important for Australia’s chances in the ongoing final, his form looks ominous ahead of the following Ashes series.
Watch: Travis Head outrageously uppercuts Mohammed Shami over slips for six in spectacular WTC final counter-attack
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