Travis Head and David Warner stitched a record-breaking opening stand of 175 within 20 overs to light up the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala against New Zealand today (October 28).
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Returning to the side after a long injury lay off due to a broken hand, Travis Head stunned one and all with his strokeplay as he raced his way through to a 59-ball century on World Cup debut. He added 175 runs for the first wicket with David Warner, who missed out on his third hundred of the 2023 World Cup by not much as he was dismissed for 81 off 65.
Warner and Head, statistically one of the most destructive opening pairs of all time in the history of ODI cricket, broke several records during the course of their epic partnership today.
Scoring at 9.13 runs per over, Head and Warner registered the second fastest 100-plus opening partnership in the history of the men’s World Cup. Only Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill’s 105-run partnership, off 43 balls against England in 2015, was quicker.
No opening partnership in the history of the World Cup has added more runs at a higher run rate than Head and Warner.
This was also the second-highest opening partnership of the 2023 World Cup. The highest also belongs to Australia: Warner and Mitchell Marsh added 259 for the first wicket against Pakistan a few days back.
Head and Warner now average 97.91 runs per dismissal: they have amassed 1,175 runs while opening batting together in 12 ODIs. No other opening pair in the history of ODI cricket has a higher partnership average with a 1,000-run cut-off.
Naturally, the onslaught led to widespread reactions on social media.
What a phenomenal start for #TeamAustralia! 🔥 @davidwarner31 and @travishead34 are on fire, It’s great to see them back in the game! 💪🏼#AUSvsNZ #ODIWorldCup2023
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) October 28, 2023
Australia peaking 🫣 pic.twitter.com/816OZwaM9x
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 28, 2023
Aussies are flyinggggg
Quite the start #AUSvsNZ #CricketTwitter
— DK (@DineshKarthik) October 28, 2023
Warner and Head have gone berserk, NZ look battered and beat in first powerplay itself
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 28, 2023
Early start, new ball, moisture in the pitch? 12 an over in the first 5 overs!!! Bonkers #NZvsAUS
— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) October 28, 2023
Remarkable that Travis Head hasn’t played a match for nearly Six Weeks because of injury, and walks into the World Cup and gets a century off 59 deliveries.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 28, 2023
What an amazing 10 days for Travis Head. Witnessed his baby daughter take her first steps last Tuesday in Adelaide & here he is smashing a century off 59 balls in his first game of the World Cup in the foothills of the Himalayas #CWC23 #AusvNZ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 28, 2023
If you are one of those who was wondering why Australia to take the gamble of waiting on Travis Head to get himself fit at some stage of this World Cup, he’s showing you why #AusvNZ #CWC23
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 28, 2023
Travis Head’s SR 115.41 is the highest in ODI history for an opening batter. A century off 59 balls today after a return from injury. No wonder Australia were desperate to have him in the team so much so that they played half of the WC with just 14 players in the squad.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 28, 2023
