The highly anticipated final match of the World Test Championship got off to an enthralling start as Australia’s Travis Head and the legendary Steve Smith showcased their batting prowess, forming an unbeaten partnership of 251 runs on the opening day. The Indian bowlers toiled hard but took only three wickets, allowing Australia to amass a commanding total of 327 runs at the end of the play.
After winning the toss, Team India’s captain Rohit Sharma invited the Australian team to bat first. The decision initially seemed fruitful as Australia lost three wickets for just 76 runs. However, Travis Head, who came in at number 5, played with aggression and resilience, scoring runs at a brisk pace. He registered his sixth Test century, remaining unbeaten at the end of the first day’s play.
Travis Head and Steve Smith formed an unbroken partnership of 251 runs, frustrating the Indian bowlers with their solid batting display. Head’s innings of 146 runs off 156 balls was characterized by his attacking stroke play, including 22 fours and a six. On the other hand, Smith played the anchor role, providing a solid foundation while nearing his 31st Test century, just five runs shy of the milestone. Smith’s composed knock of 95 runs included 14 boundaries.
In their remarkable partnership, Smith and Head surpassed a partnership record that had stood for 93 years. They became the second-highest partnership for the fourth wicket on English soil, surpassing the legendary Don Bradman and Archie Jackson’s 243-run partnership at The Oval in 1930. Bradman still holds the top spot with his 388-run partnership with Bill Ponsford at Headingley in 1934. This achievement further highlights the calibre of the current Australian batting duo.
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Alongside Head and Smith, opener David Warner played a handy knock of 43 runs, providing a solid start to the Australian innings. Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with 26 runs before being dismissed. For India, pacers Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammad Siraj each claimed one wicket, but their efforts couldn’t halt the dominant partnership.
