India's struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued as the unit once again failed to stop the carnage of Travis Head. The explosive batter, arguably one of India's biggest nemesis in recent times, once again plundered runs, making the the Indian attack appear hapless in the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane. Head scored an explosive ton to put the hosts in the driver seat and was eventually dismissed for 152 (160) by Jasprit Bumrah.
Head fetched runs without no discomfort and hammered 18 boundaries before getting out. He arrived in the middle when Australia were reduced to 75/3 and together with Steve Smith, who scored 101(190), added 241 runs for the fourth wicket. While Day 2 is still underway, the partnership between the two has certainly inflicted a big dent on India's chances of breaching the Gabbatoir.
Looking at India's clueless approach against an in-form Head, ex-Australia cricketer Simon Katich was left bewildered with Mohammed Siraj's choice of length. The incident took place when Head had just completed his half-century and Siraj decided to test the batter with a short delivery. Head, who had already faced 80 balls by then, had no problems dispatching the ball over the wicketkeeper's head for a boundary.
Watch: Mohammed Siraj employees classic bail switch trick to get into Marnus Labuschagne's head
Katich, who was then commentating for Channel Seven, ripped apart the Indian for his choice of delivery, which he felt was "dumb". Explaining his take, Katich pointed out that Siraj had a fielder placed at the position for a similar shot an over before, and now with no one placed he tried to bowl a similar length.
"That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj because the over before he had a man right in at spot and he has run in and bowled what they were planning without a fielder there. That is dumb. Dumb cricket," said Katich on commentary. "They have two men on the legside, deep point, and a man right at that spot for this plan to Travis Head and then he doesn't have the fielder. Now he is going to put the fielder right there. The horse has bolted buddy," he added.
Travis Head, Steve Smith dictate proceedings
Meanwhile, Head and Smith dictated the show and helped Australia out from a precarious situation to hand them the upper hand. While Jasprit Bumrah, who has so far been India's lone weapon in the series, has completed a fifer, the hosts find themselves in a commanding position.
Their efforts have helped Australia cross the 350-mark with four wickets still remaining.
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