"As his numbers grew on the second afternoon here, what they represented grew more astonishing. A normal 16 runs from 20 balls became brisk at 26 from 23. By the time it was 50 from 37, the frame of the usual had disappeared. Soon it was 68 from 49. Yes, players have scored faster now and then, but imagine batting in a fourth-innings Ashes chase on 84 from 59 balls. Imagine coming from behind in the first Test of a series to score 92 from 61."
"When it arrived, Head's century had taken 69 balls, the second-fastest in the Ashes. It trailed only Adam Gilchrist's onslaught in 2006, across the river in this same city, when Gilchrist punished Monty Panesar, the England spinner who Steve Smith, took down verbally two days ago. But Gilchrist was scoring declaration runs on a scorching day against a weary attack."
England tried a certain style of Test cricket but Travis Head executed a vastly different and more aggressive approach. His scoring accelerated across the second afternoon: 16 from 20, 26 from 23, 50 from 37, 68 from 49 and 84 from 59. He moved from 92 off 61 to a 69-ball century, the second-fastest in Ashes history. The century came against England’s pace attack on a cool afternoon, not a tired bowling unit on a hot day. A chase of 205 followed earlier match totals of 172, 132 and 164, and Australia’s opening stand helped settle the target despite selection scrutiny of the regular opener.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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