New Delhi: Australia batter Travis Head scripted history as he smashed the fastest-ever hundred in a pink-ball Test match, during the 2nd Test against India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Saturday, December 07. Head completed his century off just 111 balls after taking the Indian bowlers to the cleaners during Australia’s 2nd innings of the pink-ball Test match.
Head reached the 100-run mark with a single off R Ashwin on the final delivery of the 77th over of Australia’s first innings and celebrated his century in style by pulling off the ‘baby celebration’ for his newborn. With his wife and baby watching from the stands, Head put on a batting exhibition in Adelaide to force India into submission with his brilliant counter-attacking ton.
The Assie left-hander broke his own record for the fastest-ever century in a pink-ball Test match. Head held the record previously for his 112-ball ton in a pink-ball Test against England in Hobart in 2022. He bettered his own record by completing his century off just 111 balls laced with 11 fours and three sixes against India on Saturday.
It was Head’s 3rd century in a pink-ball Test match for Australia and his 8th overall in the longest format. Head also scored his second hundred in a pink-ball Test in Adelaide having smashed a brilliant ton in a day-night Test against West Indies at the same venue in 2022. Marnus Labushagne (4) holds the record for most hundreds in pink-ball Test matches with Head at the second spot.
Fastest centuries in pink-ball Tests:
111 balls Travis Head vs India, Adelaide 2024
112 balls Travis Head vs England, Hobart 2022
125 balls Travis Head vs West Indies, Adelaide 2022
139 balls Joe Root vs West Indies, Edgbaston 2017
140 balls Asad Shafiq vs Australis, Brisbane 2016
Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne punish India
It was a brilliant knock from Head, who came out to bat at no.5 when Australia were in a spot of bother having lost Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith in quick succession with the scoreboard reading 103/3 in the 41st over. Head combined with settled Marnus Labuschagne to steady the ship as the duo shared an important stand of 65 runs for the 4th wicket.
The partnership was broken by Nitish Reddy, who sent back Labuschagne on 64 after getting him caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at slips. However, Head continued his stellar run on the other end and continued to go after the Indian bowlers, scoring runs freely all around the park with some flamboyant strokes off his willow.
Australia batter Travis Head smashed the fastest-ever century in a pink-ball Test match during the ongoing 2nd Test against India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. Head completed his ton off just 111 balls. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
