WTC Final: Steve Smith, Travis Head break 111-year record with exceptional partnership of 285 runs

If not for Travis Head and Steve Smith, Australia might not have reached the total of 469 runs

SportsTak

• Thu • 08 Jun 2023

Australia were guided to a massive first innings total of 469 runs courtesy of centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head, and in doing so, broke a plethora of records during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final at The Oval in London. After a slow start to their batting where they lost David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession, the two batters took the game to the Indian pacers.

The duo complemented each other beautifully as Smith allowed Head to play as the aggressor. Head got to his hundred off 106 balls as the Indians had no response for their partnership while Smith had to wait for the first over of Day 2 to get his 31st Test century, his ninth against India in Tests, and third at The Oval.

However, both their innings were short-lived as Mohammad Siraj got Head after he smashed 163 runs in 174 balls before Shardul Thakur clean-bowled the dangerous Steve Smith for 121 off 268 balls as Australia went on to lose four wickets in the first session of Day 2.

Among their many records was one that last for 111 years. Their 285 runs in 408 balls together is the highest partnership by an Australian pair for any wicket in a neutral Test. Back in 1912, Warren Bardsley and Charles Kellaway put on 242 runs for the third wicket against South Africa at the Lord's Cricket Ground.

Former Australian legends Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting came close to the record when they put on 184 runs against Pakistan back in 2002 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

For India, eventually, it was the short-ball plan of the team that finally paid comes off. Siraj's ball attacked Head's hip as he tried to shuffle across and whip it fine, but the ball brushed the gloves instead and went straight to the keeper as their partnership of 285 runs in 408 balls was broken.

After Head fell Cameron Green (6) off Mohammed Shami's bowling. At the other end, Smith was starting to go strong by Shardul Thakur got him clean-bowled while trying to play an outswinger in the 99th over of the innings. Smith completely mistimed the balls, which then took an inner edge of the bat and went straight onto the wickets.

With a lot of criticism levelled against Rohit Sharma's decision to play four pacers in the WTC final, they took five of the seven wickets during the first session of the WTC final. While Siraj bagged three, Shardul and Shami got one each. Ravindra Jadeja got one wicket as well, take of Alex Carey.