Travis Head's innings of a lifetime helps Australia to an extraordinary victory in the first Test and suggests a blueprint for the series

PL: Travis gives England a dose of their own medicine

Travis Head’s hundred in a session at Perth’s stadium has gifted Australia the most unlikely of victories in a Perth Test match with more twists than any two day contest has a right to contain.

Centuries in a session are part of Perth’s folklore.

Doug Walters brought up his in 1974 with a six off the last ball, Adam Gilchrist brought up his from 57 balls against England in 2006-07, and David Warner belted India to all parts for his in 2011-12 (from 69 balls).

Head’s 69-ball effort beats his 85-ball hundred at the Gabba in the 2021-22.

It will, given the game circumstances, rank first among equals.

Man of the moment, pic by the brilliant Philip Brown of Et Al Pics

It might also have given Australia a blueprint to counter this Bazball hoohaa. The search for a replacement for David Warner has thus far been unsuccessful. Head is not an opener, but Test cricket is not the same game anymore.

This one, for god’s sake, finished inside two days. In doing so, it’s robbed 60,000 who’d bought tickets for the third day of that experience, but delivered to all who saw this Travis Head innings a memory that will last a lifetime.

I saw it, but I don’t believe it. Like Adelaide in 2006-07, England has had victory snatched from its grasp. Australia has pulled its head from the lion’s mouth. A game that seemed England’s for the taking at lunch turned 180 degrees around in a moment.

After the first session, England was effectively 1-99 and cruising to a victory. Nathan Lyon was injured, Usman Khawaja a mess, and confidence that they could even make a game of this low.

Then England, as England does, found a way to lose. It’s batters chased wide balls outside off stumps, and its bowlers lost the plot. The bullies of the first innings were bullied.

It’s loss in 2006-07 at Adelaide was a slow-motion car crash; his was completed at warp speed.

As Stokes said, “he knocked the wind out of us”.