SL vs AUS | Twitter sympathizes as Lankan DRS reluctance gives freewheeling Head license to kill
Some fish are simply to big to let slip, especially in Tests where the stakes are highest and runs at a premium. Sri Lanka had the opportunity to dispatch Travis Head for cheap in the first Test against Galle on Wednesday but the opener instead ended up with a destructive half-century.
Australia's opening stand of 92 on Day 1 at Galle International Cricket Stadium came at quicker than run-a-ball as Travis Head and Usman Khawaja took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners in the morning session. The former was especially destructive, smoking Asitha Fernando for three boundaries in the first over and adding two more off the pacer's third to race to 23 off 14 deliveries. However, for all the punishment, Asitha gave the hosts an elusive window of opportunity to get rid of the in-form batter but the Lions spurned it and paid the price.
On the final ball of the fifth over, Asitha steamed in from over the stumps and pitched the ball back of a length that slightly shaped inwards in the air to beat Head's attempted glance and rap him on the front pad. The fielding contingent immediately went up in loud appeal led by the bowler whose confidence kept him from even looking back at the umpire but the official remained unmoved, leaving DRS as the only alternative for the islanders. Yet, after an extended discussion, Dhananjaya de Silva opted not to go upstairs given the ball might have pitched outside leg albeit replays showed the wicket would have counted had the hosts shown more courage.
Renewed by his second chance, Head inevitably switched gears and stroked four boundaries in his next seven balls enroute to a fifty that set the tone for the entire game while giving Australia a brilliant foundation to build from, much to Twitterati's chagrin.
Head's luck strikes again!
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) January 29, 2025
Big miss by Sri Lanka!
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) January 29, 2025
What a player!
Travis head is on fire
— M Shafiq (@moody_hunn) January 29, 2025
Head smashes fifty!
Travis Head opens the innings.
— GARRYYT (@GARRYTOORyt) January 29, 2025
- Smashed a 35 ball fifty in Tests. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Rs7QTKdxWN
On Fire!
35 BALLS FIFTY BY TRAVIS HEAD..!!! 🥶
— Cric Lover (@cricloverforu) January 29, 2025
He smashed a fifty in just 35 balls against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in the first Test Match - Travis Head is a Beast. pic.twitter.com/1SqYQ7HS13
What a Knock!
Travis Head scored 57 (40) with 10 fours and a six while opening for Australia. 🙇♂️ pic.twitter.com/R43JL6iJvX
— Faraz Khan (@FarazKhan130044) January 29, 2025
Absolute beast!
Travis Head Undoubtedly Best all format batter currently
— CWM (@Cricketwithme15) January 29, 2025
Head’s blazing!
FIFTY FOR TRAVIS HEAD....!!!
— Helvin Cardoz ❤️ (@CardozHelvin) January 29, 2025
- Head smashed fifty from just 35 balls in Test in Sri Lanka while opening the batting 🔥
Travis Head!🔥
Travis Head in International Cricket:
— kuldeep singh (@kuldeep0745) January 29, 2025
Tests - 3678 runs, 43.3 average, 67.8 SR.
ODIs - 2645 runs, 43.4 average, 104 SR.
T20Is - 1093 runs,160.5 SR
Travis Head,the best batsman across all formats at the moment.🔥#INDvsENG #INDvENG #RanjiTrophy #ChampionsTrophy #SLvAUS #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/G2Z4ao0Cb1
Great session!
Head and Khawaja are having a good training session.
— Xupercujo Ψ (@supercujo) January 29, 2025
I wonder when the good bowlers will be brought on.#AUSvSL
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