Travis Head struck like a twister with a counter-attacking hundred that left an out-of-sorts Indian assault bereft of concepts as Australia made hay below brilliant sunshine by reaching 327 for 3 on the opening day of the World Test Championship last. The ploy of leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin backfired as soon as there was brilliant sunshine as each Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur appeared under-cooked as India have been fully outplayed within the second and third session with Rohit Sharma’s captaincy leaving so much to be desired.

India picked an additional quick bowler on the expense of Ravichandran Ashwin however that didn’t assist their trigger as Head (146 batting) and Smith (95 batting) amassed an unbeaten 251 run partnership off 370 balls for the fourth wicket, lifting Australia from a uncomfortable 73 for 3.

In truth Head on the finish of the day stated, it was an excellent toss to lose.

“Losing the toss this morning, we’ve done exceptionally well. There’s still plenty there as you could see with that second new ball. A lot of hard work to go tomorrow morning but nice to make a really good start,” Head tod broadcasters on the finish of the day.

“I was trying to make sure I was in really good positions today. I got tested through parts of that. I just tried to work through those periods and be adjustable. It’s nice when you’ve got a bloke at the other end playing as well as he is, it’s a nice start,” he added.

The third wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (26) got here within the twenty fifth over earlier than overcast skies made means for brilliant sunshine as Smith and Head made essentially the most of batting pleasant circumstances by way of the afternoon and night classes. In all there have been 44 boundaries hit together with a most, depicting the plight of Indian tempo assault.

It was Head’s first century away from residence and sixth general. Mohammed Siraj was the choose of the bowlers for India, who’ve a variety of work to do going into day two.

India’s pacers tried the quick ball tactic to upset the rhythm of each Smith and Head however have been unsuccessful. However the short-ball tactic to unsettle Head got here as soon as he was settled down.

Siraj bowled his coronary heart out however the likes of Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thalur lacked consistency.

Ashwin’s non-selection shall be debated for the rest of the sport however not less than on the opening day, there was not a lot activate provide for Ravindra Jadeja who bowled 14 overs with out a wicket.

“Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence is baffling,” Sunil Gavaskar stated on Star Sports and his evaluation could not have been extra apt.

Head, who has constructed a popularity of taking part in impactful innings in 36 Test previous profession, single-handedly change the course of the sport together with his aggressive strategy. The fuller deliveries did not hassle him even one bit.

When the Indian pacers focused his pads, the southpaw used his fast wrists to flick them away and something quick and extensive on the off aspect was additionally duly dispatched.

Head introduced up his fifty with a crisp back-foot punch off Shardul Thakur. He received extra audacious within the second half of his innings and entered into the 90s with a six over third man off Shami.

Smith, then again, was glad to bide his time whereas Head went about his enterprise. India tried the leg slip tactic towards him earlier than testing him across the off-stump. Both to no avail.

Smith, who averages near 100 at The Oval, is on track to boost his enviable report on the venue. Australia’s batting mainstay performed some attractive straight drives off the pacers earlier than utilizing his ft towards the left-arm spin of Jadeja.

India took the brand new ball after the eightieth over however Shami and Siraj have been unable to offer the breakthrough. Indian followers who thronged to the venue in big numbers went again dissatisfied.

Only the morning session went India’s means as Siraj breathed fireplace in his opening spell earlier than Thakur removed a well-set David Warner (43 off 60) to scale back Australia to 73 for 2 at lunch.

Having survived difficult circumstances within the first hour at The Oval, Warner and Labuschagne have been on track to see off the session till Thakur dismissed the left-handed opener with a brief ball concentrating on his rib cage. Wicketkeeper KS Bharat took a well-judged catch down the leg-side. Both Siraj and Shami stored Australia in test within the first hour, sharing six overs six every and conceding solely 29 runs.

Siraj received extra out of the floor than Shami by bowling with a scrambled seam. Usman Khawaja (0 off 10), who has an odd report in England, started the tour on a disappointing be aware as he received a faint edge off a ball that pitched outdoors the off stump and seamed away.

There was minimal ft motion and he paid the worth for taking part in away from the physique and the nick was taken simply by Bharat behind the stumps.

Warner, who has some extent to show on this sport and cement his spot within the taking part in XI for the upcoming Ashes, battled with grit and took his probabilities each time he was supplied width.

After an engrossing opening hour, India took the foot off the pedal with Umesh Yadav providing loads of scoring alternatives to Warner, who collected 4 boundaries off the pacer within the fifteenth over.

The going was a lot harder for Labuschagne, who copped a nasty blow on his left thumb from a pointy supply by Siraj. Later within the session, he was in a position to survive two shut DRS lbw calls off Thakur’s bowling.

As it usually occurs in England, the solar got here out within the second hour and made batting simpler.

Australia have been seeking to shut the session strongly till Warner went for a pull off a supply angled into him by Thakur who went extensive off the crease whereas coming around the wicket and the batter, cramped for room, could not maintain the pull down.

Bharat justified his choice over Ishan Kishan with a pointy diving catch.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)