How Travis Head is reshaping the imagination of Test cricket in Australia

Travis Head has quickly become the star of the Australian summer.

The swashbuckling South Australian has peeled off back-to-back Test tons against India to pull the series right back in Australia’s favour.

Head crafted a superb 152 off 160 deliveries with 18 boundaries on Day 2 of the Brisbane Test at the Gabba, adding to his match-altering 140 in the second Test in his home city of Adelaide.

The partnership of 241 runs (from 302 balls) with Steve Smith, who struck his 33rd Test ton, allowed Australia to compile 7/405 by stumps on the second day of play.

The way Head is going about his batting in the game’s longest format is not only capturing the imagination but reshaping it, according to Gerard Whateley.

“Travis Head departs for 152 and again the crowd will rise to him,” Whateley said on the SEN Cricket broadcast when Head was dismissed.

“What a brilliant innings to take complete control for Australia.

“Splendid stroke-making, aggression and dare in everything that he’s done. It left an opponent pointless in trying to counter him.

“He’s a cricketer that has reshaped the imagination, not just captured it.”

Bharat Sundaresan was just as effusive in his praise for Head who is singlehandedly boosting the ratings when it comes to Test cricket in Australia.

“The time in this country when people are questioning cricket’s standing,” Sundaresan said.

“This is the player, this is the man who is taking cricket back to the top of the popularity ratings.

“Who wouldn’t want to pay money to watch him bat whether it’s coming to the Gabba, the other stadiums or watching on TV.”

Sundaresan added later on SEN Cricket’s Day 2 review: “We’re just getting used to this.

“The description of Travis Head being a risk-taker and someone who takes chances needs to be redefined because this was a chanceless hundred.

“This was someone in complete control of the opposition and India has no clues against Travis Head.”

The century was Head’s ninth in Test match cricket and third from his last four Tests against India.

Head’s 574 runs from his four recent hundreds (including against West Indies last summer) have come from a total of 609 deliveries.

He has now struck 150 or more on five occasions in Test match cricket.

The Gabba Test continues with Day 3 on Monday. Listen to all the action LIVE across the SEN network.

BY SEN / ANDREW SLEVISON