Australian opener Travis Head has once again tormented England’s inexperienced bowling attack with a swashbuckling performance, cracking an unbeaten 91 on day two of the New Year’s Ashes Test at the SCG. The hosts were 2-166 at stumps on day two, still trailing England by 218 runs, with nightwatchman Michael Neser not out on one. Earlier, Joe Root made a majestic 160 to steer England to 384, their highest score for the summer. Head, who has been in superb form since his promotion to opener, joins Michael Vaughan, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Dave Warner, and Steve Smith as batters to pass the 500-run mark in an Ashes series this century. His strike rate of 86.41 is the highest among all Australian or English players to reach this milestone. The fifth and final Ashes Test resumes on Tuesday at 10 am AEDT. However, there was some drama late in the day when Neser was struck on the arm by a delivery from English captain Ben Stokes, leaving the veteran bowler in significant pain. Meanwhile, Stokes engaged in an interesting discussion with Marnus Labuschagne, prompting suggestions from Fox Cricket experts that he may be queried by the Match Referee. Meanwhile, Jake Weatherald, who has struggled for form this summer, faces a tough challenge to secure his spot in the starting XI. His susceptibility to full deliveries at the stumps and habit of falling over his front leg has been exploited by England’s seamers. Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Weatherald needs to make runs in the second innings to keep his Test spot. The battle between Stuart Broad and David Warner has been one of the most engrossing Ashes contests of the modern era, with Broad having dismissed Warner 17 times in the Test arena. However, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has now dismissed England captain Ben Stokes 14 times in Tests, more often than any other bowler. Starc’s wife, Australian captain Alyssa Healy, discussed how ‘uncomfortable’ it can be for a batter coming against someone who has their number. England’s fate has ultimately fallen on Root’s ability to fire in the middle order, with former English star Isa Guha noting that he very much holds the key. Root’s century at the SCG, which saw him join Travis Head as a dual-century maker in this series, has come in a dead rubber. It might yet win England the Test, but the main objective was lost before Christmas. England once again wasted a new ball as Weatherald and Head compiled a 57-run partnership before Weatherald was trapped LBW by Ben Stokes. Australian great Adam Gilchrist was among those in awe of Head’s performance, who rattled along at faster than a run a ball as the hosts made significant inroads on England’s first innings total of 384.
