‘Bradman territory’: Astonishing Aussie record laid bare as Head enters ‘world class’ debate

Death, taxes and Travis Head scoring centuries at Adelaide Oval. When it comes to certainties, the latter certainly rings true.

Head has assumed a new role as Australian opener, but it was business as usual for the South Australian at Adelaide Oval as he reached triple figures for the fourth straight year on his home ground.

Head ultimately finished unbeaten on 142 from 196 balls, and walked from Adelaide Oval arm in arm with his South Australian teammate Alex Carey, who was not out on 52 as the Aussies reached 4-271 at stumps, a lead of 356 runs.

Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

But it was not without significant drama in the nervous 90s.

Head was sent back by Carey after calling for the quickest of singles when on 99 while Joe Root was bowling, and was then dropped by Harry Brook in the gully when slashing at a ball outside off-stump.

But on his ninth ball on 99, he was able to drive Root back over his head for four, bringing the Adelaide Oval crowd to their feet. As Fox Cricket’s host Mark Howard declared; “Travis Head loves Adelaide. And Adelaide loves Travis Head.”

READ MORE

TALKING POINTS: Undeniable truth over poisoned Aus chalice; why baffling Bazball image sent greats mad

‘BRADMAN TERRITORY’: Astonishing Aussie record laid bare as Head enters ‘world class’ debate

‘HUGE MISTAKE’: Aussie rookie’s brutal DRS blunder… but Head did him no favours

After the ball had cleared the boundary, Head was embraced by Carey before removing his helmet and kissing the pitch.

The atmosphere at Adelaide Oval was electric with former Aussie star Mark Waugh saying Head, who now has 11 centuries and an average of 43.1 in 63 Tests, was the type of knockabout character who had a broad appeal with fans.

“There’s nothing like a hometown hero in any sport, when the local boy comes good,” the Fox Cricket expert analyst said.

“The way he plays the game is so entertaining as well. You don’t want to miss anything that he does when he’s out in the middle.

“He is a bit like a Merv Hughes was in Melbourne or a David Hookes in South Australia. Travis has captured the imagination just with the way he plays. And a lot of people can sort of relate to it.

“I mean, he’s not your pristine athlete, is he? He’s got the big moustache. He’s fit for cricket, but he’s not going to … be a 200-metre athlete in the Olympics, so I think people relate to him.”

As he assessed Head’s innings at the tea break, with the Aussie opener still 32 runs of his shy of his century, former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee delivered the ultimate compliment when likening his form at home to Donald Bradman.

“He goes through the gears when needed,” said Lee, a Kayo Sports’ coverage of the Ashes analyst.

“He’s got a good defence and he loves any width and on this oval … if you ball wide to Travis, you’re going to get crunched. And I love what he’s done today.

“He got through that tough period … and if he gets up into that fourth hundred back to back, that’s Bradman territory.”

It is the 31-year-old’s second century of the Ashes since a batting order reshuffle in Perth saw him open in the second innings, with the hometown hero threatening to take another Test beyond the grasp of the tourists.

His streak of centuries at Adelaide Oval began with a 175 against the West Indies in the opening innings of the 2022 Test. He followed with another century against the Caribbean kings in January, 2024, when plundering 119 runs.

After Australia was thrashed in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth last year, Head swung the momentum his nation’s way with a magnificent 140 against the pink ball in the day-night Test last December.

He joined Bradman, who has managed the feat at the MCG from 1928-1931 and Headingley between 1930-1948, Michael Clarke (Adelaide between 2012 and 2014) and Steve Smith (MCG from 204 to 2017) as Aussies to achieve the feat.

Despite losing partner Jake Weatherald in the infancy of Australian innings, Head batted with conviction against an English attack that has arguably produced its best performance since the opening day of the series in Perth.

If Head batted with a ruthless intent in Perth, his innings in Adelaide was a demonstration of his ability to adjust to the circumstances of the match, with the left-hander batting with patience for much of his innings.

There were occasional flirtations with risk, which included a six off the bowling of Brydon Carse shortly before tea, or the lofted drive when attacking Joe Root after moving into the 90s.

Waugh, who scored a century on debut for Australia at Adelaide Oval against England, praised the vice-captain for his ability to recognise an improvement in the bowling performance by the tourists and bat accordingly.

“He is becoming a world-class … opener. I just had a feeling that it was made for Travis Head but you still have to do the job,” Waugh said.

“He has been a little more conservative today, Travis Head, but that’s because the bowling has been good. He has respected the good bowling and they’ve also set quite deep fields for him.

“There’s been a lot of cover in areas where he does score boundaries. He’s been able to get ones through the offside, but (he has) not scored as many boundaries as normal. So (there is a) bit of a combination of those factors which has just slowed his scoring rate down a little.”