December 15, 2024: On Day 2 of the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia firmly placed themselves in the driver’s seat, as Travis Head and Steven Smith dominated proceedings. Head, in particular, was the star of the session, blasting an aggressive and composed century, while Smith anchored the partnership with his signature calmness.
Head’s 103* off 118 balls was a display of both aggression and control. He utilized the bouncing pitch with skill, especially to the offside, accumulating 52 of his 103 runs through boundaries, with the remainder coming from clever strike rotation. His ability to find gaps and his positive approach kept the scoreboard ticking, frustrating the Indian bowlers. His ninth Test century, and third against India, was a result of precise placement and timing rather than sheer power, and his aggressive running between the wickets was evident when he pushed Bumrah’s yorker to the offside and then ran three, celebrating his ton with his trademark fist pump. Even Indian stalwart Virat Kohli could not help but admire Head’s commanding performance, walking over to congratulate him.
While Head played the role of the aggressor, Smith (65* off 149 balls) continued to anchor the innings with his usual composed approach. He absorbed the pressure and played the role of a stabilizer, allowing Head to play more freely. As the pitch flattened out, both players found it easier to score, and Smith’s ability to leave balls and play within his comfort zone ensured that Australia did not lose further wickets.
Earlier in the day, India had their moments, particularly with the ball. Bumrah and debutant Akash Deep produced some fiery spells, especially early in the day when the pitch offered some assistance. Bumrah got the first breakthrough, dismissing Usman Khawaja (21), and then removed McSweeney (7) in quick succession to leave Australia reeling at 39/2. Akash, meanwhile, was also impressive, creating pressure from one end. Despite a few anxious moments, including a tense spell where India’s seamers searched for wickets and even a comical moment when Mohammed Siraj attempted a “Stuart Broad” by changing the bails, Australia weathered the storm.
The tide began to turn after the dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne (12), who fell to Nitish Kumar Reddy after being tempted to drive a full delivery, only to edge it to Virat Kohli at second slip. This wicket left Australia at 76/3, but Smith and Head steadied the ship, with both playing with confidence and co
