The Ashes 2025-26: "Two years ago you plunged my country.."- Ravi Shastri hails Travis Head after his 'special innings' in Perth
(Courtesy : Twitter)
Ravi Shastri heaped praise on Travis Head on X after Australian batter scored a match-winning ton in Perth test.
Reputed Indian commentator Ravi Shastri has heaped rich praise on Travis Head for his marvellous batting show in the first test of The Ashes 2025-26. The Australian Cricket Team batter hammered a match-winning century against England Cricket Team at Optus Stadium in Perth, taking the team to victory by eight wickets.
Opting to bat first, England piled up 172/10 in the first innings with a fifty by Harry Brook. England then earned a lead of 40 runs by ending Australia’s innings for 132 runs. However, they faced a huge batting collapse in the second innings, getting bowled out for just 164 runs. Despite dominating Australia early in the match, they failed to set a big target, with the hosts needing 205 runs for victory.
Head, who batted in the middle-order in the first innings, was asked to open the innings after injury to Usman Khawaja. He aced that challenge brilliantly and took the game away from England right from the start, slamming quickfire 123 runs off 83 deliveries. Hammering 16 boundaries and four sixes in his knock, the left-handed batter propelled the hosts to victory by eight wickets in a stunning fashion.
Ravi Shastri hails Travis Head for match-winning ton in Perth test
The Australian opener received a lot of appreciation from fans and the cricket fraternity for his match-winning knock. Former Indian head coach and active commentator Shastri also did not shy away from lauding Head on X (formerly Twitter).
Praising Head for his batting show, he wrote,: “Travis Head… two years ago you plunged my country into silence. And today, you have done it again, in the best format of the game, in blistering fashion, with one of the great innings. Take a bow. England… that was special #Ashes #Cricket #AusvsEng #Head”
Notably, Head helped Australia to outplay India in the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. India, who were red-hot favourites to win the trophy and were unbeaten in the league stage in the tournament, lost to Australia by six wickets.
With his impeccable knock of 137 runs, Head drove his team to victory in the 241-run chase as Australia won their sixth ODI World Cup. He was also adjudged Player of the Match. The defeat is still remembered by fans as one of the heartbreaking moments in Indian cricket.
Meanwhile, Australia have gained a 1-0 lead in The Ashes 2025-26. The second clash will begin on December 4 at The Gabba in Brisbane. Both sides will battle in five tests in the series, which will conclude with the fifth and final test on January 8 in Sydney.
Who won the first AUS vs ENG test?
Australia defeated England by eight wickets in the encounter.
Who was Player of the Match in the first AUS vs ENG test?
Mitchell Starc was Player of the Match in the first AUS vs ENG test.
How many tests will be played between Australia and England in The Ashes 2025-26?
Australia and England will lock horns in five tests in The Ashes 2025-26.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.