WTC 2023 Final: Travis Head steers Australia's ship against India, celebrates century in style

Australia took a firm grip on the proceeding on the opening day of the World Test Championship Final against India after a mammoth partnership between Steve Smith and Travis Head. While the former was at his defiant best, it was the southpaw who grabbed the headlines after a swashbuckling century, his first away from Australia.

Travis Head, who came into the game with a reputation of being a dasher, made his way to the middle after Marnus Labuschagne was cleaned up on the very first delivery after Lunch. However, he lived up to the billing and was at his destructive best from the get-go, while Steve Smith frustrated the Indians with his dogged approach from the other end.

The southpaw was quite severe on anything too straight and too full, rendering the Indian pacers helpless on the opening day. While he did slow down a tad in the latter part of the second session, he took things up a gear in the post-Tea session, smashing a blistering century, his first against India on the most important occasions of all. Incidentally, this was also the first century in the history of WTC Finals.

He took off his helmet and kissed the badge, soaking the applause from the crowd, including skipper Pat Cummins who had a beaming smile on his face. The 29-year-old was not content with just breaching the three-figure mark as he continued his assault in the latter stages of the opening day.