‘Not about the hundred’: Head caps off 12-month rampage with latest ton to enter new frontier

Having swatted away critiques suggesting he was not an opener in a blistering broadside at former players preceding the series, Travis Head has matched his words with a superb century in Gqeberha as he fights to save the Test for Australia.

Head arrived in South Africa struggling to exert the influence Australia had become accustomed to on Test matches after a glorious Ashes but has proven a pillar of resistance at the crease after the dismal batting display on Wednesday.

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The South Australian resumed on 87 overnight and was able to reach his century with two superb boundaries in the same over against the Proteas first innings wrecker Marco Jansen, with the milestone reached with a flick through mid-wicket.

It is Head’s first century against South Africa and just his second on foreign soil following the magnificent performance he recorded against India at The Oval in the World Test Championship final in 2023.

It is also his 13th Test century and fourth in nine Tests since being promoted to the opening role on a permanent basis in the second inning of the opening Test of the Ashes against England in Perth last November.

But with the Aussies still requiring more than 150 to make South Africa bat again on a rain-marred morning, Head’s celebrations were minimal, with the star raising his bat towards fans wearing Australian colours in the stands.

That, according to former Test opener Simon Katich, is understandable given the perilous situation the Australian team is in.

“A very subdued celebration, too, which is pretty significant. He knows it is not about the 100. It is about whether he can stay out there for long enough to save the Test for Australia,” former Test opener Simon Katich said on SEN.

“South Africa have gone away from their plans with him. South Africa is giving him exactly what he wants here.”

Head found himself chopping on when resuming in the Test arena after his heroics in the Ashes and had made just 95 runs in his six innings leading into his rearguard fight launched midway through Wednesday afternoon.

The struggles preceding the innings inflamed the chatter as to whether he should be opening, both because he looked unconvincing, but also because an argument could be made Australia was robbing itself of a matchwinner at No.5.

But the dual-Allan Border Medallist has produced the knock of a leader at St George’s Park, even if it fails to result in Australia managing to save this Test. Adding to the importance of the innings is that it shows the Aussies are up for the fight.