WTC final 2023: Australia script brilliant comeback vs India as Travis Head slams hundred

Travis Head turned the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023 against India head on on the inaugural day by slamming a 106-ball hundred as Australia made a brilliant comeback after a spirited early burst from Indian pacers had reduced them to 76 for 3 soon after lunch at The Oval on Wednesday (7).

Former captain Steve Smith also slammed a fifty as the duo stitched a partnership of more than 250 runs in nearly 61 overs to take their side to 327 for 3 at stumps, leaving the Asian side with a lot of task to make the remaining days of the title clash count.

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Head was not out on 146 at the end of the day while Smith was batting on 95.

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It was Head's sixth ton in the long format and first against India and also his maiden overseas Test ton. For Smith, adding another five runs to his overnight score on Thursday (8) would mean him registering his 31st century in Tests and the ninth against India.

India struck early by removing Usman Khawaja for nought

India struck early in the day after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and asked Pat Cummins's side to bat first. Speedsters Mohammed Siraj dismissed Usman Khawaja for no score and Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami picked David Warner (43) and Marnus Labuschagne (26) quickly to leave the Australians in a spot before Head and Smith fought back.

Usman Khawaja of Australia reacts after being dismissed India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval on June 7, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

India left out Ravichandran Ashwin, world's top ranked Test bowler for the game, and picked Ravindra Jadeja as the only spinner in the side. The team's four-pronged pace attack included Mohammed Shami, Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.

Ashwin picked four wickets in the final of the inaugural WTC in which India and New Zealand locked horns and was the only Indian bowler to pick wickets in both innings of the match that the Kiwis won by eight wickets.

The five-day one-off final has a reserve day in place in case rain intervenes just like it did during the 2021 final in Southampton.

The Australia bowling attack was led by captain Pat Cummins and two other pacers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland and spinner Nathan Lyon.

Team India also observed a moment of silence for victims of the horrific train crash in the eastern state of Odisha ahead of the start of the match.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India in a statement said that the team will wear black armbands throughout the WTC final.

Brief score: Australia 327 for 3 in 85 overs at stumps on Day 1 (Travis Head 146 not out, Steve Smith 95 not out, Mohammed Siraj 1 for 67) vs India