Travis Head’s fluent 146 not out against India turns WTC final Australia’s way

As Travis Head jogged down the wicket to complete his 100th run Steve Smith raised a gloved hand for a congratulatory high-five. It was just about the only thing Head failed to make clean contact with all day, flicking mainly fingers as the batters crossed. Some of the fielders might have been tempted to flick a few fingers in his direction as well, Head having arrived at the crease with India dominant before powerfully, remorselessly turning the flow of the game in Australia’s favour.

A few hours earlier India had won the toss – greeted by a partisan crowd as if the Beatles had just walked on stage at Shea Stadium – and chosen to suffer. At that point it was cold and cloudy, and they had perhaps noticed that on both occasions Surrey won the toss at the Oval in this year’s County Championship they had elected to field. For as long as those conditions lasted they could expect to prosper, but in the end they only had an hour.

It would not be as profitable as they had hoped, but it was fabulously compelling, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj performing a sustained, aggressive examination of Australia’s top order. Usman Khawaja fell in the fourth over, feathering an edge through to Srikar Bharat off Siraj for a 10-ball duck, and soon after the same bowler got one to rear up into Marnus Labuschagne. The way he clung on to the physio’s clothing with his right hand while his left thumb was manipulated back into position was the only sign of discomfort, and a couple of painkillers later he was back in position. In Siraj’s next over he tempted Labuschagne to play and miss twice, the second with a delicious delivery moving away off the seam.

As drinks were taken midway through the morning session Australia had scored 29 at just