Ashes 2021-22: 1st Test, Day 2 – Travis Head, David Warner push England back

Australia ended Day 2 with their scorecard reading 343/7, and they lead the England first innings total by 196 runs. The Aussies were cantering along at 166/1 at one stage, but England pulled things back by scalping wickets at regular intervals, reducing the Aussies to 195/5.

However, Travis Head’s superb innings allowed Pat Cummins and his men to gain a stranglehold of the match going into Day 3. Let us take a look at the 3 talking points of Day 2 of the 1st Ashes Test match.

David Warner is a ‘cat with many lives’

Ricky Ponting reacts to the no-ball dramas on day two at the Gabba.#Ashes | @hcltech pic.twitter.com/C5nAfWCwgc

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2021

David Warner scored 94 for the Australian side, but it was an innings that was filled with several lives. Warner was first clean bowled by Ben Stokes, only for replays to confirm that the England all-rounder had overstepped. He was then dropped in the slip cordon. Haseeb Hameed then missed a simple run-out chance as well. However, Warner could not complete his century and departed for 94.

Cameron Green cleaned up for a first-ball duck

Cameron Green’s stay out in the middle lasted just one ball. The right-hander completely misjudged a delivery from Ollie Robinson and was cleaned up for a duck. Robinson bowled an off-cutter that pitched outside off stump and came in, the batter failed to offer a shot and the red cherry dislodged the stumps.

Travis Head stamps his authority with a blazing century

Travis Head came out all guns blazing and ripped apart the England bowling attack. The left-hander scored a breath-taking century (112*) off just 95 balls and pushed the England side onto the back foot. Head took the England bowling attack by the scruff of the neck on Day 2 of the 1st Ashes Test match. And surely, this is an innings that the left-hander will remember for a long time to come.