He arrived on the crease early within the afternoon session with Australia wobbling at 76 for 3, India within the ascendancy after choosing off David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both aspect of lunch.
But he performed a gem of an innings, racing out of the blocks and flipping the sport on its head as he reached three figures in simply 106 deliveries – an innings of daring fluency that left the remainder of the highest order wanting pedestrian by comparability.
For Australia, nudging his aspect one step nearer to turning into international champions is a most important occasion in itself, however for watching England followers it was a reminder of simply how harmful the 29-year-old may be.
Head was the breakout star of Australia’s 4-0 Ashes win in 2021/22, taking the Compton-Miller Medal for participant of the sequence after scoring 357 runs at a mean of almost 60.
If there have been legit questions over whether or not he might contact comparable heights in English circumstances, the place he averaged simply 27 in 2019 and endured a lean spell with Sussex two summers in the past, he appeared to reply them in emphatic style.
Head completed the day with 22 fours and a six, a simple uppercut off Mohammed Shami, and reached his first abroad hundred – and sixth total – shortly after taking a glancing blow to the helmet.
By stumps, India might have been harbouring a few distinct regrets, first about profitable the toss and selecting to subject and second over their omission of spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The world’s primary bowler was ignored in favour of an additional seam possibility in Shardul Thakur and, though there was no considerable activate provide from a first-day pitch, the choice to depart the 36-year-old and his 474 wickets on the sidelines seemed misguided after 85 overs of toil.
India began promisingly with the brand new ball, difficult Australia’s high order throughout a tricky first hour.
Shami stored Warner sincere throughout a positive opening burst with the brand new ball, working over the left-hander from around the wicket in a method that won’t have escaped the eye of his previous nemesis Stuart Broad.
Warner survived the examination, with a few fortuitous moments alongside the best way, however Usman Khawaja banked a 10-ball duck when he nicked the faster Mohammed Siraj to Srikar Bharat.
There was an early scare for Labuschagne, who dramatically dropped the bat in ache when Umesh Yadav rapped him on the left thumb with a pointy, lifting supply.
England followers could be forgiven for having the Ashes on their minds as Labuschagne acquired therapy and popped a few painkillers, however he resumed his innings and even wore one other blow to the hand.
Warner, who has set his sights on a January retirement, started to heat up as he clubbed Umesh Yadav for 4 boundaries in a single over however he departed tamely earlier than lunch when he gloved a leg-side ball from Thakur to the diving Bharat.
An unconvincing keep from Labuschagne ended on 26 early within the afternoon when Shami pressured a full supply by a wayward drive and uprooted off stump. The majority Indian crowd roared their approval however their rising momentum dissipated within the face of Head’s counter-attack.
He scored 28 off his first 20 balls, immediately placing India again on the defensive, and continued to dictate phrases because the assault drained.
With Smith grinding his method in the direction of a gentler hundred on the different finish, India will want a pointy change of fortune on day two.
