NEW DELHI: As Travis Head notched up another brilliant hundred against India to turn the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy on its head, the Indians were guilty of some poor field placements against the Aussie.
The Indians had been troubling all the other Australian batsmen in the hot and muggy weather, but Head was just outstanding and took the attack right up to them.
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One glaring fielding placement was when Head was on 53 and Mohammed Siraj bowled a bouncer to start a new over.
Siraj banged in short on middle-leg, was quite short and it rose up well over Head’s head, who arched back and just ramped it over to third man for a four.
Commentating at that time for 7Cricket, former Australia batsman Simon Katich pointed out the glaring fielding error by India.
Simon Katich said, “That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj because the over before he had a man right in that spot and he’s run and bowled what they were planning without the fielder there. That is dumb. Dumb cricket!”
Katich continues, “They’ve got two men out on the leg side, a deep point, they had a man right in that spot for this very plan to Travis Head and then he doesn’t have the fielder. Now he’s going to put the fielder back down there right now. Horse has been bolted buddy.”
Compared to Adelaide, where he scored a brilliant 140 in a decisive Australia victory, the Indian attack bowled much more straight to Head.
However, Head was alert early on and punished any wayward deliveries.
Head seized the opportunity when the Indian bowlers faltered due to his rising scoring rate, hitting 13 fours and taking just 115 deliveries en route to his ninth Test century.
Head came in when Australia were 75/3 and the game was certainly in the balance but his century has completely turned things in Australia’s favour.
