Nathan Lyon reveals Travis Head’s stunning five-word prediction just before the century that saved the Ashes Test for Australia
Nathan Lyon has lifted the lid on the sensational moment Travis Head stuck his hand up to open for Australia during their second innings in Perth, revealing the South Australian had told him: ‘It can’t be that hard?’
The hosts headed back into the dressing room after bowling England out for 164 runs on Day Two of the opening Ashes Test. But there was chaos in the dressing room as Australia captain Steve Smith was faced with the dilemma of who to send out first to chase down a 204-run deficit, after Usman Khawaja had been deemed ineligible to open the batting in the second innings.
Back stiffness had ruled him out of opening the batting in the first innings and after spending too much time off the pitch while England were in the field, Khawaja was unable to step out onto the field first for Australia.
The Queensland batsman has since attracted heavy criticism for his decision to play golf on the Thursday before the first Test.
Smith went ‘round and round in circles’ as he weighed up who should be picked to face England’s fiery pace bowling attack first.
But the decision was made much easier for the skipper because of Head.
Nathan Lyon has revealed the moment Travis Head (pictured) stuck his hand up to open for Australia during their second innings in Perth
Lyon (pictured) was speaking with Head in the changing room and revealed that the South Australian told him: “Ah well. I might as well. It can’t be that hard. I might as well go get ‘em’”.
Steve Smith (right) had been ‘going around in circles’ when trying to pick who should replace Usman Khawaja and open the batting. Ultimately, his call to put Head (left) in paid off
‘The chat went around about who would open with the Uzzie situation,’ Lyon explained.
‘As Trav and I were sitting next to each other in the change rooms as he was padding up and he goes, “Ah well. I might as well. It can’t be that hard. I might as well go get ‘em”.’
‘And credit to him, it’s exactly what he did.’
The 31-year-old would join Jake Weatherald in the middle of the wicket and produced one of the most incredible knocks in Ashes history, smashing his way to a century off just 69 deliveries.
It was the second-fastest ton in Ashes history, behind Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball 100 at the WACA in 2006.
‘As I said before, I reckon that’s the best hundred I think I’ve ever seen,’ Lyon said.
The Australian was ultimately dismissed for 123 off 83 deliveries, while Weatherald would leave the crease with 23 runs off 34 balls.
England were left stunned by the ferocity of Head’s batting, with Marnus Labuschagne arriving to join him at the crease, hitting 51 runs, to help guide Australia to an eight-wicket victory.
Khawaja (pictured) was ineligible to open for Australia in their second innings after he had spent too much time off the pitch dealing with a back injury
Head, meanwhile, would enter the fray and would strike the second-fastest century by an Australian in an Ashes series
His heroics would leave England stunned, with Australia going on to win the first Test in Perth by eight wickets
Head has also lifted the lid on the moment he told his skipper he wanted to open.
‘We went around in circles a little bit once Steve had a crack at it,’ Head said.
‘And each time I sort of just put my name in and said: “Why not?”
‘I do it in other formats. Could there be an opportunity to do what Davey [Warner] had done? We were sort of looking for that role, someone to go out there and be a bit more aggressive.
‘I’ve done it in international cricket a bit now. So I brewed the idea – but I can also see that [Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Head] three, four and five has worked pretty well. But I’m always putting my hand up.’
Australia have been searching for their replacement for David Warner at the top of their batting order for some time now, and Head may now be the answer.
Interestingly, Warner has revealed that he and Head had spoken about the possibility of the South Australian opening the batting back in 2022. He believes the South Australian is the right man for the job.
It was a sensational knock, with the Head (pictured) ultimately being dismissed for 123 off 83 deliveries, while Weatherald would leave the crease with 23 runs off 34 balls.
David Warner now believes Head (pictured) is the answer to Australia’s long-standing conundrum of who should be their next opening batsman
‘He definitely did think about it and I definitely do think he can do it,’ Warner said to The Age.
‘The thing is in Australian cricket is we haven’t really had an opener to cement that position. I think he could do that job, and we’ve seen first-hand here what he can do.
‘Is he going to be consistent? I think he can be, it’s the match-winning performances that are the ones you’ve got to look at. Then it’s upon the selectors to have the confidence to stick with him and do that.’
It’s not the first time that Head has left England stunned during the opening Test of an Ashes Series. Back in 2021, he struck an incredible 152 off 148 balls to help Australia to a nine-wicket victory at the Gabba.
Two years later at the World Test Championship final, Head would be crowned the player of the match, sweeping away 163 off 174 balls to lead Australia to victory against India.
His century in Perth, though, was labelled as one of the ‘greatest Ashes innings of all time’ by Stuart Broad.
Travis Head, really, has played one of the greatest Ashes innings of all time. England had no answers. That is a powerful win
‘It’s one of those Test matches where you look through the Australian line-up and for years to come they’ll say this is one of the greatest wins they will have had.
‘Lunchtime today, they were almost gone. England were well ahead of this game, and they’ve shown incredible competitive spirit and skill to get themselves just back in the game, but to win by eight wickets.’
