Australia’s star batsman Travis Head suffered severe pain after his ankle was hit by India’s Washington Sundar during the third day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Head was lying on the ground after being hit and at first glance it looked like a serious injury.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon bowled a tossed delivery outside off stump which was smashed hard by Washingon Sundar in an attempt to get through the sheets. But the ball hit Travis Head, who was positioned at short leg, on the ankle.
Travis Head rejoiced in pain and lay on the ground, but soon got up and confirmed that he was fine. He was also congratulated by the Australian fielders for his magnificent effort. Despite knowing that Sundar was going to hit hard, Head did not jump and bravely stood his ground.
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Watch: Travis Head suffers severe pain after Washington Sundar hits him hard
OH! That one has to hurt. #AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/BItxgtXQUu
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2024
It is one of the most dangerous positions in cricket and Travis Head was brave enough to take that position. The ball hit Head on the rebound and went up into the air. Nathan Lyon lunged forward to catch it, but it was clearly not out of the question.
Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy steady the ship
Washington Sundar came to bat at 9th over and India still needed 53 runs to avoid the follow-on. It looked like Australia would finish the innings quickly. But Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar had other ideas.
Both all-rounders showed patience and determination to fight back and stop India from moving ahead. The youngsters tested the patience of the Australian bowlers on a slow pitch where the bowlers had very little to work with.
Meanwhile, India started the day well with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Both batsmen looked ready before Pant attempted a delivery to fine leg and was dismissed in the process. Scott Boland got Pant’s big wicket and gave Australia their first breakthrough of the day.
Jadeja formed another brief partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy but the left-hander was trapped in front by a brilliant set-up from Nathan Lyon for just 17 off 51 balls. Since then, Reddy and Sundar look confident in the box, thus keeping the Australian players at bay.
Great first innings score for Australia
Earlier, Australia put a mammoth score of 474 on the board with the help of Steve Smith’s masterful innings of 140 and fifties from his top three batsmen. Surprisingly, the in-form Travis Head was dismissed for a duck. Jasprit Bumrah was again the pick of the visitors’ bowlers with 4-99, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets.
In response, India struggled early on and lost captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul cheaply. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli put together a 102-run partnership for the third wicket before Jaiswal’s wicket sparked a flurry of wickets.
