Ashes 2023: We’re lucky he’s in our team – David Warner hails Travis Head after blistering knock on Day 1

Australian opener David Warner has showered praise on Travis Head, stating the team feels lucky to have the aggressive lefty in their squad. Head scored a quickfire knock of 77 runs off just 73 balls on the opening day of the ongoing second Ashes Test at Lord’s, London on Wednesday.

Head continued his rich vein of form for Australia as he was once again able to hit the ground running. The southpaw struck 14 fours in his blistering knock as he took the attack against the England pacers.

The South Australian added 118 runs with Steve Smith and took the game away from England. In fact, England made some sort of a comeback on the opening day as Ollie Robinson got the big wicket of well-settled Marnus Labuschagne but Australia was able to get a big partnership soon after.

Head scored his run at more than run-a-ball to put Australia in front. The visitors had finished the opening day at 339-5.

David Warner, who himself scored 66, said at the end of the day’s play, “Trav is Trav. It’s the way he plays. It’s exciting. He’s going to come out there and to be honest, we’re lucky he’s in our team because he can take it away from you in that half an hour patch. Striking at over 100 on that wicket is exceptional – and that’s what you get from Trav.”

“He applies the pressure back onto the bowling unit. I felt they bowled pretty good to him first up. The ball was moving a little bit and then he countered. He just manages to hit them through backward point or get on top of the ball that’s rising off the wicket. He just finds a way.”

Meanwhile, the Pat Cummins-led managed a total of 416 runs in the first innings as England bowlers were able to bounce back on the second day’s morning.

On the other hand, England finished the second day’s play at 278-4 and trails Australia’s total by 138 runs. England’s opener Ben Duckett top-scored for the hosts with 98 runs. Moreover, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored 48 and 42 runs respectively for the home team.