Travis Head became just the fourth Australian in Test cricket history – and first left-hander – to score centuries in four consecutive matches at the same venue on Friday. The South Australian was eventually dismissed for 170 on Saturday, helping Australia make 349 to set England 435 to win in the third Ashes Test.
Head’s majestic century was his fourth in four-straight matches at the Adelaide Oval, putting him amongst some all-time greats to achieve that feat. Sir Donald Bradman, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith are the only other Australians to score tons in four-straight games at one venue.
Travis Head’s wife Eloise (second from right) was among the many in attendance at his home ground in Adelaide. Image: Getty/Channel 7
Bradman achieved the feat at the MCG from 1928 to 1931, as well as at Headingley between 1930 and 1948. Clarke did it in Adelaide from 2012 to 2014, while Smith also did it at the MCG from 2014 to 2017.
Head is the only Australian to do it this decade, and remarkably the only leftie on the list. Some of the all-time great left-handers like Allan Border, Matthew Hayden, Mark Taylor and Justin Langer never scored tons in four-straight games at one venue, but Head has. No Aussie in Test cricket history has done it five times.
The South Australian knelt down and kissed his home pitch after bringing up triple figures on Friday, with wife Eloise watching on from the stands. The new opener was dropped by Harry Brook on 99 before bringing up his century with a booming lofted drive, sending his home crowd into pandemonium.
Cricket world in awe of Travis Head heroics
“There’s nothing like a hometown hero in any sport, when the local boy comes good,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “The way he plays the game is so entertaining as well. You don’t want to miss anything that he does when he’s out in the middle.
“He is a bit like a Merv Hughes was in Melbourne or a David Hookes in South Australia. Travis has captured the imagination just with the way he plays. And a lot of people can sort of relate to it.
“He has been a little more conservative today, but that’s because the bowling has been good. He has respected the good bowling and they’ve also set quite deep fields for him.”
Travis Head kissed the Adelaide Oval pitch after his fourth century in four matches there. (Photo by William WEST / AFP via Getty Images)
Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7: “He navigated his team through a tricky start with the new ball, lost his opening partner early. And it was hard work there for a while.
“The ball was doing something and England were up and about, but it didn’t last for long enough. 122-run partnership with Alex Carey and Australia go to stumps 4-271 with a lead of 356.”
Travis Head’s four-straight centuries at Adelaide Oval:
175 against West Indies – December 2022
119 against West Indies – January 2024
140 against India – December 2024
142 not out against England – December 2025