Travis Head’s brilliant seventh Test century, second at his home ground in Adelaide, helped Australia to a hard-fought but vital 72-run lead by Tea on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies.

On a surface that hasn’t exactly been easy to bat on, Head put on display his full range of shots after Lunch as he steadily helped Australia inch closer to West Indies’ first innings total of 188. He drove, cut and pulled authoritatively and even ramped a short ball from Alzarri Joseph over the slips, picking up pace after working hard for his half-century.

Even as a diving catch from Joshua da Silva behind the stumps put an end to Alex Carey’s stay in the middle, Head cut loose and took the attack to the opposition once Australia had marched into the lead. With the century looming, Head even took on the best West Indies bowler, Shamar Joseph, with back to back fours to enter the 90s.

There was a minor blip when the Windies debutant hit back by bouncing out Mitchell Starc, who played an ideal second fiddle with a patient contribution of 10 in the 54-run partnership. But, Head carried on and raised his hundred in the very next over with a beautiful cover drive. Shamar banged in two short balls next, and both were pulled superbly over the ropes for maximum damage as Australia approached 250.

It was eventually Alzarri who brought curtains on the stunning knock on 119, with a smart offcutter that Head ended up skying to give a catch at the ropes at the stroke of Tea.