Head scores ton in Ashes tour game

Travis Head has celebrated a century in Australia’s Ashes tour game against Worcestershire, the county he played for in 2018.

Head has enjoyed a productive return to his old stomping ground, finishing 109 not out as Australia declared at 5-266 late on Day 1 of their Ashes tour game.

Head warmed up for the second Test by top-scoring for the tourists in Worcester on Wednesday.

Australia’s vice-captain shared a 101-run stand with Usman Khawaja (57), while Matthew Wade was unbeaten on 20 when Tim Paine called his team-mates in.

Head enjoyed a warm reception from fans while helping himself to 14 boundaries against the local attack.

The South Australian put away plenty of loose deliveries but was sensible with his aggression, striking the perfect balance just three days after playing an unheralded role in Australia’s series-opening win against England at Edgbaston.

The left-hander scored 35 and 51 on his Ashes debut. Head’s second-innings partnership with Steve Smith, worth 130 runs, was Australia’s biggest stand of the first Test.

Cameron Bancroft looked rock solid before falling on 33 late in the morning session, when he misread a delivery from right-armer Josh Tongue that made a mess of the stumps.

Tongue later had Khawaja out edging, while Marcus Harris was bowled on 14 attempting to leave a ball from teenage paceman Adam Finch.

Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh – whose hopes of batting at No.6 during the five-Test series took a big blow when Wade scored his century in Birmingham – were dismissed for 15 and 13.

Bancroft is a certainty to face England at Lord’s. The only intrigue about Australia’s XI for the Test that starts on Wednesday is whether Mitchell Starc and/or Josh Hazlewood are recalled.

Smith and David Warner have both been rested from the match in Worcester, while Australia’s incumbent Test attack of Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon are also sitting out.

Matthew Wade took the wicketkeeping gloves for the final hour of play on Wednesday.