Travis Head has turned his loud, clear message to Test selectors into a maiden first-class double century, while Cameron Bancroft sent a reminder of his own as the runs flowed freely at the WACA.
Head smashed 223 before the winless Redbacks finally declared at 8-510 on Friday.
In reply, WA reached 2-192 at stumps on Day 2, with Bancroft unbeaten on 102 off 191 balls.
Bancroft has not been seen at Test level since the 2019 Ashes series, but has now racked up 354 runs this Shield season at an average of 59.
His patient knock on Friday featured 11 fours and one six, helping guide WA to a solid position following the early losses of Sam Whiteman (three) and Shaun Marsh (24).
Rising star Cameron Green (45 not out off 110 balls) has the chance to post a big score of his own when play resumes on Saturday.
Bancroft was dropped on 14, and he made the most of the reprieve to post a fighting century.
“In cricket you win some, you lose some. It was one of those things that happened, and I was lucky to make the most of it,” Bancroft said.
The 28-year-old struggled for opportunities during the recently-completed BBL season, and he was glad to be back playing again.
“Getting out in the middle and playing cricket is always enjoyable,” Bancroft said.
“I had some challenging moments, but it’s all in the past now. I’m just really looking forward to playing this game.
“I had a lot of fun out there today. It was nice to get the baggy black on.
“It’s not every day you get a chance to get a century for WA, so it’s something I’m proud of.”
Head, playing in his first red-ball match since being dropped from the Test side last month, was all class in a knock that included 31 fours and one six.
Could Travis Head force his way back into Test calculations? (William West/AFP/Getty Images)
The left-hander went at close to a run a ball in his 245-ball knock, after going to stumps unbeaten on 189 on Thursday in front of Test coach Justin Langer.
He brought up his 200 early on Friday morning, sending Liam Guthrie (1-96) to the gully boundary for back-to-back fours before raising his arms aloft.
The 27-year-old eventually fell when he edged Cameron Gannon (3-119) to first slip, but by then he had well and truly made his point.
The Redbacks captain is now the Shield’s leading run-scorer this summer with 678 runs at 84.75, having made two other scores above 150 before the Test series.
Head was a fixture of Australia’s Test team at the start of the summer, but fell out of favour when he failed to pass 40 in three innings against India.
He would have had another chance to impress in South Africa when picked in the touring squad ahead of Matt Wade, but that Test tour was cancelled.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Green churning out more runs today. great to see.
His career says that he struggles to make a lot of hundreds, he failed in England, what's Head's average outside of Adelaide and Perth? pretty poor i would imagine.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Not until he fixes that susceptibility to LBW... Broad and Anderson would exploit that mercilessly.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Matty got over 50 in one third of his innings and that impresses you? Head has over 50 in one third of his test innings and it's "not good enough"? Someone is being inconsistent here but it's not Matty or Trav.
RAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Great going for Travis Head! Hopefully he keeps doing just this and keeps piling on the runs. He also did a pretty good job captaining the side, though I suspect they could have given themselves a bit more time with a more aggressive declaration.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
His career says otherwise. He has made some great, tough runs leading SA at a time when very few other batsmen stand up. Gritty as.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
Agree,he looks an excellent long term player, I don’t know why agar isn’t taking wickets,last year he couldn’t help himself and he looks fit and like he is bowling ok
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Can't completely agree Don. He batted well but I was there at the WACA for the first two days. Some of the absolute tripe he was dished up by the likes of Gannon in particular, on that WACA track with that outfield, pfft, he should be making big runs. Head for me still hasn't changed my opinion. He's a flat track bully.
Dan Ced
Guest
I was happy to see Carey get runs also, and for Redbacks not having a brutal collapse. Hunt looking like he's gone up a rung in his development.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Disappointed Whiteman and Inglis had poor games; but was happy to see Carey do ok.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
also interesting who didn't "make a statement" . Whiteman and Inglis failed twice, Inglis's keeping in the words of the west oz commenter "sloppy" and his drop of Nielsen a "shocker". Carey took a couple of excellent catches (including Inglis ) and made 24 and 82 not out
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why would a few hundreds from an aging Burns (when he hasn't yet scored them) get him a chance ahead of regular 100s from Head? A double century and two 150s already this Shield season.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Head has been Shield captain from the age of 20. No question about his maturity.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It has become a Chinese Whisper issue on social media with very little basis in fact. It has happened 3 or 4 times only in 19 tests. He has scored 2 centuries and 7 fifties...far more of a trend.
Yeah oath where as all the ODI cricket gone? Ponting era we played like 25 games a year. Now we have only played a mere 40 odd games in almost 3 years. Bit of a joke really
Bancroft is a perennial test failure. Neither he nor Marcus Harris should play tests again. Sub 25 average for both. And people were spraying on Burns......haha
We dont want to waste 40 tests on him like we did Shaun Marsh. Pukovski and Green need to fit into this side. And we have an openers slot to be filled, Burns needs a couple more hundreds before earning his place back, and 3/4 is tied up for at least the next 5 years with Labuschagne and Smith. Head is sort of the odd one out here.
Travis Head is basically the new Shaun Marsh. He'll still be a 40 average FC cricketer in 5 years time, juuuussst making enough Shield runs to get selected for a few tests before doing nothing and rinse repeat. Alright he's had a very good Shield Summer, fair enough, he probably deserves 3 tests on the trot next series to establish himself and try and make a hundred or two, but if he keeps making the same mistakes over and over then unfortunately his card should be marked.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think Head is one of the top future/long term prospects in the Australian side. I just hope he can lock down his position over the next extended series (Ashes). But if he doesn't, I'm not sure how much longer they can persist with him. I hope he can lock it down.
Micko
Roar Rookie
He hasn't proved that at Test level. He's 27 and struggling to learn. Cam Green is 21...but has a mature head on his shoulders.