Moustachioed Head adds 38-year first to super record

Travis Head has become the first Australian in 38 years to hit a century after following on with his fighting final-day ton in Gqeberha.

The tourists needed to restore some respectability in their second Test performance after being sliced and diced for 99 by the Proteas on day four. It was Head who led Australia's recovery mission with his slowest hundred since 2019, coming off 151 balls.

Not since David Boon in 1988 has an Aussie batter tonned up after being sent immediately back in. The stocky opener's 184no from 431 balls denied England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, batting for over eight hours to save the draw. The current team will be hoping their own moustachioed cult hero will be able to repeat the feat.

Head needed a further 13 runs on the final day to reach his 13th Test hundred and had to sit through a rained-out morning session as the unpredictable Eastern Cape weather had the St George's Park groundstaff working overtime.

Australians to score a Test century after following on (since WWII)

Travis Head v South Africa, Gqeberha 2026

 

David Boon 184no (431) v England, Sydney 1988

 

Geoff Marsh 110 (310) v England, Brisbane 1986

 

Greg Ritchie 106no (214) v Pakistan, Faisalabad 1982

He brought up his milestone with a couple of flicked boundaries off Marco Jansen, one splitting the fielders at fine leg and the second racing away to the square leg rope. It was just his second century outside of Australia following his memorable knock in the World Test Championship final against India in 2023.

It was a subdued celebration from the South Australia, who raised his bat to the supporters in the Duckpond Pavillion and then his teammates, but he didn't remove his helmet.

Josh Hazlewood said Head nailed his read on conditions on day four, which saw the attacking left-hander reach stumps on 87 not out.

"That's what you see from the great players – the ebb and flow of each innings," Hazlewood told Fox Cricket on the fifth morning.  

"(Steve) Smith is probably the (best example) of that. He seems to be able to go in and out of the gears.

"That's the way 'Heady' approached yesterday. When the game came to him, he took advantage, and then there were other times where the field was out, they were bowling well, and he took his time. So going through those gears is key."

Head was given a life by Marco Jansen on five when he played a flashy shot outside off that burst through the hands of the giant allrounder at gully.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa squad for second Test: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster