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Smith second to The Don, Head’s epic knock ends in whimper

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Welcome to our live coverage of day two of the World Test Championship final.

Travis Head and Steve Smith piled on the runs to leave Australia in a commanding position to claim the only piece of silverware from its trophy cabinet.

Scroll down for the live match centre and major talking points throughout the day.

8.00PM: HEADS EPIC KNOCK OVER

Travis Head’s incredible knock ends in a whimper, finally succumbing to India’s short-pitched barrage.

7.32PM: SMUDGE SCORES 31ST TON

Well, that didn’t take long! Smudge moves within one century of equalling Steve Waugh’s ton record with consecuative boundaries from the opening over of day two – and hasn’t it garnered a reaction from Mohammed Siraj.

If the fiery India quick obviously didn’t take kindly to gifting Smith his seventh Test ton on English soil, he was ropeable with the Aussie pulled away during his run up. This could heat up very shortly.

Back to the legend that is Steve Smith … he now draws level with Steve Waugh on seven Test centuries in England. Of non-Englishmen, only The Don (11) has more.

Furthermore, Smith is just the second touring player to score three centuries at The Oval.

Travis Head passes 150 down the other end.

WHY HEAD IS UNDROPPABLE

If Travis Head’s centuries to wins conversion is anything to go by Australia will claim the only trophy absent from its bulging cabinet.

Head smashed an unbeaten first day century in the World Test Championship final to turn the match on its head after India elected to bowl first.

Head has never lost in the baggy green after scoring a century, a statistic which makes him as undroppable as Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.

And after being dropped by three different selection panels since making his debut, Australia’s brains trust will be pencilling him for the five Ashes Test yesterday.

“Yes I’d love to play every single Test match, that’s not always going to be the case,” Head said after day one at The Oval. “Hopefully I don’t get dropped too much in the future.”

We don’t think you’ll need to worry about that anytime soon, Trav.

CA MUST SHOW SMITH THE MONEY

– Ben Horne

Cricket Australia should take a completely different approach to its next contract negotiation with Steve Smith.

Guarantee him the same money he’s on now — in the region of $2 million — but to play Test match cricket only.

A cut in cricket, but without the pay cut.

Smith’s masterful knock in the World Test Championship Final is a fresh reminder of the critical role he can play in the evolution of this team and why it is essential Australia locks him into another couple of years of Test cricket.

DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS: RECAP EVERY KEY MOMENT HERE

The series of cryptic comments Smith made last summer about how long his Australian career might continue on for should not be dismissed lightly.

Before this Test match, Smith was again coy about his future, effectively shutting down the line of questioning.

Just because Smith is still posting magnificent innings like he has at The Oval against India, doesn’t automatically mean he will just simply continue on until the runs dry up.

Smith might churn out centuries like a robot, but don’t underestimate the toll the game has taken on him both mentally and physically when you consider battles with insomnia, a degenerative back and Cape Town 2018.

In these ever-changing, fickle times, elasticity is needed and while most players around the world are seeking the flexibility to hunt the massive dollars in T20 cricket, Cricket Australia must go the opposite way with Smith and recognise the unique asset he is for the game.

Allow him to quit international white ball cricket — should he desire — but still pay him the top dollar of a three-format superstar to reflect how important Test cricket is to Australia, and how important Smith is to Test cricket.

If it means Smith continues on in Test cricket and doesn’t retire prematurely, it will be a deal worth every penny. As it would be for the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins should they choose a similar path in the months and years ahead.

Australia simply cannot afford a situation where David Warner bows out during this home summer, Usman Khawaja possibly not long after, only to have Smith also walk off into the New York sunset when he’s still arguably the best batsman in the world.

Not just for the runs Smith himself still brings, but for the impact his presence can have on a new-set of openers and the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Cameron Green around him building a new era of batting success.

Just ask Head about Smith’s influence in defusing pressure.

“I‘ve always said I do really enjoy batting with Steve because of how much attention he receives,” Head said.

“ … He’s our best batter, he’s unbelievable in these conditions, and he receives so much attention from opposition in terms of plans and how difficult he is to bowl to, so I’ve always said going out to bat with him, it feels like you’re in the shadow of that, you can sort of stay under the radar and go about your business.”

Not to mention the brilliant leadership role Smith has played as fast bowling skipper Pat Cummins’ vice-captain, able to temporarily take the reins at a moment’s notice.

If Smith scores the five runs needed to reach 31 Test centuries at The Oval, he will trail Steve Waugh by just one and close into within 10 of Ricky Ponting’s all-time record of 41 Test hundreds.

Smith said during the summer he didn’t feel he’d be around long enough to challenge Ponting’s mark.

But Australian cricket will be much richer if it can convince Smith to bat on in Test cricket and it has to be a priority after this Ashes is completed.

Whether he ultimately reaches Ponting’s record or not doesn’t really matter to Smith’s legacy as the best since Bradman – and may not motivate him at all – but keeping him around the dressing room long enough for it to become possible will help Australia build towards a new era.

Originally published as World Test Championship final live: Follow all the action from day two between Australia and India

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