In the thrilling third ODI between India and Australia in Sydney, Australian opener Travis Head achieved a spectacular milestone. He completed 3000 runs in his ODI career, and impressively in just 76 innings. This accomplishment makes Head the fastest batsman in Australian history to reach 3000 runs.
Outpacing Legends Like Smith and Bevan
Previously, this record was held by Steve Smith, who took 79 innings. Meanwhile, Michael Bevan and George Bailey reached this milestone in 80 innings, with David Warner needing 81 innings. Surpassing these cricketing icons, Head has set a new benchmark. This achievement is not only significant for Australia but resonates throughout the world of cricket.
Based on the number of balls faced, Head scored these 3000 runs in just 2839 deliveries. This places him in an elite list of cricketers who've reached this milestone at a rapid pace. Other members of this club include Glenn Maxwell (2440 balls), Jos Buttler (2533 balls), Jason Roy (2820 balls), and Jonny Bairstow (2842 balls).
Travis Head's ODI career has seen a meteoric rise in recent years. In the 2023 World Cup, he played an instrumental role by scoring a century against India in the final, which crowned Australia as the world champions. His aggressive batting and ability to capitalize in the powerplay have established him as the team's most reliable opener.
Sydney ODI: India's Playing XI:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Mohammad Siraj.
Sydney ODI: Australia's Playing XI:
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Mitch Owen, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, and Adam Zampa.
