Travis Head: Australia has started their Test series against the West Indies with a commanding win, defeating the hosts by 159 runs in the first Test match. The hero of the match was none other than Travis Head, who delivered a sensational performance with the bat in both innings. Thanks to his consistency and dominance, Head was rightly named Player of the Match — a title that came with a historic milestone.

Australia Sets the Tone with Dominant Performance

Travis Head: Australia set a target of 301 runs for the West Indies after two solid innings, with Travis Head anchoring their batting with two gritty half-centuries. The West Indies side, however, faltered under pressure in their second innings and were bundled out for just 141 runs. The batting collapse handed Australia a thumping 159-run win and gave them an early edge in the series.

Travis Head – The Player of the Match and a World Record Holder

Travis Head’s match-winning performance wasn’t just crucial for the team’s victory — it also etched his name into the World Test Championship (WTC) history books. With this award, Head became the first player in the world to win 10 Player of the Match titles in WTC history, achieving this incredible feat in just 50 matches.

To put that into perspective, the next closest contenders — England’s Ben Stokes and Joe Root — have only five such awards each in the WTC era. Head has doubled that tally in fewer appearances, further underlining his growing stature in Test cricket.

Travis Head: Most Player of the Match Awards in WTC History

10 – Travis Head (50 matches)

5 – Ben Stokes (54 matches)

5 – Joe Root (65 matches)

4 – Harry Brook (22 matches)

4 – Ravindra Jadeja (40 matches)

4 – Usman Khawaja (41 matches)

4 – Steve Smith (53 matches)

4 – Marnus Labuschagne (53 matches)

Another Milestone: 400 Boundaries in WTC

Travis Head: Head’s record-breaking match didn’t stop at awards — he also became the fourth player in WTC history to hit 400 or more boundaries. He joins an elite club that includes Joe Root, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith.

Joe Root leads the list with 576 fours in 119 innings

Marnus Labuschagne has 476 fours in 96 innings

Steve Smith follows with 443 fours in 91 innings

Travis Head now boasts 401 fours in just 83 innings

Head’s ability to find the boundary at will shows his aggressive and effective approach — a style that has paid rich dividends in Australia’s middle order.

Josh Hazlewood’s Fiery Spell Seals the Game

Travis Head: While Head dominated with the bat, Josh Hazlewood ensured there was no comeback for the West Indies with the ball. He bowled a remarkable spell in the second innings, taking 5 wickets for 43 runs in 12 overs, dismantling the Caribbean batting line-up.

This was Hazlewood’s seventh five-wicket haul in WTC history, making him the fourth most successful pacer in terms of five-wicket hauls in the championship. His precision, control, and relentless accuracy continue to make him a key weapon in Australia’s bowling arsenal.

Final Thoughts: Australia Roars, West Indies Regroup

Travis Head: Australia’s clinical performance in the first Test is a clear message to their opponents — the reigning WTC champions are not backing down. With Travis Head at the peak of his form and bowlers like Hazlewood striking rhythm early in the series, Australia will be eyeing another series win.

For the West Indies, it’s time to reassess and respond. Their top order needs to find resilience, and their bowlers need to build pressure for longer spells if they hope to turn things around in the second Test.

But one thing is certain — Travis Head has not just won a match, he’s won hearts and rewritten history. The WTC now has a new record holder, and his name is being etched in golden letters.