Australia vs South Africa 2022 LIVE cricket scores: First Test, Day two highlights, results, latest updates

Travis Head’s performance with the bat against South Africa at the Gabba gave strong Adam Gilchrist vibes.

Strolling to the crease with Australia 3-27, Head scored just two runs from his first 16 deliveries.

Head blasted 55 from his next 35 balls. He brought up his half-century off just 48 balls.

“Wow, he’s almost setting the trend for the Big Bash that’s happening afterwards,” South African fast bowling great Shaun Pollock said in commentary for Fox Sports.

“His timing has been just fantastic. That’s the mark of a great player – much like Gilly used to do in his day.

“When he first came to the crease, those first 16 balls he had to absorb and now he realises, ‘Hang on, I can take this game by the scruff of the neck and put South Africa under immense pressure’.”

Down the other end, Steve Smith was also scoring relatively freely – the pair combining for a 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket to dig the Aussies out of trouble before Anrich Nortje bowled Smith for 36.

Pat Cummins sent fellow fast bowler Scott Boland in as night-watchman, but he lasted just four balls before Kagiso Rabada had him caught behind for 1. His wicket ended the day’s play.

Head said Sunday’s morning session would be a crucial two hours for the Test.

“It was an entertaining day’s cricket – disappointing to lose the two at the end there, but yeah we fought hard,” he said.

“It was a difficult wicket – I think we’ll take that at the end of the day, but we’ve gotta come out and have a good couple of hours in the morning.”

He said the South African attack bowled “extremely well”.

“We had to be as positive as we could be, and again it (will be) a very important morning.”

Australia will resume this morning at 5-145, still trailing South Africa by seven runs.