Australia stitch first 300-plus stand in Tests since December 2017
What's the story
After a long time in Test cricket, the Australian cricket team showed their authority with the bat. Joe Burns and Travis Head stitched a 308-run stand in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Canberra. Notably, this is Australia's first 300-plus stand in Tests since December 2017 as they managed to score 384/4 at stumps on Day one. Here's more.
Partnership
Australia had to wait long for this moment
The last time Australia managed to stitch a 300-run stand in Tests was back in December of 2017. Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh had gone on to amass 301 runs between them against England in the 2017-18 Ashes for the fifth wicket. On Friday, Burns and Head saved Australia the blushes after a heroic partnership. The Aussies were reeling at 28/3 prior to that.
Achievement
Burns and Head amass joint-15th highest fourth wicket stand
The 308-run partnership stitched between Burns and Head is the joint-15th highest for the fourth wicket in Test cricket. They equalled the tally of South African batsmen Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, which was achieved in 2014 against the West Indies in Centurion. This was also the seventh highest fourth wicket stand in Tests for Australia. Adam Voges/Shaun Marsh (449) hold the record.
Milestones
Personal milestones for Burns and Head
Joe Burns notched his fourth career Test century. The 29-year-old also went past 1,000 runs in Test cricket. The opener also scripted his highest Test score (172*), surpassing his previous best of 170. 25-year-old Travis Head struck his maiden Test hundred in his eighth match. Head smashed 161 from 204 deliveries against the Lankans on Friday.
Records
Australia script many records with this stand
Their 308-run partnership is also the highest for any wicket against Lanka. The pair went on to eclipse the record set by Dean Jones and Steve Waugh, who had amassed an unbroken 260 in Hobart in December 1989. The Aussies also ended a drought of a double-century partnership (13 Tests). Before this, only one Aussie had scored a ton in their last 11 Tests.